Controversial Traditional Council Bill Faces Backlash as Oyo State Government Faces Pressure to Reject it

A recent appeal has been made to the Governor of Oyo State, Seyi Makinde, to refrain from signing a newly passed bill that aims to amend the Council of Obas and Chiefs.

The Afijio Local Government Traditional Council has raised concerns over significant flaws in the legislation, citing issues of fairness and representation.

At the heart of the controversy is the proposed rotation of the chairmanship among three prominent monarchs, which has been criticized for failing to account for the representation of individual local government areas.

The bill’s omission of specific details regarding the representation of each member has been deemed a major oversight, potentially undermining the intent of the law.

Furthermore, the recognition of a particular monarch as a permanent member of the Council of Obas has been challenged, as it allegedly disregards the historical tradition of rotational leadership among the Obas in the local government.

The Afijio Local Government Traditional Council has emphasized the need for rotational representation, highlighting the fact that multiple monarchs currently share chairmanship responsibilities.

The council’s solicitor has argued that the bill’s provisions do not align with the established traditions of the local government, and that the recognition of a single monarch as a permanent member is unjust.

Instead, the council is advocating for a more inclusive approach, which would allow for rotational representation among the various Obas in the local government.