The lawmaker representing Atiba State Constituency, who also serves as the Chief Whip in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Gbenga Oyekola has solicited for the elevation of Alaafin of Oyo in the ongoing proposed Council of Obas and Chiefs ( Further Amendments) Bill ,2025 currently before the 10th Assembly in Oyo State.
Speaking on Thursday during the plenary presided over by the Speaker of the House Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, Hon. Oyekola declared that it’s high time to Institutionalize the Alaafin of Oyo as the permanent authority and presiding President of the Council of Obas and Chiefs and equally accommodate Olubadan of Ibadanland and Soun of Ogbomoso as the rotational Chairmen which should be contained in Schedule II and Schedule IA of the proposed Amendment law.
Hon. Oyekola noted that such elevation will further place the Obas and Chiefs in the State in the appropriate hierarchy as being practised in the neighbouring and other Yoruba states.
“Mr. Speaker and my colleagues, first and foremost, we need to put the public in the right perspective. Up till today, what is in operation by law as regards the status of chairmanship of the council of Obas in the State is rotational. It’s after this amendment that the new system will be effective.” The Lawmaker reiterated
“I just want to add a leg that as it’s happening in other states of this Yoruba land, Osun and Lagos States for example, the Ooni of Ife has been elevated to the Post of president, others can be contesting and rotating the Chairmanship ditto for Lagos State”
“I’m trying to advocate that we should just increase the seat of Alaafin of Oyo with a ladder , that Alaafin be recognised as the permanent president of Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.”
Seconding the motion on a bill for a law to further amend the Council of Obas and Chiefs law Cap.37 of Oyo State, Hon. Oyekola stated that the proposal of the amendment aims to restore historical precedence and ensure a clear leadership structure within the Council.
He stated further that the expansion of the Council will also pave ways for stability in the Oyo State traditional system, prevent administrative uncertainties, and foster greater respect for the institution in the State.
It would be recalled that a delegation led by the Chairman of the Council of Elders in Oyo Town, Chief Olatoye, paid a solidarity visit to the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin early hours of the day over the proposed amendments to the Council of Obas and Chiefs law.
The delegation commended the Oyo State House of Assembly for the ongoing efforts to amend the Council of Obas and Chiefs law which has been moribund for about fourteen years.
The bill has however passed through the second reading stage and forwarded to the Standing House Committee on Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters and State Honours for further scrutiny and amendments.