The Ebedi Frontliners, Iseyin (E.F.I), has called on the Oyo State government to make the Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Sefiu Olawale Oyebola Adeyeri, a Co-Chairman in the ongoing amendment bill before the state’s House of Assembly.
The group also lauded the state administration under Governor Seyi Makinde for what it called the democratisation of the state’s chieftaincy laws, saying the legislative exercise will grant traditional rulers greater roles.
In a statement signed and made available to reporters by the Public Relations Officer (P.R.O) of E.F.I, Alhaji Segun Fasasi, on Monday, the group stated that the bill in question listed the Alaafin as the Chairman of the state’s traditional council, while the Olubadan and the Soun of Ogbomoso are Co-Chairmen.
They pointed out that the Alaafin represents the interests of four local government areas in Oyo town, the Soun of Ogbomoso represents the interests of five local government areas, and the Olubadan represents the interests of eleven local government areas, leaving the Oke-Ogun area, with ten local government areas, without a Co-Chairmanship candidate.
The statement reads: “We have followed the process of the amendment of The Council of Obas and Chiefs Law, Cap. 37, Laws of Oyo State, and have realised that the proposed amendment, which has reached a second reading on the floor of the Oyo State House of Assembly, seeks to democratise the chieftaincy laws and give more impetus to the developmental efforts of traditional rulers in the state.
“We thus want to call the attention of Governor Seyi Makinde, the Speaker, Rt Hon Debo Ogundoyin, and other stakeholders involved in this historic journey to consider the ten local government areas in Oke-Ogun, with over thirty-five beaded crowns, for representation in the Co-Chairmanship role, while the Aseyin of Iseyin should be considered as the third Co-Chairman due to his long historical experience,” they prayed.
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 him the authority to convene and preside over meetings while directing council affairs before it was amended.
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