A member of the Oyo State Advisory Council, Barrister Michael Lana, has described the inauguration of the state Council of Obas and Chiefs by Governor Seyi Makinde as a bold step at correcting fallacious history.
This was just as he said the decision to inaugurate the Council required boldness and fairness, noting that kudos must be given to Governor Makinde for performing the almost impossible task of reviving the forum where traditional Obas and Chiefs can meet and contribute meaningfully to the development of the state.
The former Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in a statement he issued on Friday, disclosed that in the old Oyo State comprising of Osun and present Oyo States, an agitation against Ooni of Ife holding on permanently to post of Chairman Council of Obas and Chiefs started after the demise Oba Adesoji Aderemi.
He said championing the struggle was no other than the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, stating that he was able to convince the Olubadan of Ibadan, the Soun of Ogbomoso and the Owa Obokun of Ilesa.
According to him, their agitation was not anchored on any historical right, prowess or status for if that had been the case, the agitation would have started in the lifetime of Oba Aderemi but no one dared raise such an issue with Oba Aderemi.
He however added that the military government did not accord their agitation with any recognition nor acceded to their request.
Lana stated further that the aforesaid monarchs then filed an action at the High Court at Iyaganku and swearing an affidavit on behalf of the Obas was Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, noting that in that affidavit Oba Adeyemi made a case for rotational Chairmanship which was what the Obas that joined him agreed to.
He maintained that historically no Oba could claim any right to the Chairmanship as the Council was not and has never been a traditional post or title, stating that the Council started as an informal meeting of and by the Obas and not funded by or regulated by the government as it could be likened to a social or cultural society or club.
The statement read, “The advice after a robust discussion attracted the government which then decided to give it a legal backing by recognizing it in the Legal Notice No.5 of 1977.
“Then the old Oyo was split and this put paid to the case against the Ooni of Ife. However, more out of politics than legal or historical considerations, the Military made the Alaafin the Chairman of the Council.
“This did not go down well with the Olubadan and Soun who felt betrayed that what they all fought for was given only to the Alaafin. By then, Alaafin took it as being entitled because of Old history when there was Oyo Empire.
“The agitation against this historical aberration continued till and after Chief now Oba Ladoja became governor.”
Lana stated further that many people, including scholars rendered opinions and suggested solutions to the problem, noting that some suggested that Oyo State be divided into three zones with three independent Council of Obas and Chiefs with the Alaafin to be Chairman of the Oyo/Oke Ogun zone; Soun to be Chairman of Ogbomoso zone while Olubadan should lead the Ibadan/Ibarapa zone.
He added that another set of opinions suggested only one council but with a rotational Chairmanship, disclosing that neither was acceptable to the Alaafin who continued to hold on to the 19th century prowess of old Oyo but which was not acceptable to Ibadan and Ogbomoso who argued that Oyo Empire was dead and buried and what Alaafin had was what Ibadan warlords bestowed on him.
According to him, this was what the late Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala administration met on ground, noting that as Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice he advised that there should be a review of the Laws of Oyo State and stakeholders be invited to air their views and suggest necessary amendment if any.
“With respect to the Chiefs Law and in particular the Council of Obas and Chiefs, all first class Obas were invited and two clear days were allotted to them to present their papers and argue their points.
“The Olubadan team was led by late Oba Lekan Balogun while the Soun, Okere of Shaki, Baale Ojongbodu and many Obas and Chiefs were present and fully participated. The Alaafin was conspicuously absent and did not register any paper to justify any right to be permanent Chairman of Obas and Chiefs nor responded to the arguments of Ibadan and Ogbomoso.
“Eventually the Akala administration opted for rotational Chairmanship and amended the law to reflect this. Under that amendment, the Olubadan was to be first Chairman followed by Soun.
“Unfortunately this was not to be as the Alaafin challenged it in court thereby forcing Governor Abiola Ajimobi to suspend the Council indefinitely since 2011. That case was never heard but since it suspended the operation of that law, the parties seemed satisfied. With the demise of the Alaafin the case suffered a natural death.”
Lana then congratulated Oba Ladoja on his appointment as the Chairman of the state Council of Obas and Chiefs, noting that his choice is nothing but a well-deserved one as it reflects his experience, wisdom and commitment to peace and progress of not only Ibadanland but the state as a whole.
He however enjoined all the royal fathers to work as a team, stating that it is by embracing peace and cooperating with each other that the needed development can come to the state.
