Some indigenes of Oyo town, yesterday, demonstrated at the entrance of the Oyo High Court in Awe, in protest against delay in the selection of new Alaafin.

The protesters carried placards bearing various inscriptions, such as, ‘Oyo Mesi follow tradition, not money’, ‘Alaafin stool is not for sale’, ‘On Alaafin: Let dignity reign’, ‘Alaafin: Due process, Ife consultation are sacrosanct’ and others.

In the meantime, the High Court sitting in Oyo Town, Oyo State, yesterday, adjourned till Thursday for hearing a case instituted by five kingmakers against the state Governor, Seyi Makinde, the state Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Matters, as well as the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, over the vacant stool of Alaafin of Oyo.

Recall that the Oyo Mesi (kingmakers) has dragged the governor and two others to court for aborting the process for the selection/appointment of the candidate for the vacant stool of Alaafin of Oyo.

The claimants are Basorun of Oyo, Chief Yusuf Ayoola; Laguna of Oyo, Chief Wakeel Oyedepo; Akiniku of Oyo, Chief Amuda Yusuf; Areago Basorun of Oyo, Chief Wahab Oyetunji and Alapo of Oyo and Warrant Officer for Alaapini of Oyo, Chief Gbadebo Mufutau. They were all present in court .

The applicants  sought, among other things, an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants, their officers, agents, servants, and or privies from aborting the process for the selection/appointment of the candidate for the vacant stool of Alaafin of Oyo duly conducted by the Kingmakers of Alafin of Oyo and or removing the claimants as kingmakers of the Alaafin of Oyo or dissolving the Oyomesi in Council; and or appointing or selecting warrant chiefs to conduct or start a fresh process or exercise for the filling of the vacant stool of Alafin of Oyo, pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice.