The Palace of the Alaafin of Oyo has thrown its weight behind the before the Oyo State House of Assembly seeking to reaffirm and institutionalise the Alaafin of Oyo as the permanent authority and presiding chairman of the Council of Obas and Chiefs.
According to Bode Durojaiye, the director of media and publicity to the Alaafin of Oyo, the bill effectively abolishing the rotational chairmanship system among traditional rulers in the state.
The Council of Obas and Chiefs Law, Cap. 37, Laws of Oyo State, 2000, initially placed the Alaafin of Oyo as the permanent chairman, giving the throne the authority to convene and preside over meetings, while directing council affairs before it was amended.
In a statement on Friday, Durijaiye said members of the State House of Assembly should be lauded by every-right thinking citizens of for the bold step being taken to assert the eminence of the Alaafin in Yoruba history.
“It is unheard of that those who were made beaded crown monarchs through the magnanimity of the Alaafin are the ones threatening brimstone and fire over an issue that they sought to support wholeheartedly.
“It is indisputable that the Alaafin is the only Paramount Ruler whose Empire was the longest reigning in the world, and which lasted over 600 uninterrupted years. Facts abound at the archive for anyone to verify,” Durojaiye said.
He noted Ibadan among other component parts of the Oyo Empire which was once ruled by village heads (Baales) but was later upgraded to the beaded crown status through the magnanimity and instrumentality of the Alaafin. “We stand to be challenged with our submission.”
The statement noted that “If wishes were horses, beggars would definitely ride. But facts are sacred, just as conscience remains an open truth as only the truth can heal it.
“We give kudos to the Oyo State Government for the formal approval of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade I, as the new Alaafin of Oyo.
“The approval is a critical step in restoring dignity, continuity, and cultural leadership in Yorubaland.
“The Palace expresses full support for the Oyo State House of Assembly’s move to amend the long-dormant Council of Obas and Chiefs Law, which has been inactive since 2011. In particular, the retention of the Alaafin’s role as the Presiding Authority over the Council is indeed a welcomed development.”
The statement said it believed that the removal of the rotational clause in the Council’s chairmanship will bring stability and uphold the traditional leadership structure.
“The good people of Oyo State must resist being lured into crisis,” the statement added.
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