Following amendment by Oyo State House of Assembly, which moved the Onjo of Òkehò, HRM Oba Rafiu Osuolale Mustapha in Kajola Local Government Area of Oyo State from earlier 11 position to 24 Position on the new list among the council of Obas and Chiefs in the state, the leadership of Àpérò Omo Òkehò has written an open letter to the speaker of the state House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin on why and how the alleged anomalies would be affected.
Pastor Favour Adewoyin, President of Àpérò Omo Òkehò made this known via an open letter to the speaker, which he sent to acrossnigerianews.com on Tuesday, 22nd May, 2025.
The letter directed to Adebo Ogundoyin, which also concerns the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Ademola Ojo had firm support of the entire community under the King, HRM Oba Rafiu Osuolale Mustapha( Adeitan II), the Egbe Omo Ibile Okeho, Dr. Kasali Alarape and all sons and daughters of Okeholand among others.
It would be recalled that the Oyo State House of Assembly recently made amendment with the title ” Council of Obas and Chiefs, Further Amendment Bill 2025″ which gives room for rotation of Chairmanship among Alaafin, Olubadan and Soun, ditto expansion of membership to the new list of high ranky Obas in the state.
The open letter with the title ” Council of Obas and Chiefs, Further Amendment Bill 2025 is stated as follows:
ÀPÉRÒ OMO OKEHO*
May 21, 2025
Rt. Hon. E.A. Ogundoyin, Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly,
Oyo State Secretariat,
Agodi Area, Ibadan,
Oyo State, Nigeria.
Dear Esteemed Honourable Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly.
COUNCIL OF OBAS AND CHIEFS, FURTHER AMENDMENT, BILL 2025:
We bring greetings from Òkehò, the Headquarters of Kájọlà Local Government Area of Ọ̀yọ́ State.
The reason behind this letter is to commend the effort of the 10th House of Assembly of Ọ̀yọ́ State under your able leadership for the great works you have been doing to make laws that would better the lots of people.
Of special mention is the recent Legislative development whose bill is titled “Council of Obas and Chiefs Further Amendment Bill, 2025”. Our prayer is that God will continue to grant you the wisdom for supernatural and natural direction for the people of Ọ̀yọ́ State.
Furthermore, we notice that the main provision of the new amendment bill revolves around power rotation among the Royal fathers in Oyo State. Through this bill, the Chairmanship position of the Ọ̀yọ́ State Traditional Council has been amended to be rotational among Aláàfin of Ọ̀yọ́, Olúbàdàn of Ìbàdàn and Ṣọún of Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́.
But, it is good to bring to your notice that the new amendment has tampered with the positions of some royal fathers as recognised by the law. For instance, the Ońjo of Òkehò was moved from number 11 as recognised by the law being captured in pages 605, 606, 607 and 608 of the Council of Obas and Chiefs CAP 37, Bill 2000 to number 24 on the new list titled “Council of Obas and Chief, Further Amendment Bill, 2025”.
However, another point that we need to bring your notice on why the Ońjò of Òkehò should not be further relegated backward is the historical and traditional position held by the previous Ońjos who were known and addressed as “Ońjò Ọba Òkèògùn” because many Ońjos had been wearing beaded-crown before October 1, 1960, when Nigeria got independence.
Apart from the beaded crown evidence that predated independence before many kings in Ọ̀yọ́ State got their crowns, Ọba Rowland Èrèọlá Adédèjì, who ruled as the Ońjo of Òkehò between 1975 and 1983 was the General Secretary of all the Obas in the Old Ọ̀yọ́ State before Ọṣun State was carved out as an entity on its own.
Therefore, the summary of what Àpérò Ọmọ Òkehò, a social-cultural association whose vision is to move Òkehò to greater heights is saying is that:
- The Ońjo of Okeho holds recognised position within the traditional leadership structure of Ọ̀yọ́ State, as oulined in Ọ̀yọ́ State Chieftaincy laws.
- The Ońjo is listed among the 41 members of the Ọ̀yọ́ State Council of Obas and Chiefs, which serves as the State’s highest advisory body.
- The selection of the Ońjo of Òkehò is governed by formal Chieftaincy declaration made under Section 4(2) of the Chief’s law of 1957.
Finally, our prayer is that you should use your good office to correct the anomalies, regarding Chieftaincy matters in Oyo State in the spirit of fainess, justice and equity.
Yours faithfully,
Pst. Favour Adéwoyin,
National President,
Àpérò Ọmọ Òkehò.
