Akala strips Alaafin of Oyo of permanent chairmanship title

IN what looked like political vendetta, the out-going Governor of Oyo State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala Tuesday opened a can of worms within the Council of Obas and Chiefs as he stripped the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi of his permanent chairmanship seat.

Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Atanda Adeyemi III, J.P, CFR, LL.D and Governor of Oyo State, Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala

He did this by prevailing on the State House of Assembly to amend the law governing the traditional institution.

According to the amended law, the monarch who, until the said amendment, was the Chairman of the council, would now share the title with the Soun of Ogbomoso and Olubadan of Ibadan.

The issue of chairmanship has been a ding-dong affair within the council as the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Jimoh Adewumi and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Samuel Odulana have stayed away from the meeting being summoned by Alaafin because they too are laying claims to the title.

At the beginning of the tenure of Governor Akala, he had earlier declared that the chairmanship title would be an exclusive preserve for Alaafin, the decision that the other two monarchs did not embrace.

But, surprisingly, Governor Akala, quoting Section 3(3) of the law of Council of Obas and Chiefs made a u-turn and said the chairmanship title would henceforth be rotated among the three monarchs.

The latest move of the governor may not be unconnected with the way the three local government under the jurisdiction of Alaafin voted against the PDP in all the three elections conducted recently.

The amended law was signed by the Clerk of the State House of Assembly, Overseer Olugboyega Adebolu and the Speaker of the House, Hon. Moruf Atilola.

Also the governor said, the rotation of the chairmanship seat of the council would be done every two years and the council’s deputy chairmanship would be rotated among the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Eleruwa of Eruwa, Okere of Saki and Aseyin of Iseyin in that order.

The Special Adviser on Public Communication to the governor, Prince Dotun Oyelade described the allegation that the hasty amendment was done to pay the Alaafin of Oyo in his own coin.
He said, “It is invidious and shallow for anyone to read political motive to this issue white to our mind. The time is ripe and just.

Source : www.vanguardngr.com