A socio-cultural group, ‘Oyo Renaissance Forum’, has applauded moves by Governor Seyi Makinde to reform the Oyo State Chieftaincy Law, saying it was long overdue.
It said Ibadan Mogajis, Baales, market men and women and others are happy with Makinde over the move.
The group said people believe that once the bill becomes law, it would allow the wearing of beaded crowns by Senior chiefs in the State, especially Olubadan In-Council and some notable Baales of ancient towns and villages.
A statement by the convener of the group, Chief Adeola Areago, urged the Governor to show more commitment to the executive bill before the House of Assembly and ensure timely passage to make the long-awaited reform of the State Chieftaincy Law a reality.
Areago, a United Kingdom (UK) based historian and scholar, said the news of the planned review of the Chieftaincy Law of Oyo State is already being applauded by all stakeholders including Mogajis in Ibadan, Baales, traders and others.
He said: “As a potential beneficiary including other Mogajis, Senior Chiefs and Olubadan-in-Council members, everybody is happy with the Governor. The planned review of the law to allow for the wearing of beaded crowns by a number of qualified chiefs shows the Governor of the State as a responsible and responsive leader committed to ensuring a better Oyo State and Ibadan in particular.”
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‘Many of our senior citizens; the elites whose legendary Baales in ancient communities deserve beaded crowns to become more respected in the comity of other monarchs across the State, are also happy with His Excellency.”
“The State lawmakers should also be commended for their move to fast-track the passage of this bill. Their names would be etched out in history alongside His Excellency for making the long-awaited dream a reality.”
“I have seen various statements supporting the proposed amendment of Chieftaincy law by the Governor. This is highly commendable.
‘The governor should go ahead with his action for now. He should ignore critics. It is normal. Once it becomes law. Law is Supreme. And everybody would just have to re-adjust to the new reality in Ibadan and Oyo State in general.”
‘It is, therefore, a thing of joy that the new law would give the Governor the power to be the prescribing authority on all chieftaincy matters.”
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo, informed many of the requests to the Governor by traditional leaders known as Baales to wear beaded crowns at different domains across the state have remained pending for so long because of the inability of the council of Chiefs to meet.
He noted that the absence of the state Council of Chiefs which ought to interface with the governor before granting approvals for such requests has not also been able to sit for necessary deliberation over a long period of time.
The Attorney General added that these factors necessitated the proposal by the state executive council headed by Governor Makinde to amend section 28 of the Oyo Chieftaincy Law in order to further improve the process.
He said the proposed amendment, when fully effective, will empower the Governor as the sole authority without consultations with the Chiefs to grant approvals for the wearing of beaded crowns.
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Barr. Olasunkanmi Olaleye, while shedding more light on the proposed amendment bill said, “The state executive council deliberated on section 28 subsection 1 of the Chiefs Laws of Oyo state.
“The law as it is today is that the Governor can only approve the application for the beaded crown after consultations with the Oyo state Council of Obas and Chiefs but we all know that Council has not met for a very long time now and we have a lot of applications for approval of beaded crowns.
“So, that section 28 of the law has now been amended to give the governor sole authority to approve the application for the beaded crown in Oyo state without consultations.”