Alaafin stool: Prince Adesiyan drags Oyo Mesi, Baba Iyaji over unlawful removal of his name, petitions Atiba LG Chair

A member of Adesiyan Royal Family of Oyo, who is also one of the aspirants to the throne of Alaafin of Oyo, Prince Jelili Adesiyan, has openly dragged Baba Iyaji and Oyo Mesi over the way and manner by which 33 contestants were unlawfully disqualified from the ascension to the throne of Alaafin of Oyo. 

Adesiyan, who equally called on the attention of appropriate authorities, alleged that Baba Iyaji, who is the nominating authority of Alaafin of Oyo aspirants committed illegalities in the selection process.

Prince Jelili Adesiyan claimed that the complaint had previously been brought before the Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuf Akinade Ayoola Layinka, but that no action had been taken. 

This was contained in a letter personally signed by him and addressed to Hon. Mrs. Mojisola Kafilat Olakojo, the Executive Chairperson of Atiba Local Government Area of Oyo State, with copies to the State Governor, Seyi Makinde, and the Oyo Mesi. 

Adesiyan, who said his name was deliberately removed from the list of eventual interviewed aspirants by Baba Iyaji despite the fact that he was eminently and justifiably qualified, added that no reasons were given by the Baba Iyaji for his disqualification.

According to the statement, in the list of submitted applicants, the total number of contestants is 119 in which Prince Jelili Adesiyan’s name appears at number 103. 

He said out of these 119 submitted applications, only 86 were shortlisted for interview. This means that 33 names were dropped. However, no one can tell why or how those 33 names were dropped including his name (Prince Jelili Adesiyan) 

The statement added: “It will interest you to know Ma, even though the Agunloye Family submitted 48 unanimously recognized names (according to Retired ARC Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu), one wonders how 86 names eventually emerged, among which was a man who fraudulently claimed Adesiyan family. 

“This is open bias and taking undue advantage of -Baba Iyaji position as the nomination authority. The process of selection for the interview was openly opaque. This is the reason why names of bonafide and qualified individuals like me deliberately but strangely missing on the shortlisted list.

“Ma, in order to avoid legally truncating the selection process, I hereby seek your authoritative and overriding intervention to compel the Baba Iyaji and Oyomesi to include my name among the contestant that will be subjected to Ifa divination screening exercise which is scheduled to hold soon.

“As is traditionally well-known, the next stage after the interview is subjecting the shortlisted candidates to Ifa divination and consultation processes. 

My prayers therefore are: 

1. My name be included in the list to subjected to Ifa divination screening. 

2. Since the previous letters of protest on the non-inclusion of my name among the chosen interviewees remains unacknowledged and responded to, it behoves the Baba Iyaji to let us know why and the yardstick he used in choosing the 86 individuals eventually selected. 

3. Since the Agunloye's submitted 48 names,it ought to be explained by the Baba Iyaji how he arrived at the inclusion and exclusion of other families and individuals.