The Oyo State House of Assembly has received multiple protest letters and petitions following the recent passage of the Chieftaincy Amendment Bill.
Last Tuesday, the Assembly passed the bill, which introduces a rotational system for the chairmanship of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs among the Alaafin of Oyo, Olubadan of Ibadanland, and Soun of Ogbomosoland, on a two-year basis.
This followed the adoption of a report by the House Committee on Local Government, Chieftaincy Matters, and State Honours, chaired by Vice Chairman Bamidele Adeola.
However, The PUNCH has reliably learnt that as of close of business on Friday, the Speaker of the House, Adebo Ogundoyin, had yet to forward the bill to Governor Seyi Makinde for assent, amid mounting opposition from stakeholders.
An informed source within the Assembly disclosed that several petitions and letters were submitted to the Speaker’s office before the end of the workweek.
“We are still working on one or two things. We continued to receive petitions, letters, and reactions from some aggrieved stakeholders up until Friday,” the source said.
“Though the Assembly has completed its role—having passed the bill through the third reading—we can no longer deliberate on it unless the governor withholds assent and returns it with suggested amendments. That is now the only route for reconsideration,” the source added.
According to the source, the decision is now entirely in the governor’s hands: “The governor may choose not to assent or to return the bill for amendments. If he sends it back, then it will be reintroduced on the House floor.”
Meanwhile, the Afijio Local Government Traditional Council has become the latest group to protest the bill.
In a statement issued on Saturday through its solicitor, Olajide Olanipekun, the council urged Governor Seyi Makinde to withhold his assent, citing concerns about justice, equity, and fair play.
The council condemned what it called fundamental flaws in the bill, including the failure to identify which traditional council member represents which local government area, a gap they described as a “monumental flaw.”
They argued that while prominent monarchs such as the Alaafin and Olubadan chair multiple Local Government Traditional Councils, other areas—particularly Afijio—are being sidelined.
The statement also criticised the recognition of the Akibio of Ilora as a permanent member of the State Council of Obas, claiming it violates the rotational tradition among the traditional rulers of Afijio.
“The chairmanship of the Afijio Traditional Council rotates among the Onifiditi of Fiditi, Amorin of Akinmorin, Akibio of Ilora, Alaawe of Awe, Onimini of Imini, Oniware of Iware, and Baale of Jobele,” the statement said.
It argued that the Akibio is neither the current nor permanent chairman, and therefore cannot represent Afijio as a standing member of the State Council.
“The inclusion of the Akibio alone as Afijio’s representative is flawed. It disregards the rotational leadership enshrined in our tradition and legal precedent,” the statement added.
The council warned that if the bill becomes law, it could be challenged in court on the grounds of failing to honour the established rotational system that has preserved peace in Afijio.
“We urge Your Excellency to return the bill for proper reenactment to include Afijio’s traditional leadership structure,” the statement concluded. “Only by correcting these historical inaccuracies can justice, equity, and tradition be preserved.”
Credit: punchng.com
