The 10 royal families that are aggrieved over the selection process a new Alaafin of Oyo has said that Bode Durojaiye, the media aide to late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, is operating under false image and ignorant of the culture and tradition guiding the selection and appointment of a new Alaafin.
This was in reaction to a report credited to Durojaye on the issue of the successor to the throne.
The issued statement was signed by all the members of nine royal ruling houses.
They included Princes Makanjuola Adediran (Adediran-Ese Apata); Adebowale Adesiyan (Adesiyan); Adediwura Lamola (Olanite); Adetunji Adesokan (Adesokan Baba Idode); and Agboin Olayiwola (Adelabu Baba Ibadan).
Others were Princes Ademola Adesina Afolabi (Adeitan); Remi Azeez (Tella Okitipapa); Adekunle Bello (Iteade Abidekun); Prince Tella Agbojulogun (Agbojulogun); and Pa Tijani Adebayo Olawoyin Atiba (Olawoyin Family).
The royal family members queried Durojaye, an indigene of Awe, on the reason he wanted to cause division among the descendants of Alaafin Atiba when he is not part of the Atiba Family.
They said that Durojaye could not be acting in the capacity he allocated to himself as he was a media aide to the immediate past Alaafin of Oyo and not to the Palace of Alaafin.
“It is unknown to us and beyond human comprehension why Bode Durojaye, who is not a young man, is operating under a false image as the Director of Media and Publicity to an Alaafin that is yet to be appointed,” they stated.
They said Durojaye, going by the release he ascribed to the Basorun of Oyo, wanted to portray the Oyo Mesi as not being familiar with historical facts and figures as regards Oyo.
“We are hereby drawing his attention to the fact that the selection of a new Alaafin is an internal issue between and among the princes of Oyo,” they stated.
They said the essence of the press conference they held on Monday, September 12, 2022, was to urge the Oyo State government to respect and uphold the implementation of the outcomes of the various commissions of enquiries set up by past administrations in the state to look into the Chieftancy Law governing the appointment of the Alaaafin of Oyo.
“We hereby state that more importantly, we have no issue with the Oyo Mesi and the Head of Oyo Princes, Baba Iyaji.
“The purported response and reaction of Chief Akinade Yusuf Ayoola Layinka, the Basorun of Oyo, to our press conference did not represent the true position of all members of the Oyo Mesi.
“This is so because the so-called statement by the Basorun of Oyo was not signed by all members of the Oyo Mesi.
“Prince Afolabi Adesina of the Adeitan Royal Family is our spokesperson, and that he has the mandate to speak for all the nine royal families, including the Olawoyin Royal Family, too at any point in time.
“The statement released by Bode Durojaye is not only misleading, but it can cause chaos in the public, especially among the peace-loving people of Oyo, because he is not familiar with historical facts and figures of Oyo people and their culture;
“The same Alaafin Atiba that begot Olujide Adelu Agunloye, begot Agboin Adelabu, Adesiyan, Tella Agbojulogun, Olawoyin, Alowolodu, Olanite, Adeitan, Tella Okitipapa, Adediran Ese Apata, Adesokan Baba Idode, Iteade Abidekun, among other male children.
“The entire Oyo and Yoruba people are not fools! In case Bode Durojaye is not aware, the people of Oyo are silently monitoring the ongoing events and are deeply and solidly aware of the fact that all the remaining nine royal families, including Olawoyin within the Atiba Dynasty, are legitimately entitled to the noble throne of Alaafin of Oyo.
“The people are tired of the fraudulent, conquest method and illegal way the nine royal houses have been sidelined and they are ready to stand up for justice in Oyo land!
“What is also illegal is the despicable use of the social media platform of our late father, His Imperial Majesty Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III, to attack his own flesh and blood (his cousins from the other Atiba Royal Houses).”
