Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State, has stated that individuals who received bribes during the selection of the Alaafin of Oyo designate will be prosecuted.

Makinde made this remark on Monday while presenting the staff of office to Abimbola Owoade, the new Alaafin of Oyo, at the Oyo State Government House in Ibadan.

Despite opposition from a five-member faction of the Oyomesi (kingmakers), who preferred Lukman Gbadegesin, Makinde announced Owoade as the Alaafin-designate on Friday.

In July 2024, two members of the Oyomesi informed the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) that Gbadegesin had offered each of the five kingmakers N15 million during the selection process.

While handing over the instruments of office to the monarch, Makinde reiterated that the Alaafin stool would not be for sale during his tenure.

He further emphasized that those who attempted to destabilize the traditional institution in the state would be prosecuted.

“The government is not letting down. We will prosecute them. The money they collected, they will still be prosecuted,” the governor stated.

“Except they go to Kabiyesi and apologise; if he forgives them, then I will also forgive them.”

The governor also clarified that there were no political motives behind his approval of Owoade as Alaafin.

He mentioned that he had neither spoken with Owoade nor met him or any of the other princes competing for the throne.

This approach, he said, allowed him to remain objective in his decision-making.

“Some people said maybe it was political consideration. No. Politics, electioneering is a game,” he stated.

“It’s only when you have been elected that governance becomes a serious business because you will take decisions that will affect millions of people. So, we will not play politics with governance.”

Makinde further explained that in 2019, his administration faced challenges with the traditional institution in Ibadanland, which have since been resolved to everyone’s satisfaction.

Regarding the Alaafin stool vacancy in 2022, he mentioned, “We were moving towards the election, and people said, ‘you have to approve the appointment of Alaafin; otherwise, Oyo people would not vote for you.’”

He added, “I said, ‘the people should not vote for me, but that I would do what was right,’ and Oyo voted for me massively. And Oyo will still continue to vote for me.”

The governor confirmed that the coronation would take place in four weeks, adding, “on that day, I’ll talk.”

Lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly have revealed why they sacked Mudashiru Obasa as their Speaker on Monday.

The lawmakers spoke after the plenary on Monday during which they also elected Hon. Mojisola Meranda as Obasa’s replacement.

The representative of Epe 1 Constituency, Abiodun Tobun, who spoke on behalf of his colleagues, said: “The Lagos State House of Assembly declared its decision to impeach Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.

“The impeachment was a unanimous decision by the lawmakers.

“The lawmakers agreed to take this step to safeguard our image and Lagos State.

“Change is inevitable, and we felt it was time for a new direction.

“All standing committees and principal office positions have been dissolved.

“We are determined to work together to elevate the Assembly and deliver on our responsibilities to Lagosians.”

Tobun then went on to explain in detail the reason for their decision.

The Rivers High Court has nullified the congresses conducted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state in 2024.

The court also restrained the state executive committee of the PDP from overseeing the affairs of the party and barred Aaron Chukwuemeka from parading himself as the chairman.

Stephen Jumbo, the presiding judge, gave the order on Monday while ruling on an interlocutory injunction filed by Edwin Woko and Love Otuonye (both lawyers) and two other PDP members. The suit was instituted against Chukwuemeka and nine others.

The petitioners asked the court to declare the local government and ward congresses of the party held in 2024 as null and void.

The congresses, conducted in the 319 wards and 23 LGAs in August 2024, were backed by Nyesom Wike, minister of the federal capital territory (FCT).

The applicants argued that the congresses were conducted in disregard of an order issued by the court in July 2024, which restrained the PDP and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from holding the congresses.

The claimants urged the court to set aside the congresses and restrain Chukwuemeka and members of the state executive committee from acting, representing, or parading themselves as officials of the party in the state.

They also asked the court to declare themselves (the petitioners) as the authentic and subsisting members of the PDP state executive committee and direct the party’s national leadership to recognize and deal with them accordingly.

The judge upheld the applicants’ prayers, nullifying the congresses and restraining Chukwuemeka and other respondents from acting as executives of the party in the state.

The court also recognized the applicants as the authentic and subsisting members of the Rivers State executive committee of the PDP.