Indigenes of Igboho have described the decision of the Oyo State House of Assembly to relegate the Alepata of Igboho from a permanent to a temporary member of the Council of Obas and Chiefs in Oyo State as an aberration that can’t be allowed.
Recall that OYOINSIGHT.COM has reported extensively on how the new bill on the Council of Obas and Chiefs in the state, passed by the Debo-Ogundoyin led House of Assembly on Tuesday, has triggered negative reactions from various quarters of the state.
In a letter made available to OYOINSIGHT.COM on Wednesday, a foremost socio-cultural group, Ifelodun Omo-Igboho, described the action of the state lawmakers as unacceptable.
They argued that there is no justification to downgrade the town’s King from being a permanent member of the council to a rotational one, describing the new bill as an historical distortion.
“The Ifelodun Omo-Igboho, the Apex socio-cultural body of Igboho sons and daughters, home and abroad strongly condemn the arbitrary and unilateral decision of the state House of Assembly to subvert existing court verdicts regarding the supremacy and seniority of the Alepata of Igboho and the Permanent Chairman, Oorelope local government Traditional Council. The decision of the Assembly to tinker with the existing law/traditions that has the Alepata of Igboho as the permanent member of the Oyo State Council of Obas (further amendment) Bill 2025 raises serious questions and concerns that must be urgently addressed.
”The Stool of the Alepata and indeed the institution of Alepata of Igboho has been regarded as the notable traditional head of Igboho and the most senior as far back as 1957 and later affirmed in 1982 at various government Commission of enquiries. As a matter of fact, It is not surprising that various courts and indeed Supreme Court has no reason to temper with the traditional hierarchy of igboho which your assembly seeks to undo. Find attached the certified true copy of the Supreme Court Judgement delivered in 1994 led by Eminent Justice Alfa Belgore.
”We recieved with dismay the overnight and Sudden change to the permanent status of the Alepata of Igboho in the Council of Obas and Chiefs amendment (further Amendumont) Bill 2025. We reject any attempt to make the membership of the council from Igboho rotational. This is not only an abberation but a denigration. For one, this bill runs contrary to the various Court interpretations regarding the traditional and consenting authority in the only existing Old Oyo Empire.
“The highest socio-cultural organisation is equally saddened by the hurried nature of this bill and has therefore join other royal fathers, socio-cultural organisations and eminent personalities in calling for the bill to be step down. By this bill, the state assembly will be rubbishing and jettioning existing clauses in the Oyo State Chief’s law that places the Alepata as the prescribed authority in the town. Additionally, this bill will also undermine the instrument establishing traditional council in the 774 local government of the Federation and ultimately erode the age-long legal, cultural and as well as historical relevance of the Alepata of Igboho.
“Finally, we urge the state Assembly and by extension His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde to avert what could lead to royal rumblings, historical distortions and communal clashes. It is our considered opinion that His Excellency will hold his assent while the assembly reverses itself to genuine, cultural sensitive and people centered legislative order,” the group’s letter read.
