Oyo govt initiates expansion, headship rotation in Council of Obas

Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration has initiated a move to expand the rotation of chairmanship and vice chairmanship positions within the Oyo State Council of Chiefs and Obas.

This development occurred during a meeting between Governor Seyi Makinde and all traditional rulers in Oyo State at the House of Chiefs, Oyo State Secretariat, on Friday.

As part of the initiative, relevant chief laws will be amended by the State House of Assembly to create additional vice chairmanship seats, which will be subjected to rotation.

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During the meeting, traditional rulers presented verbal proposals regarding the inclusion of more Obas in the rotation of council leadership. However, government representatives encouraged the traditional rulers to submit their opinions in the form of written memoranda.

It is anticipated that another meeting will be convened next Friday to receive the memoranda.

Oyo State Deputy Governor, Mr. Bayo Lawal, who attended the event on behalf of his principal, highlighted the failure of the late Abiola Ajimobi administration to fully implement the chieftaincy law of 2000, particularly section 3 sub-sections 3, 28, and 37 as amended by the late Adebayo Alao-Akala administration in May 2011.

This, he said, had not enabled regular chairmanship and deputy chairmanship rotation among the Alaafin, Olubadan, Soun, Orile Igbon, Aseyin, Okere and Eleruwa every two years.

On his part, a member representing Lagelu State Constituency, Honourable Akintunde Olajide, said the legislature yawned to receive and work on the amendment in form of an executive bill.

Earlier, commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr Segun Olayiwola said the meeting aimed at strengthening synergy between the traditional rulers, on the one hand, and the state government, on the other hand.

Present at the event were traditional rulers across all zones of the state; Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Honourable Adebo Ogundoyin; head of service, Olubunmi Oni; commissioner for justice, Mr Abiodun Aikomo.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE