The process to fill the vacant Alaafin of Oyo stool has begun.
No fewer than 48 princes have been nominated by the next ruling house, Agunloye royal family.
The late Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola (Adeyemi III), joined his ancestors three months ago.
Head of the Agunloye family, otherwise known as mogaji, Pa Samuel Adeladan, has handed over letters of intent of the 48 prequalified candidates to Baba Iyaji, who will in turn present them to the Oyomesi, a group of seven kingmakers who are expected to consult the Ifa oracle in the process of selecting the right candidate for the throne.
National Chairman of the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria (PAN) Prince Adewale Oladigbolu has also joined the race.
Oladigbolu said he deserves the stool, judging from his wealth of experience in cultural, traditional and contemporary issues.
He said: “I belong to the Agunloye ruling house. I am a bonafide Prince of the Oyo kingdom and entitled to the Oyo throne as the next Alaafin of Oyo.”
Prince Adewale also believes there is nothing strange about 48 princes vying for the stool. He recalled that during the late Alaafin Lamidi Adeyemi’s time, 54 princes contested the throne before the Oyomesi chose one person.
“Having 48 contestants in this modern time is a fair number. I appeal that all the princes remain calm and hopeful for whom the Oyomesi will choose.
“It is a huge sacrifice for the person who will wear the crown because he will carry the burden of the Oyo kingdom and the entire Yoruba race on his head. There should be no acrimony,” he added.
Prince Adewale admonished the Oyo people to offer prayers for the Oyomesi not to make a mistake that might take the kingdom 50 years backwards.
“The Oyomesi have a lot of responsibility in their hands, and this contest should not be about how deep your pocket is, but about what you have done and the little things that show what character you possess, including the leadership roles you have held.
“We need a king who is forward-looking; a king that is technologically savvy, financially intelligent and not absolutely oppressive.
“We need a king that will prioritise the needs of the people, the town and the kingdom over his own private needs. We need a king that is also a warrior, a promoter of culture, a lover of his people,” he said.
The Contenders
1. Abdul Rashidi Adewale Gbadegesin
2. Dr. Abidoye Gbadegesin
3. Abdrasak Adegoke Gbadegesin
4. Kabiru Adebayo Gbadegesin
5. Isiak Olatunde Gbadegesin
6. Basiru Adeniyi Gbadegesin
7. Monjeed Abiola Gbadegesin
8. Lukman Adelodun Gbadegesin
9. Babajide Aderoju Gbadegesin
10. Abdmonjeed Adekunle Gbadegesin
11. Ajibade Adebayo Adeladan
12. Tella Biliaminu Kolawole
13. Tiani Hammed Adebayo
14. Salami Saheed Babatunde
15. Ladigbolu Adewale Aderemi
16. Adekunle Mutahir Adegboye
17. Alh. Tesleem Oriade Ladigbolu
18. Adekunle Kamal Adeyemi
19. Adebisi Jeleel Adeniyi
20. Oluokun Kasali Agunloye
21. Adekunle Gafar Adebayo
22. Tella Meroof Adeniyi
23. Owoade Wahab Folorunso Aderemi
24. Adewusi Mukaila Olanrewaju
25. Olaide Dauda Oladimeji
26. Tella Adeniyi Kareem
27. Agunloye Adelayo Aderemi
28. Aderogba Idowu Agunloye
29. Morounranti Hakeem Alayoayo
30. Gbadegesin Taofeek Agunloye
31. Remilekun Enitan Adeniya
32. Razak Alayoayo
33. Akinade Abdul Rahman Alayoayo
34. Archbishop Prince Lawrence Sanda Ayo Ladigbolu
35. Lukman Alabi Olugbenga Ladigbolu
36.Hakeem Abiodun Adeyanju Ayinde Ladigbolu
37. Ayobami Adewumi Sanda Ladigbolu
38. Amidu Abiodun Ladigbolu
39. Muideen Adekunle Ladigbolu
40. Kolade Tunde Saani Ladigbolu
41. Adegboyega Ibrahim Ladigbolu
42. Abdulquadri Opeyemi Ladigbolu
43. Ismaila Aderemi Belawu Adekunle Ladigbolu
44. Adebimpe Wasiu Abiodun Ladigbolu
45. Taofeek Adewumi Ladigbolu
46. Rasaki Kamorudeen Osuolale Ladigbolu
47. Owoade Hakeem Babatunde Adetunji
48. Owoade Ibrahim Abiodun Olayiwola
(The Nation)
