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CULTURE

Oyo global forum slams bill to dethrone Alaafin as permanent chair of council of Obas

May 15, 2025 • 3 min read

May 15, 2025

By Adedoja Adesoji

The Oyo Global Forum (OGF) has rejected the Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendment) Bill, 2025, currently before the Oyo State House of Assembly.

According to the forum’s chairman, Taiwo Adebayo, the bill seeks to strip the Alaafin of Oyo of his permanent chairmanship of the council, introducing a concurrent arrangement that would place the Alaafin, Olubadan of Ibadan, and Soun of Ogbomoso as equals.

“The Alaafin’s role as Permanent Chairman is not a matter of privilege or politics, but one rooted in historical precedent and traditional seniority,” Adebayo argued.

“This bill, if passed, risks undermining a centuries-long legacy, one that Yoruba people should be proud of and ready to protect and preserve at all times.”

Adebayo expressed concern that the bill would distort traditional hierarchies and disregard the cultural, historical, and spiritual significance of the Alaafin’s position.

“To legislate a concurrent chairmanship not only risks a destabilising reinterpretation of Yoruba traditional hierarchies but also disregards the cultural, historical, and spiritual significance of the Alaafin’s place in our collective identity,” he said.

The forum urged stakeholders to approach the matter with a clear understanding of what’s at stake, emphasizing that legislative power must be exercised with a deep sense of historical responsibility.

“The current proposal could cause irreparable damage to the traditional balance in the state and indeed the entire Yorubaland.

“We appeal to your conscience and your duty to serve the public good, including the preservation of our cultural institutions,” Adebayo stated.

The OGF called on Governor Seyi Makinde to reject the bill, warning that it could erode the heritage of the people and damage his legacy.

“Stand as a custodian of Yoruba tradition and protect the integrity of the institution of the Alaafin,” Adebayo urged.

To traditional stakeholders and royal institutions, the forum said, “We believe that your intentions are aligned with the preservation of our history and centuries-long traditional order. But current developments, especially this bill being rushed by the Oyo State lawmakers, place this legacy in jeopardy. We call on you to stand up for what your titles represent.”

Adebayo also appealed to the Yoruba people to embrace the forum’s position as a call to cultural duty.

“Our heritage must not be redefined without our voices. Let us engage constructively, mobilise thoughtfully, and resist any erosion of our ancestral institutions. The Alaafin’s stool is a cultural cornerstone. It must be protected,” he emphasized.

“This is more than a legislative matter; it is a defining moment for our cultural identity. The Alaafin must remain the sole Permanent Chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs. That is our position. And that must not change,” the forum concluded.