THREAT OF LEGAL ACTION: MAKINDE IS BLUFFING - MURIC

 

15^th January, 2025

PRESS RELEASE:

THREAT OF LEGAL ACTION: MAKINDE IS BLUFFING - MURIC

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has threatened to take legal action against the five kingmakers of Oyo town who rejected the appointment of Hakeem Owoade as the Alaafin. The threat was issued yesterday, Tuesday, 14^th, January, 2025 during the presentation of staff of office to Owoade. However, an Islamic human rights organization, the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), has described Makinde’s threat as a bluff and sheer hocus pocus.

MURIC took this stand in a public statement circulated to newsmen on Wednesday, 15^th January, 2025 by its Executive Director, Professor Ishaq Akintola.

According to MURIC:

“The governor of Oyo State, Engr Seyi Makinde, has threatened to take legal action against the five kingmakers of Oyo town who rejected the appointment of Hakeem Owoade as the Alaafin. The threat was issued yesterday, Tuesday, 14^th, January, 2025 during the presentation of staff of office to Owoade.

“According to Makinde, he was ready to drop the ‘charges’ if they asked Oba Akeem Owoade, the recently appointed Alaafin of Oyo, for forgiveness. In his own words, ‘The money they collected; they will still be prosecuted except they go to Kabiyesi. If he forgives them, I will also forgive them’ (https://crimechannels.com/gov-makinde-threatens-legal-action-against-oyo-kingmakers-over-selection-of-alaafin/).

“Having forced his preferred candidate on the good people of Oyo, the governor is now pushing the opposition to the palace. Carrot and stick method is being applied after committing monumental illegality. Makinde is bluffing. It is sheer hocus pocus.

“Seyi Makinde has also accused the Oyomesi of taking bribe from one of the contestants. This is a grave allegation. MURIC is constrained to ask the governor to provide evidence to back this serious allegation. It remains mere conjecture until the governor shows his evidence. Until then, Makinde can say that to the marines. It is armtwisting. We hope the Oyomesi will not succumb to this.

“Oyo State governor has made a mincemeat of the theory of the separation of powers. He is both the executive and the judiciary. Sitting in an imaginary court of law, Makinde pronounces a crime, reads out the offence and pronounces the judgement.

“We can visualize the courtroom scenario as His Excellency The Lord Justice’s voice rings out, ‘I hereby sentence the offenders to a remorseful visit to the palace with hundreds of prostrations by the beaded chiefs of Oyomesi before the anointed king or jail terms yet to be determined for accepting bribe’. Courrrrrrt!

“Nigerians are not fools. Neither are the good Yoruba people. Makinde wants to legitimize the illegitimate. But try as he may, he cannot delay the Nigerian democratic calendar as scheduled for May 2027. We are enjoying the comedy.”

#MakindeIsBluffing

 

Professor Ishaq Akintola, 

Founder/Executive Director,

Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)