A proposed law amendment by the Oyo State House of Assembly that would designate the Alaafin of Oyo as the permanent chairman of the state’s Council of Obas and Chiefs has been met with considerable opposition from traditional leaders and stakeholders from Ibadanland and Ogbomosoland.
A joint declaration signed by Mogajis, Baales, monarchs, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, the Ibadan Compounds Peace Initiative, notable sons and daughters of Ibadanland, and Mogajis from the Soun Ruling Houses of Ogbomoso was released in Ibadan on Monday.
On the floor of the Oyo State House of Assembly last Thursday, the measure to modify the chieftaincy law, which would designate the Alaafin as the council’s permanent chairman, passed its second reading.
Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin presided over the meeting. The House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters was then tasked with reviewing the measure further.
According to the law, the Olubadan of Ibadanland would preside over the council if the Alaafin was not there, and the Soun of Ogbomoso would do so in their absence.
The modification, however, was denounced by the traditional leaders and interested parties, who called it an insult to other royal institutions in the state and a distortion of historical custom.
“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.
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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.
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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.”
