During the second reading of the Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendment) Bill, 2025, at the plenary session of the Oyo State House of Assembly on Thursday, Hon. Olorunpoto Rahaman, representing Oyo East/Oyo West State Constituency, made a compelling case for the formal recognition of the Alaafin of Oyo as the Permanent Chairman and Presiding Officer of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
In his contribution to the debate, Hon. Rahaman emphasized the need for clarity in the bill, particularly expressing concerns over the use of the term “concurrent chairmen” to describe the proposed leadership structure, warned that such language is vague, potentially misleading, and could generate avoidable controversies among traditional rulers.
“I raised a red flag over the use of the word ‘concurrent’ in the proposed amendment. That term lacks clarity and opens the door to conflicting interpretations. If the true intent of the bill is to restore the traditional status of the Alaafin, then the law must state clearly and unequivocally that the Alaafin is the Permanent Chairman and the Presiding Officer of the Council,” Rahaman said.
The lawmaker further stressed that the Alaafin’s primacy in Yoruba history and traditional governance should be properly reflected in the law, not diminished by ambiguous language or equal chairmanship status.
In addition, the lawmaker advocated for an extra slot to be allotted to the Oyo zone in the composition of the Council, argued that Oyo, as the historical seat of Yoruba civilization and a zone with multiple revered traditional institutions, deserves enhanced representation in the restructured Council framework.
“I am calling for an additional slot to be allotted to our zone to ensure fairness, recognition, and proper representation,” he added.
Hon. Rahaman reiterated his commitment to ensuring that the amendment, when passed, reflects cultural integrity, historical justice, and balanced representation for all regions in the state.