Oyo state governor, Seyi Makinde on Friday, September 15, said the vacant stool of Alaafin of Oyo is not for sale.
He said the state would do everything possible to protect the stool adding that anyone who might have given money to anyone because of the stool would be sent to the antigraft agency.
Makinde said he would not only refer such people to the Oyo State Anti-Corruption Agency (OYOCA) but would personally take such individuals to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
He urged the people of Oyo town, particularly those jostling for the stool to embrace peace so that the next occupant can be announced, just as he did with the approval of the new Aseyin of Iseyinland.
Makinde spoke in Iseyin during the official opening of the Iseyin Campus of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Renewable Natural Resources of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Iseyin.
The event has ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo as the special guest of honour to unveil the commemorative plaque and commission the project.
The governor had earlier commissioned the 34.85km Oyo-Iseyin Road project.
He also led Obasanjo and the team to inspect the Fashola Farm and Estate along the Oyo-Iseyin Road.
Speaking in Iseyin, Makinde said if those fighting as regards the Alaafin stoll should embrace peace, it would be a lot easier for someone to be selected.
Not particularly mentioning any name, the governor said anyone who might have collected any money from any contenders for the stool, such a person will be made to face the wrath of the law.
He said,
“And before I leave here, some people are abusing me that I have not chosen some monarchs. I have chosen that of Aseyin and I look forward to coming back for the coronation and the presentation of the instrument of office to the new Aseyin.
“You people in Oyo, you can see now that we have linked Iseyin with Oyo and it will take 22 minutes. You too should stop fighting so that we can have peace to choose the new Alaafin.
“Some people might have collected money from someone, Alaafin stool is not for sale. It is so important to Yorubaland that we won’t sell it.
“Anyone who might have gone to collect money, I won’t take them to OYACA, I will take them to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), and the man who started the EFCC is here seated and I am saying in his presence.”
In his remarks, ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo commended the governor for the efforts saying the importance of a good road network to economic development cannot be over-emphasized.
He said the governor had with the projects set a standard for good governance in the country, noting that democracy that brings about development is what people will embrace.