Prominent stakeholders from Ibadanland have strongly opposed the proposed amendment to the Council of Obas and Chiefs Law, 2000, currently under deliberation in the Oyo State House of Assembly. The bill seeks to make the Alaafin of Oyo the permanent chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, a move the Ibadan stakeholders describe as provocative, unjust, and a potential trigger for unnecessary tension in the state.
The proposed amendment, contained in the “Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendment) Bill, 2025,” aims to end the long-standing rotational system of leadership among the three highest-ranking traditional rulers in Oyo State — the Alaafin of Oyo, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, and the Soun of Ogbomoso.
However, leading voices from Ibadan, including the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), the Council of Mogajis, the Ibadan Compound Peace Initiative (ICPI), Baales, traditional rulers, and notable sons and daughters of the city, have vehemently rejected the bill. They maintain that the rotational arrangement remains the most equitable and peaceful means of leadership within the traditional council.
In a joint statement signed by Mogaji Asimiyu Ariori, President of Ibadan Mogajis, and Mogaji Nurudeen Akinade, Coordinator of the ICPI, the stakeholders recalled Ibadan’s monumental role in the political and cultural development of Yorubaland. According to them, Ibadan has historically led efforts to safeguard the Yoruba nation, including resisting external threats and nurturing political alliances that shaped the region’s destiny.
“Without the support of the Ibadan People’s Party, Chief Obafemi Awolowo might not have emerged as the Premier of the Western Region. It was Ibadan that stood with the Action Group to defeat the NCNC of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe,” the statement read.
They further warned that attempting to impose the Alaafin of Oyo as the permanent chairman is both ahistorical and politically insensitive. “Ibadan has always been the defender of the Yoruba nation. At no time has our leadership ever bowed to any other town, not even Oyo,” they declared.
The stakeholders insist that if any traditional ruler is to be made a permanent chairman, it should naturally be the Olubadan of Ibadanland, considering Ibadan’s demographic, political, and cultural relevance. “Why would the Alaafin push for a permanent chairmanship when Ibadan, with its unmatched contributions, has never made such a demand?” they queried.
They also cited precedents to support their position, particularly the approval of rotational chairmanship by former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala during his tenure. Under that arrangement, the late Olubadan, Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I, presided over council meetings, establishing a working model of balance and inclusion.
“The Oyo State House of Assembly risks inflaming the polity by toying with this sensitive matter,” they warned. “If this controversial and obnoxious bill passes into law, the lawmakers and those behind it will bear full responsibility for any resulting unrest.”
The pushback comes amid growing tension in the state as the legislative process for the amendment progresses. While supporters of the bill argue that the Alaafin represents ancient Yoruba royalty and should be given due preeminence, critics counter that the modern state must embrace inclusivity, equity, and democratic representation in its traditional institutions.
Sources close to the Ibadan leadership revealed that consultations are ongoing to mobilize wider resistance against the bill. Traditional rulers in Ibadanland, as well as the broader Yoruba intelligentsia, are said to be monitoring the development closely.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State House of Assembly has not issued any formal response to the objections raised by Ibadan stakeholders. However, observers note that the Assembly now finds itself at a crucial juncture where its decisions could either reinforce traditional harmony or provoke ethnic and royal rivalry.
Legal experts also point out that if the bill is passed and assented to by Governor Seyi Makinde, it may face judicial challenge from aggrieved parties on the grounds of marginalization and procedural imbalance. The decision may also influence the political climate ahead of future elections in the state, given the sensitivity surrounding traditional leadership roles.
As deliberations continue, all eyes remain on the Oyo State Assembly and Governor Makinde to determine whether the rotational leadership model will be preserved or replaced with a monarchical hierarchy that may upset the delicate equilibrium among Oyo State’s royal institutions.