When a thief tells you that he is going to assist you to roof your house in the daytime, for free and you begin to rejoice, do not forget that the same thief is coming back in the midnight to rob your house. ( Ole ni Oun a ba e kan Ile re lofe losan, O njo, O nyo, ma gbagbe pe Ole ohun nbo waa pada ko Ile re loru).
The above aptly describes the relationship between Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo state and Alaafin Owoade of Oyo Kingdom.
Against Custom and tradition, Governor Makinde jettisoned the candidate nominated by majority of the Oyomesi as the Alaafin of Oyo and installed Prince Owoade as the Alaafin of Oyo.
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The circumstances that surrounded the emergence of Alaafin Owoade are very controversial to say the least.
Governor Makinde defied Tradition, Custom and the judiciary to install Prince Owoade as the Alaafin of Oyo.
The Oyomesi, the traditional Oyo Kingmakers were rubbished.
Infact, they were thoroughly maligned and blackmailed.
Governor Makinde, against the judgment of an Oyo state High Court justified his strange decisions on an advice he claimed to have gotten from ‘ Ifa ‘.
An Oyo state High Court had ruled that Ifa had no roles to play in the selection of an Alaafin but Makinde still claimed that he consulted Ifa through Professor Wande Abimbola and Prince Owoade was the choice of Ifa.
If you look at the the relationship between Governor Makinde and the Alaafin today, you will agree with me that something must have been seriously wrong with the divination of Ifa at the time.
Did Ifa not foresee the present commotion and disagreements between the duo at the time?
Was anything wrong with the divination, the diviner or the one who allegedly consulted Ifa before the choice of Oba Owoade was made?
When you prepared a soup with the ingredients of hypocrisy, the soup is bound to pour on the fire. ( Bi a ba fi abosi da omi obe, o di dandan ko ru pa ina).
Governor Makinde has made yet another history in Oyo Alaafin.
Whether it would be positive or negative history, only the future would tell.
Governor Seyi Makinde, through his Deputy, has coronated the Oloja of Ago-Oja, Oba Ganiyu Ajiboye Busari and he also elevated 14 High Chiefs and Baales to the status of crown-wearing Obas.
The Alaafin of Oyo is vehemently opposed to this decision by the Government of Seyi Makinde and he has headed to the Supreme Court to stop the Governor before today.
I am aware that there has been judicial pronouncements on this matter before now.
I will not delve into whether it is good or bad for the Governor to crown Obas or elevate Baales and High Chiefs to the status of crown-wearing Obas in Oyo town.
My concern is the motives behind such a move at this point in time, the likely consequences of such actions, which obviously does not enjoy the support of the Alaafin and how the move could affect peace, tranquility and the development of Oyo town.
Honestly, if I consider the manner with which Governor Makinde installed Oba Owoade as the Alaafin of Oyo, I would say it serves all of them right but the issue at stake demands patriotism, regardless of the characters involved.
For me, I would say, shame on Governor Makinde for lacking the ability to sustain another relationship.
When he was insisting on the choice of Owoade as the Alaafin of Oyo against the nomination by the Oyomesi, what was he looking for?
A robot who would just be saying ‘ yes’, ‘ yes’ to all he wants?
What exactly is his interest in the traditional Institution in Oyo state that he is hell bent on being in control of the Institution?
Does the Governor even know that his time in Government is running out so quickly and that whosoever is coming after him is not bound by his policies?
He has instituted crisis in Eruwa and now he is laying the foundation for another problem in Oyo town.
Is Governor Seyi Makinde ever tired of creating problems at all?
Is this the man they say is qualified to be the president of Nigeria?
Assuming he is the president today, I am sure that he would have set Nigeria on fire in his blind pursuit of vengeance and egocentrism.
I am sure that if a child in its mother’s womb is capable of offending Governor Makinde, he would find a way to extract vengeance even if it means beheading the mother.
Like I said, Governor Makinde should be ashamed of himself.
How is it that he couldn’t sustain a lasting relationship between him and someone he broke Laws and Custom to install as the Alaafin of Oyo?
For those who were crowned today, I say, congratulations but, please, watch your backs.
Governor Makinde is not renown for keeping friends for a long time.
As I have said earlier, I am concerned about how the activities of Governor Makinde will affect the peace, tranquility and development of Oyo town.
How can there be developments where the traditional heads are in conflicts within themselves?
For Governor Makinde, it’s all about vengeance and politics.
He is targeting the same Alaafin that he single handedly put on the throne.
I think he expected the Alaafin to be carrying his tumbler wherever he goes.
For those who think that Governor Makinde is doing what he is doing because of the Alaafin’s disposition to the Chairmanship of the Oyo state Council of Obas and Chiefs, you got things wrong.
Personally, I do not share Alaafin Owoade’s perceived opposition to the appointment of the Olubadan of Ibadan Land as the Chairman of the reconstituted Oyo state Council of Obas and Chiefs.
In Governor Makinde’s shoes, I would also start with the Olubadan, most especially, because of the personality of His Imperial Majesty, Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja and what he will bring to the table but I would definitely have thought of a way to include Oke- Ogun in the Chairmanship arrangements.
I hold the above view with utmost respect to both the Alaafin and the Soun of Ogbomosho.
They are equally well respected and accomplished individuals in their own rights.
So, like I said, Governor Makinde is not fighting the Alaafin because of anyone.
He is trying to cut him to size to suit his ego.
Whichever way you look at this scenario, it does appear like the deities, ( Alales) are not happy with Governor Seyi Makinde.
He has been insulting them a lot and I think they are fighting back.
The other time, I asked if Governor Makinde has not been enchanted with ‘ efun’ or ‘ eedi’.
I have also wondered if Governor Seyi Makinde is not acting in the manner of the weaver bird.
Whatever the weaver bird weaves together with its beak, it uses the same beak to dismantle. ( Ega kole. Ega fenu tuu).
Whatever reasons Governor Makinde had that made him insist on the choice of Owoade as the Alaafin of Oyo, has he not, by his recent actions spoilt the show by himself?
There is a very big lesson here for all to learn.
Whatever the devil gives you with the right hand, it could also withdraw with the left.
Sola Abegunde.
