A dramatic political storm erupted on Tuesday in the Oyo State House of Assembly as two lawmakers staged a walkout in protest of a fiercely debated bill amending the leadership structure of the state’s Council of Obas and Chiefs.
The amendment, which passed amid rising tension and visible discord, reinstates a rotational chairmanship among Oyo State’s three foremost traditional rulers — the Alaafin of Oyo, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, and the Soun of Ogbomosoland — each to serve a two-year term.
The passage of the bill marked a significant reversal from its original version, which controversially sought to crown the Alaafin of Oyo as the permanent chairman of the council, relegating the Olubadan and the Soun to secondary roles only in the absence of the Alaafin. This provision ignited a firestorm of resistance from the Olubadan and the Soun, who united in their demand for the reinstatement of the rotational system, warning that any deviation would sow division and undermine historical balances.
At the centre of the contentious debate was the Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Bamidele Adeola, who presented the revised committee report. The committee ultimately bowed to pressure, recommending a return to rotation and scrapping the permanent chairmanship clause.
But not everyone was satisfied.
In an open act of defiance, lawmakers representing Oyo East and Atiba constituencies — Hon. Olorunpoto Rahman and Hon. Gbenga Oyekola — walked out of the session, denouncing the bill as a product of political expediency rather than historical integrity.
“We must be guided by the truth,” Rahman said during a post-walkout briefing with journalists. “Everyone knows the stature of the Alaafin. He is a paramount ruler. The law should reflect historical facts, not political convenience.”
Rahman further accused the Assembly of bypassing due process, citing the absence of a public hearing or proper stakeholder engagement. “No one from Oyo was consulted. How do you pass such a critical bill without hearing from those it directly affects?”
The amended bill also proposed expanding the Council’s membership to include the ten crown-wearing Ibadan Obas, as well as traditional titleholders like the Samu and Agbakin. While some hailed the move as inclusive, others decried it as a deliberate attempt to tip the balance of power in favour of Ibadan — a region already perceived to wield outsized political influence.
The fallout has rippled beyond the Assembly chambers.
In a strongly worded statement, the Palace of the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, through its media consultant Bisi Oladele, slammed the bill as a flawed, politically charged document lacking transparency and legitimacy.
“For a bill of such gravity, traditional rulers should have been central to the discussions,” the palace noted. “The ongoing process ignores their voices and reeks of political patronage. It risks deepening political imbalance in Oyo State, favouring Ibadan while marginalising Oyo, Ogbomoso, Oke-Ogun, and Ibarapa.”
The statement also called attention to a long-standing regional imbalance, noting that since 1999, aside from the late Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, all governors in the state have emerged from Ibadan — a trend that the palace argued should not be allowed to influence traditional leadership structures.
Olugbon, Oba Francis Alao, called for an immediate suspension of the bill to allow for broader consultation. He warned that rushing the amendment into law could spark unrest among traditional institutions, endangering the fragile peace among Yoruba monarchies.
Challenging claims by some Ogbomoso leaders that their town holds greater historical clout, Oba Alao insisted that Orile-Igbon predates Ogbomoso and that his throne, the Olugbon, is historically superior in the traditional hierarchy. He cited that the present-day Soun’s palace sits on land historically belonging to Olugbon’s domain.
“We must acknowledge demographic changes, but that should not erase or distort the stature of ancient thrones,” Oba Alao added. “The Alaafin presided over a vast empire with numerous subordinate rulers. That heritage cannot be wished away.”
The bill, though passed by the Assembly, faces an uncertain path ahead. Governor Seyi Makinde is expected to receive it for assent, but the growing backlash may force a political reckoning as traditional powerhouses close ranks to defend their legacies.
As Oyo State teeters on the brink of a full-blown traditional-political crisis, the question remains: Will history triumph over politics, or will modern power dynamics redraw the map of royal leadership in the state?
PIONEER NEWS 