Traditional leaders from Ibadanland and Ogbomosoland are opposing a proposed law to make the Alaafin of Oyo permanent chairman of the state’s Council of Obas and Chiefs, arguing for the preservation of rotational leadership

Traditional leaders and key figures from Ibadanland and Ogbomosoland have voiced strong opposition to a proposed amendment to the Oyo State chieftaincy law, which seeks to make the Alaafin of Oyo the permanent chairman of the state’s Council of Obas and Chiefs.

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This opposition was formally expressed in a joint statement issued on Monday in Ibadan.

The statement was signed by Mogajis, Baales, monarchs, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, the Ibadan Compounds Peace Initiative, prominent individuals from Ibadanland, and Mogajis from the Soun Ruling Houses of Ogbomoso.

The bill, which proposes to establish the Alaafin as the permanent “presiding authority” of the Oyo State Council of Obas, successfully passed its second reading in the Oyo State House of Assembly last Thursday.

The legislative session, presided over by Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin, saw the bill referred to the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters for further scrutiny.

The bill outlines a hierarchy for presiding over the council: primarily the Alaafin, followed by the Olubadan of Ibadanland in the Alaafin’s absence, and then the Soun of Ogbomoso if both are absent.

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.

However, traditional leaders and stakeholders have condemned the proposed amendment, describing it as “a distortion of historical tradition and an affront to other royal institutions in the state.”

“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 emphasized.

The President of the Ibadan Mogajis, Asimiyu Ariori, and the ICPI Coordinator, Nurudeen Akinade, reiterated that their opposition was not based on personal gain but “rooted in historical precedent and a desire to ensure unity and peace across the state.”

They cautioned 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.”