Prince Adesiyan challenges selection process of new Alaafin
Prince Adeyanju Jelili Adesiyan, FCA has formally registered his observation as regards the way and manner by which 33 contestants were disqualified from the ascension to the throne of Alaafin of Oyo by Baba Iyaji.
In a letter addressed to the Executive Chairperson of Atiba Local Government Area of Oyo State, Hon. Mrs. Mojisola Kafilat Olakojo, copying the State Governor and the Oyo Mesi, made available to NewsDirect Newspaper, Prince Adesiyan claimed that the complaint was earlier laid before Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuf Akinade Ayoola Layinka, but no action was taken.
According to him, “As evident in the list of submitted applicants, the total number of contestants is 119. My name appears at number 103 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; this includes my name.
“It will interest you to know ma, he went further, even though the Agunloye Family submitted 48 unanimously recognised names (according to Retired ARC. Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu), one wonders how 86 names eventually emerged. 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,” he alleged.
“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 contestants that will be subjected to Ifa divination screening exercise which is scheduled to hold soon,” he advised.
He stated that traditionally, the next stage after the interview is subjecting the shortlisted candidates to Ifa divination and consultation processes.
He therefore prayed that his name “be included in the list to be subjected to Ifa divination screening; since the previous letters of protest on the non-inclusion of my name among the chosen interviewees remains unacknowledged and unresponded to, it behooves the Baba Iyaji to let us know why and the yardstick he used in choosing the 86 individuals eventually selected and, since the Agunloye family 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.”
