The whole truth about the Oyo State government’s surreptitious council of Obas and Chief (further amendment bill 2025) that has raised massive eyebrow and sparked hot-button debates is a coward attempt to whittle down the majestic influence of the institution of the Alaafin of Oyo while destroying the century legacy traditions that had effectively cemented the place of the Yoruba as a foremost black race in the world. Remember what William Shakespeare said about cowards.
In Julius Caesar, the English most prolific and prodigious writer had asserted, quite instructively that “cowards die many times before their death; the valiant never taste of death but once”. And now in the hollow chamber of the state assembly, we have lawmakers led by the Speaker, Hon. Edward Ogundoyin who are being used as canon fodder by a very dark, dangerous, and deceptive powerful force – one that is hellbent on destroying, disrupting and damaging the very essence of our culture and tradition. Of course, instances like this lend credence to the widespread speculation that the current assembly is merely a rubber stamp that only answer the governor blindly and sheepishly – without batting an eyelid.
However, as keen observers in the state and beyond must have noticed, this latest legislative cudgel wasn’t a one-off. It is a continuation of wider and broader desecration, assault and attacks against traditional institutions across the country. Whether in Kano where two Emirs preside over the affairs of the people, or in Anambra where the governor once suspended a monarch for conferring a chieftaincy title on opposition politician, or in Akwa Ibom, or Enugu, or here in Oyo, the subtle deployment of state apparatus to clip the wings of royal fathers has gained strong foothold in recent times.
For one, this dangerous trend is not stopping anytime soon unless a powerful pushback erupts with the people at the center. In effect, while many of the desecration are underpinned by political fisticuff, others are ego-driven and demonstrated unchecked power intoxication.
Take the 2019 gubernatorial contest. Recall that in that election, the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi kept his support away from the PDP and its flagbearer, Seyi Makinde. While the late monarch was tactful, mindful and diplomatic with his choice, Makinde and his people saw through the late monarch and planned to “deal with the institution that continue to stay relevant despite repeated efforts to reduce it to a mere historic relic”. Recall also that in Makinde’s first visit to Oyo town, he deliberately ignored paying homage to the Alaafin in his palace. Put together and you will connect the dots of this latest onslaught with crystal clarity: this is the Governor’s way of fighting back the institution that once stood against his aspiration.
To understand the import of the proposed bill, one only need to reflect on the one being repealed which made the permanent chairmanship position of the council of Obas rotational. After the defeat of late Adebayo Alao-Akala in the 2011 gubernatorial contest, the Ogbomoso politician went on overdrive against the late Alaafin. Recall that late Alaafin and late Akala clashed on multiple fronts in the buildup to that election – regarding issues that no one in the public can clearly articulate. As the clash between ancient and modern became a public knowledge, powerful and influential quickly pitched their tents. Late Alhaji Arisekola Alao for instance stood solidly behind the Alaafin. In the heat of that moment, Arisekola granted a powerful interview declaring unflinching support for late Abiola Ajimobi of the Action Congress of Nigeria who narrowly defeated Akala.
To sting Alaafin like a bee in the back, Akala’s initial revenge was to stripped the foremost monarch of the age-long tradition of leading the state council of Obas and chiefs. By assenting to the two years rotational bill, the smooth running of the council quietly went into hibernation. Although, litigation ensured but couldn’t repaired the damage. Despite expressing regret for his bitter actions toward the institution of Alaafin, the ripple effect of Akala’s audacious action set the tone for the current desecration. For instance, had the late Akala not twist and distort history, the drafter of the current bill might be more careful with the consequences of their actions.
Take the current bill. In the SCHEDULE ONE, Alaafin was listed as the number one but will have to share the chairmanship of the council with the Olubadan and Soun. “The Chairmanship of the Council shall be permanent and concurrent to the Alaafin of Oyo, Olubadan of Ibadan and Soun of Ogbomoso whilst the Deputy Chairmen and Vice-Chairmen shall be as contained in Schedule II”. The interpretation of this is that instead of one chairman, three chairmen are being proposed. Plus, the trio are to be made permanent while their ascension to the chairmanship position will only be on concurrent instead of rotational basis. By proposing a bill that seeks to place the Alaafin side by side with the two important Obas, the sponsors of the bill have willfully and deliberately chosen to be on the wrong side of history.
In essence, the gang-up against the institution of the Alaafin did not start today. Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo kicked started the careful disrespect and disregard for the traditional institutions. He, alongside internal saboteurs illegally removed late Oba Alhaji Raji Adeniran Adeyemi 11 in 1956 for no reason other than to alter the equilibrium of royalty that had Alaafin as its centerpiece in the western region. Awolowo did it and got away with it. Alao Akala followed that similar trajectory recorded a partial success, one that was thrown into the dustin of history by late Abiola Ajimobi. Additionally, the schedule. While the uproar that had greeted the bill stem from the SCHEDULE ONE, the content of the SCHEDULE TWO is even more calamitous and cataclysmic. By that arrangement, an Alaafin will have to fight multiple battles at the same time. Externally, he will have Olubadan and Soun to contend with and internally, the elevation of Akibio of Ilora and Oloja of Agoja as deputy chairmen of the council will further put the authority of the Alaafin under serious contention.
However, once the news broke that the state assembly was mulling over tweaking with the law, the drafter and the backer began to run helter-skelter. They ran from pillar to post trying to make sense of their nonsense until their hands were caught in the cookie jar of historical aberration. If you claim to be a true Yoruba, it is an ancient truism that an attack on the institution of the Alaafin is an attack on your Yorubaness.
Amid the backlash that trailed that historical tweaking, the new Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade 1 was royally welcomed into the country’s seat of power by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. “I am glad that you have become a hope for sustaining the Yoruba Race”, the President enthused. If that simple but powerful statement didn’t put drafters of that obnoxious law in their respective places, I don’t know what else will.
OYO101 is Muftau Gbadegesin’s opinion about issues affecting the Oyo state and is published every Saturday. He can be reached via @Upliftnuggets on X, muftaugbadegesin@gmail.com, and 09065176850.
