…Bill an attempt to further cement Ibadans’ dominance on other parts of Oyo State–Olugbon
Tensions flared in the Oyo State House of Assembly on Tuesday as lawmakers representing constituencies in Oyo town staged a dramatic walkout during plenary over the controversial Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendment) Bill 2025.
The bill, which seeks to restructure the leadership hierarchy among traditional rulers in the state, has drawn widespread controversy from traditional institutions and lawmakers.
Lawmakers representing Atiba state constituency, Honorable Gbenga Oyekola and his Oyo East/West Counterpart, Hon. Rahman Olorunpoto have voiced their displeasure at the new amendment as contained in the Bill that was passed yesterday at the floor of House during the Tuesday’s sitting.
Westernmirror.com.ng reports that during the plenary sitting yesterday, Hon. Oyekola and Olorunpoto in their separate submissions rejected the rotational arrangement that provides for the three first class monarchs to alternate chairmanship position every two years.
They both faulted the rotational chairmanship arrangement among the Alaafin of Oyo, Olubadan of Ibadan, and Soun of Ogbomoso, describing it as a political scheme that undermines the status of the Alaafin of Oyo’s stool.
Recall that the House, during yesterday’s plenary sitting, held that the original hierarchy as contained in the 2011 amendment placed the Olubadan in first position, Soun in second, and Alaafin in third.
This provision, among others, sparked accusations of regional bias and sparked protest by the two lawmakers from Oyo zone at the legislative chamber yesterday.
Addressing newsmen shortly after the plenary, Oyekola, a second term member of the state Assembly, reiterated his stand insisting that he could not be part of such deliberation and arrangement.
He affirmed that the ongoing legislative action on the bill and other stakeholders were history taking place, expressing optimism that the executive governor, Seyi Makinde, would not assent such law which has the capacity to undermine his laudable achievement especially in the enhancement of the traditional instruction in the state.
“What happened at the house is another history being written and I’m very happy you were there to witness what transpired in the house. I could see a gang up against Oyo zone, not only that but also gang up against the stool of Alaafin by other zones, namely Ibadan and Ogbomoso.
“But what made me so sad, and weakened me when I was trying to harness my point is the fact that Mr Speaker brought out a law of Oyo state being amended in 2011 whereby, a son of Oyo presided over the amendment during former governor, late Alao Akala’s regime.
“And the speaker specifically mentioned Honorable Olawale Atilola, that he even put Alaafin at number three on the rotational list, that weakened me. As seen from the introduction of my speech when I stood up, I told them we should make sure that we put the record straight. What we’re doing today has nothing to do with amendment of rotation, infact the clause that came with the Bill has been deleted, that is clause 4.
“That clause 4 expressly stated that Alaafin of Oyo should be the presiding authority in all Council meetings, that clause has given us a permanent position, it is only in the absence of Alaafin of Oyo that the Olubadan of Ibadan will preside. And in the absence of both Alaafin and Olubadan, the Soun of Ogbomoso will preside and with the kind of Oba we have in Oyo, I believe he will have the energy and ability to preside at whatever point in time there may be call for the council meeting.
He further stated what the amendment merely did was refer the House back to the old system that was a friend fierce subject of unending litigation during the reign of late Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III saying “I don’t think it was concluded in court, I’m not really sure.”
Honorable Olorunpoto asserted in his address while speaking with newsmen after the plenary sitting that the 2011 being referred to by the house was a product of post 2011 governorship and state assembly elections political intrigues where both the then Speaker and governor, did not enjoy the support of the late Alaafin and decided to amend the law as a payback.
Olorunpoto insisted that there was no difference between the 2011 amendment and the new amendment describing the elevation of Alaafin from third to first position in Obaship hierarchy as cosmetic.
He maintained that the Alaafin of Oyo can not take a backseat or play second fiddle in the monarchical order. He affirmed that even though the majority of the lawmakers opposed their position from Oyo zone, he would not be part of such deliberation, which he said informed his decision to walk out of the plenary.
Backing this stance, the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, in a strongly worded statement through his media consultant, Bisi Oladele, rejected the bill outright, describing it as “a faulty political document whose consideration should be halted to give room for consultations.”
According to the Olugbon, “The bill is faulty and defective because there was no adequate consultation by the House of Assembly, neither was there public hearing or enquiry before it was presented and considered.”
The monarch expressed particular dismay at the inclusion of Ibadan high chiefs in the Council, calling it “an aberration in culture and tradition.”
“For such an important bill that seeks to revive and do justice to the Council of Obas and Chiefs, the key stakeholders are the traditional rulers who should have been adequately consulted before it was packaged,” he said. “Besides, there should be a public hearing on the proposal.”
Olugbon further warned that the bill, if passed, would institutionalize the marginalization of other regions.
“In the proposed amendment, the law further cements Ibadans’ dominance on indigenes from other parts of the state,” he said.
“Should the bill be passed, indigenes of Oyo, Ogbomoso, Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa zones will again become second-class indigenes in their own state, just as Ibadan indigenes have been dominating other parts of the state politically.”
He noted that since 1999, with the exception of the late Adebayo Alao-Akala, all governors of the state have hailed from Ibadan.
“While there is need for the Council to be revived and strengthened, it should not be skewed in favour of a particular zone to further dominate other zones. It should reflect fairness, justice, equity, and possess the capacity to promote peace among traditional rulers in the state,” the statement concluded.
Amid rising tension, the lawmakers who walked out have vowed to resist the bill unless broader consultations are conducted and its contentious sections reviewed.
