OYO State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has vowed to prosecute those who allegedly collected bribes from aspirants to the Alaafin of Oyo stool unless they go ask for forgiveness from the new king, Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade.
He emphasised that the stool of the Alaafin of Oyo is not for sale, during his first meeting with the newly-appointed Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Owoade.
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Makinde, while speaking on Monday during the presentation of the instruments of office to the new Alaafin at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Oyo State Secretariat, in Ibadan, further explained that he refrained from interfering in the selection process for the new Alaafin, in line with his administration’s commitment to openness and transparency.
According to him, “The Alaafin stool is very important, not just to Oyo Town or Oyo State, but the entire Yoruba race.

The presentation
“So, under my watch, I made it very clear that the stool would not be for sale. It is not a stool for us to toy with.”
To the consternation of the few small at the presentation, Makinde declared that he was having both virtual and actual contact with the new Alaafin for the first time in his entire life.
“I met Prince Owoade for the first time in my life yesterday (Sunday). I never spoke to him in my entire life until yesterday.
“I did not know his profile or the profile of any of the princes vying for the stool and it was deliberate because I did not want my opinion to influence the process.
“Let me say this clearly: when we came in 2019, we had challenges with the traditional institution in Ibadanland and it has been resolved to everybody’s satisfaction.
“When it was time for us to approve the selection of Okere, some people came to me and said ‘This is our friend.’
“They said one person is APC, and I said ‘it does not mean anything to me whether you are PDP or APC. Why should my decision be based on political consideration?’ So, I approved the selection of the Saki kingmakers.,” he recollected.
The governor advised Nigerians to tread cautiously with politicians whom he affirmed might appear antagonistic to themselves in the day time, but dine together at night.
Hear him: “I always tell people not to kill themselves over politicians, because we see ourselves in the night. We go to each other’s houses.
“Politics, electioneering is a game. It’s only when you have been elected, then governance becomes a serious business because you will take decisions that will affect millions of people. So, we will not play politics with governance.
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“The Alaafin stool became vacant in 2022. We were moving towards the election and people said, ‘you have to approve the appointment of Alaafin, otherwise, Oyo people would not vote for you.’
“I said the people should not vote for me, but that I would do what was right and Oyo voted for me massively. Oyo will continue to support me.”
He warned elements trying to destabilise the traditional institution in Oyo, saying the government will prosecute them.
“The money they collected; they will still be prosecuted except they go to Kabiyesi.
“If he forgives them, I will also forgive them,” he affirmed.