Olubadan-in-Council, Onpetu back Makinde’s Chieftaincy reform in Oyo

By Akeem Abas

The Olubadan-in-Council and Onpetu of Ijeru Kingdom, Oba Sunday Oyediran, have thrown their weights behind Gov. Seyi Makinde on his planned reform of Chiefs Law in Oyo State.

This is contained in their memoranda presented at the public hearing held by the House of Assembly on the reform, which was made available to newsmen on Sunday in Ibadan.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the submissions came barely days after some Senior Chiefs, Mogajis, as well as market men and women, also supported the proposed reform.

The Bill on the reform, seeking to amend the current Chiefs Law, particularly Section 28 of the Law, had passed the second reading stage at the House of Assembly.

NAN reports that some traditional rulers in the state have supported the planned reform, while others called for caution.

The Olubadan-in-Council, in its memorandum, said that it was time to amend the Chiefs Law to allow more Obas to be under Olubadan of Ibadanland.

It advanced reasons why Ibadan Chieftaincy Declaration should be reformed after the Chiefs Law has been amended.

Majority of Olubadan High Chiefs, in their memoranda to Speaker of the House, at the public hearing, declared supports for the reform.

Commenting, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola, the Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, said the state government needed to reform the Chieftaincy Laws visa-s-vis Ibadan Municipality in the 11 local government areas.

“Ibadan has been long governed by the 1957 Declaration Law, whereby High Chiefs under the Olubadan are subject to ridicule and lack of respect at public functions.

“This happened until during the era of the late Gov. Abiola Ajimobi, who abolished the 1957 Declaration Law and upgraded the High Chiefs to the Status of Royal Majesty.

“Olubadan was upgraded to the Status of Imperial Majesty. He also cut the line to 12 steps on Otun line and 13 steps on Balogun line,” Ajibola said.

He said the late Ajimobi’s reform was reversed by Makinde, adding that
Ibadan High Chiefs were not respected and given necessary regard within and outside the government functions.

Ajibola said Ibadan High Chiefs were not treated like other Obas from Oke-Ogun, Oyo and Ogbomoso axis, who have no higher domain status or size bigger than areas in Ibadan.

“The defect leading to the derailment of attempt of the late Ajimobi to upgrade Ibadan hierarchy was failure to amend the Chiefs Law to give it status it deserved.

“Now that the incumbent governor has decided to put the record straight and give Ibadan a befitting status; we solidly support the amendment to Section 28 of Oyo State Chiefs Laws.

“It is a kudos to His Excellency, Gov. Seyi Makinde, who has deemed it fit to correct the long time defects to the Chiefs Law politically created,” Ajibola said.

In his contributions, the Onpetu of Ijeru Kingdom, said that the amendment of the law was a good development.

Oyediran said that the governor’s discretion in respect of the chieftaincy holders entitled to wearing beaded crowns should be done according to due diligence.

He said that beaded crown should be approved based on historical antecedent of the chieftaincies, peculiarity of a given area and doctrine of necessity.

“In exercising his discretion, the governor should carry out due diligence to ensure that territorial identities are respected and avoid overlapping of areas of traditional authorities.

“It must draw a distinct line between traditional Chiefs and honorary ones. The beaded crown approved by the governor should be annotated with the inscription of Obas created by statute,” he said.

The traditional ruler said that with the amendment, the governor was now placed in the position of a judge of the court in respect of entitlement to wear beaded crown.

He said that the governor must exercise his discretion judiciously and judicially.

“The initial Law gave the governor right to approve beaded crown for those deserving it, but can only exercise his discretion after he must have consulted the Council of Obas and Chiefs.

“But, the amendment sought by the governor is to give him the right to exercise his discretion as provided by the Law unfettered,” he said.

(NAN)