Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III; Outgoing Governor Akala
By Matthew Mahmood
Embattled policeman cum outgoing PDP governor of Oyo State, Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala has changed the legal history of Oyo State Monarchs by manipulating the Oyo State House of Assembly to speedily amend and pass a bill that he signed into law; Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs (Amendment) Law 2011 alias Akalamagbo Law 2011.
Akala is behaving like a wounded lion because he lost the gubernatorial election to Senator Abiola Ajimobi and decided to penalize the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III by amending 'the year 2000 legislation'; in order to stop Alaafin from retaining his seat as the permanent chairman of the Council of Obas in Oyo State. The chairmanship may now be rotated among three monarchs; the Alaafin, Olubadan of Ibadanland and Soun of Ogbomoso.
The Council of Obas has rejected the removal of the Alaafin as its chairman. It means that the demotion of Alaafin was unnecessary. It was done intentionally to cause future conflicts between the incoming governor, Senator Abiola Ajimobi and the Council of Obas. Akala is indeed a troubleshooter for interfering in the council of Obas’ affairs. The traditional rulers are wise enough to decide what is best for them. Governors are not democratically elected to meddle in the Obas' terrain unnecessarily.
What was conspicuously childish about the rotation saga was the statement credited to Akala’s spinmeister Prince Dotun Oyelade that, “It is invidious and shallow for anyone to read political motive to this issue white to our mind. The time is ripe and just.” How was ‘the time ripe and just’, if not a vendetta, after Akala’s cronies begged Alaafin to forgive Akala and Akala promised not to depose Obas if re-elected as the governor of Oyo State?
Akala lost votes in Oyo town and should not have expected Oyo indigenes and residents to vote for him since he did not respect their monarch and was accused of plotting to assassinate the Alaafin of Oyo last year. A policeman allegedly confessed to Alaafin by revealing a killer plot to eliminate him but Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Mr Adisa Bolanta told the press that the policeman denied the allegation while nine suspended lawmakers backed Alaafin on the issue.
It must be emphasized that Akala is from Ogbomoso. However, we sincerely hold our traditional rulers in high esteem but it is unfortunate that Akala ignited the wearing of beaded crowns superiority rift between some village heads aka Baales and Olubadan of Ibadanland Oba Samuel Odulana. The Olubadan eventually dragged them to court. It will be recalled that Akala’s aide, the vice-chairman of Oyo State Pilgrims Welfare Board (Muslim wing), Alhaji Abass Oloko resigned because of Akala’s rifts with monarchs in 2010.
Akala has not done much for Ogbomoso town therefore he prefers to cause conflict and interlope the Soun into his political rumblings with the Alaafin. In fact, the Soun of Ogbomoso Oba Jimoh Adewunmi is probably one of the most humble traditional rulers in Nigeria.
Akala is very smart and aware that he has not got much to lose out of office since the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) is a toothless bulldog or watchdog when it comes to Akala. The current EFCC boss Farida Waziri has always turned a blind eye on the Akala family but not on some families of former and present governors. Waziri and Akala are former police officers although the EFCC intends to investigate some outgoing governors including Akala as soon as they are stripped of immunity. Akala is also aware that if the worse comes to the worst he could be set free by plea bargaining like a former Inspector General of Police Tafa Balogun.
Ajimobi was planning to probe Akala but a former governor of Oyo State Alhaji Lam Adesina 'publicly' advised him not to probe Akala. Was it a good or bad advice? Are Ajimobi’s hands not tied when Adesina is the leader of ACN in Oyo State and Ajimobi is the incoming ACN governor of Oyo State?
Ajimobi alerted the nation of Akala’s planned looting spree but President Goodluck Jonathan coincidentally said that incoming governors should try not to disagree with outgoing governors. After all, PDP chieftain Bode George got away with a loot of about N100 billion after months of imprisonment and a shameless flamboyant welcome by the PDP as he stepped out of prison.
Ajimobi's caucus formed a transition committee and Akala quickly formed his own rival transition committee at the expense of the state. On May 29, Akala will cease to be the governor of Oyo State when Ajimobi is sworn in… Nevertheless, the masses are bemused and strongly condemn Akala and 18 of 32 Oyo State House of Assembly legislators that were involved in the controversial Akalamagbo Law 2011. After years of bullying monarchs, Akala turned himself into a Yoruba historian and instigator with the alliance of a bogus legislature. Nevertheless, Oyinbo to se pencil se bi oun na lo se eraser.
Oyo Obas shun Akala, say Alaafin remains permanent chairman
Oyo council of obas: The battle from the beginning
Alao-Akala and EFCC
