From the 119 applications from various families, 86 princes, all from the Agunloye ruling house of Oyo, have been shortlisted for the vacant stool of the Alaafin of Oyo.
The shortlist of only princes of the Agunloye ruling house is in apparent compliance with a letter written by the Director, Administration and General Services, Atiba local government area, Mr Ayoola A. A., to the head of princes in Oyo town, High Chief Mukaila Afonja.
The letter, dated August 9, 2022, conveyed the state government’s approval for the commencement of administrative processes to fill the vacant seat.
Citing the existing chief laws of Oyo State and the Alaafin chieftaincy declaration, the letter directed the head of princes in Oyo to liaise with the Agunloye ruling house whereby crown princes shall emerge and dispatch the names to the Oyo Mesi, via the Basorun of Oyo, to screen and prune down the number of candidates.
Nigerian Tribune reports that Afonja, the head of Oyo princes, affirms that the names of the 86 princes, all from the Agunloye family, had been forwarded to the Oyomesi for screening.
Afonja said this move aligned with the state government’s directive.
Afonja said the 86 princes will be continuously pruned down by the Oyomesi to a small number, and then the Ifa oracle will be consulted to help recommend the final choice for the Alaafin stool.
A statement by the director of media and publicity to the Alaafin of Oyo, Bode Durojaiye, said the screening of the shortlisted princes will begin on Monday.
The statement said the princes will be screened 10 per day and run till the 15th of September.
Before the screening commences next Monday, the shortlisted princes are scheduled to attend a peace meeting on Saturday at the Agbala Ogun Hall in the Palace.
