Barely 24 hours after release of the list of 10 out of the 65 aspirants jostling for the vacant stool of Alaafin of Oyo for Ifa consultation and final approval, the kingmakers, otherwise known as OyoMesi, have changed their mind to present names of all the 65 aspirants to the deity for final selection.

The Regent and Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuf Akinade Ayoola, Layinka I, was quoted in a statement as saying that there was no longer shortlisted aspirants as earlier informed owing to minor disagreement among some members of the Oyo Traditional Council (the Oyo Mesi).

Ayoola said that there would no longer be any shortlisted contestants.

Meanwhile, the screening of the aspirants may suffer a setback with the death of one of the prominent kingmakers referred to in the local parlance as Oyomesi, the Alapinni of Oyoland, High Chief Abdul-Rasheed Sheu.

According to a statement by the Oyo East Local Council, Sheu died in the early hours of yesterday during a protracted illness in Oyo town and was to be buried at his residence by 4:00 p.m. in accordance with Islamic rites in Oyo town.

The deceased, as reliably informed, had been absent during the screening process of the aspirants jostling for the vacant stool of Alaafin of Oyo.

However, aside the late Alapinni who had been absent at the screening committee meeting due to illness, others were said to be divided on the release of the shortlisted list.

It was gathered that the aggrieved kingmakers admitted to be part of the screening process but distanced themselves from the list released by the Regent and Basorun of Oyo land, High Chief Akande Ayoola.(The Guardian:Text, excluding headline)