Governor Seyi Makinde has said the April 5 coronation of Owoade will go on as scheduled despite litigation challenging the emergence of Akeem Owoade as the 45th Alaafin of Oyo.
Speaking with the press on Thursday, through his special adviser on media, Sulaimon Olanrewaju, Makinde held that there was no court judgment stopping the state government from the coronation of Owoade as Alaafin.
“Is there any ruling that stops the government from going ahead with the coronation? Is there any?
“We are going ahead because there is no court judgment that is stopping us from going ahead,” Makinde said.
This attitude comes despite the fact that two contenders for the kingship, Lukman Gbadegesin and Ismaila Owoade, have filed petitions disputing Makinde’s approval and his January 13 presentation of the certificate and staff of office to Owoade as the new Alaafin.
On January 13, Governor Seyi Makinde approved Owoade as Alaafin and presented him with his certificate and staff of office at the Governor’s Office, State Secretariat, Ibadan.
One of the lawsuits was filed by Prince Lukman Gbadegesin, a contender for the throne, who argues that Owoade’s appointment violates the Chiefs Law of Oyo State, 2000, and the Registered Alaafin Chieftaincy Declaration of 1961.
Gbadegesin’s complaint, filed on February 12, aims to annul Owoade’s appointment and prevent him from assuming the throne or executing any royal duties.
Ismaila Owoade, another Oyo prince and past pretender to the Alaafin throne, has also launched a case against Governor Makinde and 19 others.
His lawsuit challenges his exclusion from the selection process, which he claims was abruptly halted by the appointment of Prince Abimbola Owoade.
Demola Ojo, the head of the state planning committee for the Alaafin coronation, confirmed on Thursday that preparations for the coronation were still proceeding.
