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Shortlisted aspirants to the Alaafin of Oyo stool at the weekend held a peace parley ahead of the screening exercise scheduled to commence on Monday.

Eighty-six (86) princes all from Agunloye ruling house have been shortlisted for the vacant stool.

Meanwhile, in readiness for the screening exercise, the Oyo traditional council in conjunction with Atiba Local government organised a peace parley which aimed at ensuring a hitch-free selection.

The meeting which was held at the Agbala Ogun hall in the ancient Palace was a reunion and veritable avenue for the aspirants of the same family to brainstorm,  ventilate their minds and interact mutually.

The Chairperson of Atiba Local Government, Alhaja Kafilat Mojisola Olakojo, was also in attendance with the  Director of Administration, Mr Ayoola as observers.

In his address at the meeting, the Regent and Basorun of Oyo, High Chief  Yussuf Akinade Ayoola Layinka 1, sued for peace among the aspirants, adding that,  it is only when they are together, devoid of bickering, and animosity that they can remove the defects of the town, in terms industrial underdevelopment and lack of job opportunities for the youths.

“Only if we all are together as a society can we remove the defects in society. There are flaws in every society. In order to remove these flaws, we all should come together and reorganize society”.

In order to remove these flaws, all of you must come together and reorganise the town, irrespective of who emerges as the candidate, to reorganise the town for progress and development”.

“You have the skills to be useful to everyone.  You must apply these skills to create a broad perspective of One Indivisible  Family. Unity and love among all of you is absolutely essential.

We need unity to reform, unity for progress, unity for getting rid of all the ills in our town. A strong community is not a threat to another community. Any community that becomes strong is a boon to other communities. This is what we need to realize”.

High Chief Layinka lamented that it is disheartening to hear that the only industry in Oyo town is garri processing centres, as he tasked the aspirants to be pragmatic and let their vision and mission be development oriented.

“So sharing the strength, sharing the wisdom, sharing the wealth, sharing our hearts, this is what the aim of a community should be. Remove all the lack, all the imperfections, and all the issues that are blocking the community. Look out and be of service”.

Reacting to rumours and hate comments being peddled around by those he described as ” agents of destabilisation”, the Regent used the occasion to challenge each of the aspirants to tell the world how much he paid into the bank accounts of each member of the Oyo Mesi to secure a ticket for the exalted royal stool.

“I think very right think Nigerians should without fear or favour condemn communication that degrades individuals and humanity through distortion, intimidation, coercion, and violence, and through the expression of intolerance and hatred.

“Words can be powerful—both in helping you achieve your speech goal and in affecting your audience in significant ways. It is essential that public speakers refrain from hate or sexist language. Hate speech is the use of words and phrases not only to demean another person or group but also to express hatred and prejudice.”

The Head ( Mogaji) of Agunloye  Royal Family, Pa Prince Samuel Ademola Adeladan, said the Ruling House would not tolerate undue delay and prolongation in the selection of a new candidate for the Alaafin stool, adding that all the due processes must be within this year.

Prince Adeladan enjoined all the aspirants to close ranks and allow love and unity to be their focal points.

He also charged them to eschew recrimination and rally round whoever emerges as the candidate for the Royal stool.

In the same vein, Emeritus  Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu also an aspirant stressed the imperative of love and unity towards progress and development of the town among the aspirants.

“I am a father to all the aspirants and not desperate to be the next Alaafin. But I will continue to work and partner with whoever emerges for the rapid industrial growth of the town and promotion of the cherished Alaafin institution”.

Another aspirant Prince Kabir Gbadegesin noted that ‘ what should be paramount to all aspirants is the goodness of the town and its environs, rather than egoistic desires and winner take all syndrome”.

Adding that he “there must be paradigm shift on how best to transform our town and its environs for the good of all and not give utmost consideration to personal aggrandisement. The stool can only accommodate one person at a time, hence the need for mutual coexistence and unity of purpose in our collective aspirations”.

 

Source: Nigerian Tribune

By oyonews

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