Traditional leaders and stakeholders from Ibadanland and Ogbomosoland have strongly opposed a proposed legal amendment by the Oyo State House of Assembly seeking to make the Alaafin of Oyo the permanent chairman of the state’s Council of Obas and Chiefs.
The opposition was contained in a joint statement issued on Monday in Ibadan and signed by Mogajis, Baales, monarchs, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, the Ibadan Compounds Peace Initiative, prominent sons and daughters of Ibadanland, and Mogajis from the Soun Ruling Houses of Ogbomoso.
The bill to amend the chieftaincy law, which would establish the Alaafin as the permanent chairman of the council, passed its second reading on the floor of the Oyo State House of Assembly last Thursday.
The session was presided over by Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin. The bill was subsequently referred to the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters for further scrutiny.
The bill seeks to make the Alaafin the presiding authority of the Oyo State Council of Obas.
The bill proposed that in the absence of the Alaafin, the Olubadan of Ibadanland would preside, and if both were absent, the Soun of Ogbomoso would chair the council.
However, the traditional leaders and stakeholders condemned the amendment, describing it as a distortion of historical tradition and an affront to other royal institutions in the state.
“The chairmanship of the council has always been rotational and should remain so to reflect fairness and equity among all royal stools in the state,” the statement emphasised.
President of the Ibadan Mogajis, Asimiyu Ariori, and ICPI Coordinator, Nurudeen Akinade, reiterated that their opposition was not driven by personal interest but rooted in historical precedent and a desire to ensure unity and peace across the state.
They warned the House against creating unnecessary tension, urging lawmakers to respect tradition and uphold the rotational leadership model for the Council of Obas and Chiefs.
“The respect we have for the immediate past Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, was because of his relationship with the traditional institutions and some distinguished personalities in Ibadanland,” they said.“We respected and honoured Oba Adeyemi’s age and wisdom. He spent over 50 years on the throne before his demise, yet he never disrespected the Ibadan people. The current Alaafin should tread softly.”
