Tension In Oyo As Prominent Ibadan Indigenes Reject Alaafin As Permanent Chairman Of Obas

By Kazeem Awojoodu

…Warn Lawmakers To Shun Partisanship

 The issue of permanent chairmanship of the Council of Obas and Chiefs in Oyo State has sparked reactions from a vari­ety of stakeholders, and if not addressed properly, the situation could spiral into a disaster for the state.

The controversy began when the state House of Assembly an­nounced the second reading of the Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendments) Bill, 2025 during its plenary session on Thursday, May 15, 2025.

The proposed legislation seeks to reaffirm and institutionalise the Alaafin of Oyo as the per­manent authority and presiding chairman of the Council of Obas and Chiefs, effectively eliminating the state’s traditional rulers’ rota­tional chairmanship system.

The Council of Obas and Chiefs Law, Cap. 37, Laws of Oyo State, 2000, initially designated the Alaafin of Oyo as the permanent chairman, granting him the au­thority to convene and preside over meetings while also directing council affairs.

However, this arrangement was altered in 2011, during the administration of late Governor Adebayo Alao Akala, resulting in a rotational system in which dif­ferent monarchs presided over council meetings in turn.

The 2025 amendment bill, which is currently before the 10th Assembly, proposes a return to the traditional framework, with the Alaafin of Oyo serving as the permanent presiding chairman and establishing a hierarchy for succession in meetings.

The proposed amendment states, “The Chairmanship of the Council shall be permanent and concurrent to the Alaafin of Oyo, Olubadan of Ibadan, and Soun of Ogbomoso, while the Deputy Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen shall be as contained in Schedule II and Schedule IA to this Bill.”

This means that the Alaafin of Oyo will preside over all council meetings, with the Olubadan of Ibadan filling in when he is absent.

However, the Central Coun­cil of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), Mogajis in Ibadanland, Ibadan Compounds Peace Initiatives (ICPI), Baales, Monarchs, and prominent sons and daughters of Ibadanland have objected to the Oyo State House of Assem­bly’s attempt to make the Alaafin of Oyo the permanent Chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.

The Ibadan stakeholders warned the State House of As­sembly not to cause problems, stating that the chairmanship of the Council of Chiefs and Obas in Oyo State has always been and should continue to be rotated.

In a statement issued by Pres­ident of Ibadan Mogajis, Mogajis Asimiyu Ariori, and Coordinator of the Ibadan Compound Peace Initiative (ICPI), Mogajis Nuru­deen Akinade, the Ibadan people have never been second in com­mand to Oyo, but have instead positioned themselves to protect the entire Yoruba kingdom.

The duo claimed Ibadan has a vast empire and has saved the en­tire Yoruba land numerous times.

According to the duo, if Ibadan had not stopped the Fulani peo­ple from advancing towards the southwest, some Yoruba mon­archs would have been titled Emirs.

“Ibadan has always saved the Yoruba nation; there has never been a time when Ibadanland was second in command to Oyo or any other town in Yorubaland; in fact, Ibadan should be appointed as the permanent chairman of the Oyo Obas. The fact that we keep quiet does not imply that we are foolish.

“Why would Oyo Alaafin want to be the permanent chairman if the people of Ibadan do not? If the obnoxious bill is passed, the Oyo State House of Assembly will bear responsibility.

During their recent solidarity visit to the Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Adebo Ogundoyin,

The delegation, which includ­ed prominent members of the Oyo community such as Reverend Osuolale, Chief Ayeriyina, and Mr Edward Sangodare, expressed gratitude to the Oyo State Govern­ment for approving Oba Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo.

They also praised the Oyo State House of Assembly for its ongoing efforts to amend the Council of Obas and Chiefs Law, which has been dormant for ap­proximately 14 years.

The delegation welcomed the proposed amendments, particu­larly the retention of the Alaafin’s position as Presiding Authority and the plan to remove the rota­tional clause in the Council Chair­manship.