A proposed bill seeking to reinstate the Alaafin of Oyo as the permanent chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs has triggered strong opposition from key Ibadan stakeholders, sparking tension and warnings of possible unrest if the legislation proceeds.
The Oyo State House of Assembly, during a plenary session on Thursday, advanced the second reading of the Council of Obas and Chiefs Bill, 2025. The bill aims to amend existing laws to give the Alaafin of Oyo a permanent role as the head of the council — a reversal of the rotational leadership system adopted in 2011 under the late Governor Adebayo Alao Akala.
According to the proposed amendment, the Alaafin would preside over all council meetings, while the Olubadan of Ibadan would act in his absence. The new structure would also include specific schedules assigning deputy and vice-chairman roles.
But the bill has met fierce resistance from the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Ibadan Mogajis, the Ibadan Compounds Peace Initiative, traditional Baales, and various monarchs and elites from Ibadanland. They argue that the chairmanship must remain rotational to reflect the historical balance of power and mutual respect among Yoruba kingdoms.
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Mogajis Asimiyu Ariori and Nurudeen Akinade, speaking on behalf of the ICPI and Ibadan Mogajis, condemned the bill, calling it “obnoxious” and warning the House of Assembly not to incite division within the state.
“Ibadan has never been second to Oyo or any other Yoruba town,” they declared. “We’ve played a key role in preserving the Yoruba heritage — from resisting Fulani invasions to maintaining regional peace. Trying to undermine our history with this bill is unacceptable.”
They further emphasized that silence should not be mistaken for weakness, asserting that Ibadan has the size, influence, and legacy to lead the council if a permanent chairmanship is to be considered.
Meanwhile, representatives from Oyo town — including religious and community leaders — visited Speaker Adebo Ogundoyin to show their support for the proposed amendments. They praised the government’s recognition of Oba Owoade as the new Alaafin of Oyo and endorsed the effort to end the 14-year-old rotational system, reinstating the Alaafin’s traditional leadership role.
As the debate intensifies, political analysts warn that any decision made without broad consensus risks deepening divisions within the state’s traditional leadership and among its major ethnic blocs.
Phoenix
