NEW SOUN: Makinde's Silence Is Uncalled For, Harming Ogbomoso, Dragging Back The Hand Of Clock - Opinion
Few days ago, news media were awash with a bombshell by the Oyo state governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, regarding the appointment of a new Soun of Ogbomosoland and Alaafin of Oyo, in which he reportedly stated that the appointments are delayed because “due process” was jettisoned.
“While coming to the office this morning, I saw in the news that the installation of a new Alaafin of Oyo and Soun of Ogbomoso is being delayed by me.
“What they fail to say is that I have already communicated that the institutional framework should be followed in the selection of a new Alaafin and new Soun.
“When you follow due process, things generally work out more efficiently. We have gone through, in this state, a situation where a king was removed by the judiciary after being on the throne for over 22 years and I said to myself that not under my watch are we going to repeat the same mistake.
“I will rather delay and have due process followed and then we know that if anybody decides to go to court after that, the exercise will be a nullity. I believe this is what we need in Nigeria right now, strong institutions but we also need people to build strong institutions.”
That’s confusing especially when this is juxtaposed with what His Excellency adduced as reason last year that he was withholding consent because court cases were dogging the recommendation by the Ogbomoso kingmakers. He emphasized he did not want a situation anyone installed would suffer court removal in later years. This he reiterated in his latest submission. He was obviously referring to the case of the former Eleruwa of Eruwa who got removed by the Supreme Court after 18 years.
In the case of Oyo the process is still ongoing and so why is jettisoning of “due process” a reason for the delay! According to the news from reliable sources names of nominees are even yet to reach the kingmakers, the influential Oyo Mesi. So, what process is ditched?
Nonetheless, it’s not clear how “due process” was flouted in the process leading to the emergence of Soun-elect. If it is on the basis of institution of court cases that is another thing. But due process? It’s hazy!
What is the “due process’ in this matter? According to the Oyo state chieftaincy law as well as the Soun chieftaincy declaration, the request is made by the local government (Ogbomoso North) to the ruling house to fill the vacuum to come with names of candidates. That’s done. The Olaoye ruling house consequently kickstarted the process calling for applications. The law is not explicit on screening of aspirants but it was clear on the family submitting names to the kingmakers which was done. It is even on record the process was observed by local government officials as required by law. The kingmakers are to consider the nominee or nominees and come up with a name that suits their fancy, it’s their lawful duty. And they did! No stage was sidestepped as far as the chieftaincy laws state. Though there are two litigations instituted by two of contestants challenging the emergence of the candidate but a scrutiny of the contents of the litigations will show these lean on interpretations of the laws guiding the selection/election of a new Soun and not on the subversion of the process as alleged by the governor.
Even if the reason for the delay has to do with litigations, ascension to a throne of Soun status cannot be expected to unravel without such rancour and feuds. It’s like saying no more taking of our esteemed mothers into the labour room as long as there would be pains and cries from the expectant mothers during the process of taking deliveries!
We should not cry more than the bereaved (apology to my benefactor and father late Chief Samuel Adelakun Adetutu), any Oba who owed his ascension to manipulation of the process and fraudulently will be handed his due comeuppance by the law court and he would bear the consequences alone.
Our esteemed governor should not withhold consent on that basis any longer, he should dissolve the quagmire by approving the nomination by the kingmakers, ordering a rerun or allowing the court to do its work. This stalemate is uncalled for, it is harming Ogbomoso, it’s dragging back the hand of its clock. Keep saying this and that as basis for the delay is not helpful, mention the area that was flouted specifically, give a directive on what to be done or how it should unfold, that will be profitable than the rhetoric we are occasionally fed with. Because as it stands it appears the state government has other aims regarding the matter which cannot be said to be altruistic. It is only an exploitation of the loophole (s) to pursue these goals.
If the kingmakers are approached now they will tell you in confidence that no correspondence from the state government on the matter had been received though they won’t be bold to say it openly. So, if the government is desirous of having a new Oba installed in Ogbomoso it should be explicit on the direction to take.
In the case of assumption of government offices too, a section of the constitution favours the candidates to be sworn-in and anyone that feels dissatisfied goes to court to contest whatever the disputes may be.
Enough of igbo didi (tangled bush)!
Or he will be accused of sinister motive or hypocritical stance!
-FemiOgunlana - Ogbomosoinsight
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