Only 50 princes will contest Alaafin stool, says ruling house
Only 50 Oyo princes will contest for the vacant Alaafin of Oyo stool, the Agunloye ruling house has stated.
According to The Nation, the ruling house agreed to streamline the race to only 50 princes to make the selection process easier.
With the ruling house having five branches – Ilaka, Akingbeyin, Gbadegesin, Agogo Ija and Owoade – the larger family has agreed that each branch should limit its aspirants to 10, an elder in the ruling house told The Nation.
“We have agreed to limit the number of aspirants to 10 in each family branch so we won’t have an uncontrollable number. I pray it works. Aspirants are to submit their letter of intent to their family heads who will take them to the larger Agunloye family meeting scheduled for May 21. Leaders of the larger Agunloye family will then take the letters to BabaIyaji (head of princes) in Oyo, who will hand over the applications to the Oyomesi for final selection.”
The Oyomesi is the council of chiefs that rules with the Alaafin. It is headed by the Basorun, the prime minister.
When asked if the Oyomesi has the power to disqualify any prince, the elder said the council has no such power.
“The only way Oyomesi will choose is by consulting the Ifa oracle. The Oyomesi will present all applicants to Ifa who will pick the best for Oyo,” he added.
