The House of the Oyo State Assembly is prepared to promulgate a law that will make the Alaafin de Oyo the permanent authority and president of the Council of Obas and Chiefs in the State.
The bill, which has entered its second reading, seeks to reaffirm and institutionalize the role of Alaaafin as permanent president.
The bill, if the law was finally approved, would mark the end of the rotational presidency system between the traditional rulers in the State.
The Obas Council and the Law of Chiefs, Cap. 37, Laws of the State of Oyo, 2000, initially placed the Alafin de Oyo as permanent president, giving him the authority to convene and preside over meetings, while directeding the affairs of the Council.
However, in 2011, during the administration of the late Governor Adebayo Alao Akala, this agreement was altered, which led to a rotation system where different monarchs presided over the council meetings in turn.
The 2025 amendment bill, currently before the tenth assembly, proposes a return to the traditional framework, turning the Alaafin de Oyo into the president permanent president while establishing a hierarchy for succession at meetings.
The proposed amendment says: “The presidency of the Council will be permanent and concurrent to the Alaaafin de Oyo, Olubadan de Ibadan and Soun de Ogbomoso, while the vice presidents and vice presidents will be those contained in Annex II and the annex of this bill.”
This means that the Alaaafin de Oyo will preside over all the meetings of the Council, while in its absence, Ibadan Olubadan will preside.
However, if Alaaafin and Olubadan are absent, the Ogbomoso Soun will preside.
This proposal aims to restore historical precedence and guarantee a clear leadership structure within the Council.
The proponents of the bill argue that this agreement would promote stability in the traditional council of the state of Oyo, would avoid administrative uncertainties and foster greater respect for the institution in the State.
Meanwhile, some critics have misunderstood the amendment, claiming that he awakens Alaafin of his authority.
The new order that is being reflected still presents the alaaafin of Oyo as the President Authority on the Council of Obas and Chiefs in Oyo.
With this agreement, the proposed amendment maintains the tradition and seeks to reinforce it, with the Alaafin preserving its role of historical and well established leadership.
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