Withhold assent on chieftaincy bill, Oyo monarchs urge Makinde


 The Afijio Local Government Traditional Council in Oyo State has appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde not to assent to the recently passed Council of Obas and Chiefs Amendment Bill, urging that justice, equity, and fair play be upheld.


In a statement released on Saturday in Ibadan by its Solicitor and Advocate, Olajide Olanipekun, the Council highlighted significant flaws in the bill that necessitate reconsideration.

The state House of Assembly had, last Tuesday, approved the rotation of the Chairmanship among the Alaafin of Oyo, Olubadan of Ibadanland, and Soun of Ogbomosoland every two years.

This followed the presentation of a report by the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters and State Honours, led by Vice Chairman Bamidele Adeola.However, the Council criticised the bill for failing to specify which local government area each member represents, describing this omission as a monumental flaw that undermines the law’s intent.

While monarchs such as the Alaafin and Olubadan represent or chair multiple Local Government Traditional Councils, some local government areas, including Afijio, are being shortchanged.

The statement further argued that recognising the Akibio of Ilora as a permanent member of the Council of Obas violates the historical rotational traditions among the Obas in theThe Chairmanship of the Afijio Traditional Council rotates among the Onifiditi of Fiditi, Amorin of Akinmorin, Akibio of Ilora, Alaawe of Awe, Onimini of Mini, Oniware of Aware, and Baale of Jobele,” the statement explained.

It emphasised that the Akibio of Ilora is neither the permanent nor the incumbent chairman of the Council, and therefore, the bill must recognise other Obas and allow for rotational representation.

“The mention of the Akibio of Ilora as a member of the State Council of Obas and Chiefs in the newly passed bill does not rectify the fundamental historical error, as the Akibio is not the permanent chairman or even the current chairman of the local government Traditional Council.

“Accordingly, the Akibio cannot solely occupy the Afijio slot, which by law should rotate among Onifiditi of Fiditi, Akibio of Ilora, Alaawe of Awe, Onimini of Mini, Oniware of Aware, Baale of Jobele, and Amorin of Akinmorin.

“The omission of the statutory representative of the Afijio Traditional Council chairman from the State Council of Obas and Chiefs is among the many grounds upon which the bill may be challenged and potentially set aside by a competent court if it becomes law upon Your Excellency’s assent.”

The Council therefore appealed to Governor Makinde to withhold assent to the bill to preserve justice, equity, and the longstanding tradition of rotational leadership that has fostered peace and harmony in the local government.

“We urge Your Excellency to return the bill to the Assembly for re-enactment, correcting the numerous historical anomalies it contains, especially the omission of the Afijio Traditional Council chairman’s rotational representation among the principal towns of the local government,” the Council concluded.

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