Ibadan and Ogbomoso Monarchs Reject Proposal to Make Alaafin Permanent Chair of Oyo Council of Obas

Traditional leaders and stakeholders from Ibadan and Ogbomoso have expressed strong opposition to a proposed amendment by the Oyo State House of Assembly that seeks to designate the Alaafin of Oyo as the permanent chairman of the state’s Council of Obas and Chiefs.

The bill, which recently passed its second reading, aims to establish a fixed leadership structure within the council, positioning the Alaafin as the permanent chairman, the Olubadan of Ibadan as deputy chairman, and the Soun of Ogbomoso as vice chairman.

However, representatives from Ibadan and Ogbomoso argue that this move disrupts the historical rotational leadership system that has ensured equity among the major traditional rulers in the state.

In a joint statement, the Mogajis (family heads) of the Soun Ruling Houses in Ogbomoso described the proposed amendment as “an affront to history and tradition,” emphasizing that the current Oyo Kingdom, established in 1875, is distinct from the original Oyo Empire.

Similarly, Ibadan leaders, including Obas, Mogajis, and members of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII), have rejected the proposal, advocating for the continuation of the rotational leadership model to maintain fairness and unity among the state’s traditional institutions.

The Oyo State House of Assembly has referred the bill to the House Committee on Chieftaincy Matters and State Honours for further deliberation.