In a dramatic turn of events that may reshape traditional leadership dynamics in Oyo State, monarchs and prominent stakeholders from Ibadanland and Ogbomosoland have unanimously rejected a proposed amendment to the state’s chieftaincy law that seeks to make the Alaafin of Oyo the permanent chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
The proposal, which passed its second reading at the Oyo State House of Assembly on Thursday, May 16, has sparked a wave of criticism and concern from other royal institutions and traditional leaders across the state. The bill, if passed, would place the Alaafin at the helm of the council permanently—replacing the long-standing rotational system among top-ranking traditional rulers.
The amendment also stipulates that in the absence of the Alaafin, the Olubadan of Ibadanland would preside, followed by the Soun of Ogbomoso in their absence. This hierarchy has been perceived by critics as a veiled attempt to institutionalise supremacy in the Oyo traditional order, which some say undermines the history and equality of other monarchs.
In a joint statement issued on Monday in Ibadan, leading traditional figures—including the Mogajis (family heads), Baales (village chiefs), monarchs, and representatives of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII)—voiced their disapproval of the bill. They were joined by the Ibadan Compound Peace Initiative (ICPI), the Mogajis from the Soun Ruling Houses of Ogbomoso, and notable sons and daughters of both regions.
According to the statement, “The chairmanship of the Council of Obas and Chiefs has always been rotational and must remain so to uphold fairness and historical integrity among all traditional institutions in Oyo State.”
The statement further described the proposed law as “a distortion of historical tradition and an affront to the revered stools of Ibadan, Ogbomoso, and other regions in the state.”
President of the Ibadan Mogajis, Chief Asimiyu Ariori, alongside ICPI Coordinator, Nurudeen Akinade, argued that their stance was not a challenge to the Alaafin as an institution, but a principled stand for equity and harmony.
“This is not about personal rivalry,” Ariori explained. “It is about preserving a system that has kept the peace and respect among the royal fathers intact for decades. Changing the leadership structure in favour of one traditional ruler threatens that peace.”
He warned that if lawmakers push forward with the bill, it could ignite avoidable tension across communities that have coexisted respectfully under the rotational model.
Akinade added, “We honoured the late Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, not just for his age and wisdom, but for his respect for other royal institutions. He never imposed superiority, and the current Alaafin should emulate that humility.”
Traditionally, the chairmanship of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs rotates among top-ranking monarchs to reflect the multi-ethnic and multi-royal composition of the state. This arrangement has helped maintain a delicate balance among the Alaafin of Oyo, Olubadan of Ibadanland, and Soun of Ogbomoso—three of the most powerful thrones in the state.
The rotational practice also embodies a constitutional spirit of federal character in chieftaincy representation, which is echoed in Nigeria’s broader governance ethos.
However, proponents of the bill argue that the Alaafin of Oyo holds the oldest and most historically revered stool in Yorubaland and should naturally lead the council permanently. But critics counter that such a move disregards modern realities, democratic fairness, and the equal importance of other royal institutions.
The bill, sponsored by lawmakers aligned with the Oyo Central zone, is currently being reviewed by the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters. While the Assembly Speaker, Adebo Ogundoyin, has promised broad consultation, pressure is mounting from various quarters urging the House to shelve the controversial proposal.
Social commentators and civil society groups have also weighed in, calling for restraint and warning that such legislation could sow seeds of division among communities that are traditionally united.
A notable voice from the academic community, Professor Adeyemi Olatunde, a political historian at the University of Ibadan, commented, “This bill, if not properly reviewed, risks setting a dangerous precedent. It may appear to elevate one throne at the expense of others, and that’s politically and culturally unwise.”
As deliberations continue, all eyes are on the state lawmakers to make a decision that promotes unity and respects the state’s rich chieftaincy heritage. For now, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, who recently completed his traditional Ipebi rites, is yet to make an official statement on the issue.
However, with emotions running high among stakeholders from Ibadan and Ogbomoso, the Oyo State Assembly faces mounting pressure to return to the drawing board and preserve the traditional equilibrium that has long underpinned the council.