Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State, promised to prosecute those who took bribes during the delayed selection process of the new Alaafin of Oyo.
Makinde said this at a conference on Monday, where he presented the staff and certificate of office to Akeem Abimbola Owoade, the 46th Alaafin of Oyo.
He said the government would not let those who attempted to destabilise the state’s traditional institutions off the hook.
READ MORE: Oyo Govt Says Alaafin Appointment Stands
“Alaafin of Oyo stool is important to the entire Yoruba race. I met the Prince for the first time yesterday. Those who collected money to destabilize our traditional institution will be prosecuted.” – Governor Seyi Makinde at the presentation of instruments of office to the New… pic.twitter.com/nGp5cuxTGU— Oyo Affairs (@Oyoaffairs) January 13, 2025
“Those who are still hellbent on destabilising our traditional institutions in Oyo, the government is not letting down, we will prosecute them,” Makinde said.
“The money they collected, they will still be prosecuted except they go to the Kabiyesi and they move to…If he forgives them, I will also forgive them.”
He also emphasised that the stool of the Alaafin is not for sale. This is amid controversies of favouritism among the kingmakers of Oyo town.
“The Alaafin’s stool is very important, not just to Oyo State but, to the entire Yoruba race. So under my watch, I made it very clear that the stool is not for sale. It is not a stool for us to toy with,” Makinde said.
READ MORE: UPDATED: Makinde Appoints Abimbola Owoade as New Alaafin
On Friday, Makinde appointed Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo, nearly three years after the death of Lamidi Adeyemi, the previous Alaafin, in April 2022.
The Oyo State Government affirmed that Owoade’s appointment was final even as the kingmakers accused the governor of bypassing the protocol.
Five of them stated that they had already selected Lukman Gbadegesin, an Alaafin of Oyo candidate, through a majority vote as the next monarch in 2022. Makinde has, however, maintained that the kingmakers did not follow due process and took bribes during the selection process.
The post ‘Those Who Collected Money Will Still Be Prosecuted’ — Makinde on Alaafin Selection Drama appeared first on Foundation For Investigative Journalism.