The Oyo Global Forum (OGF), a global network of Nigerians of Oyo extraction, has condemned the Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendment) Bill, 2025, currently before the Oyo State House of Assembly.
The forum’s chairman, Taiwo Adebayo on Thursday, argued that the bill sought to strip the Alaafin of Oyo of his rightful sole permanent chairmanship of the council of obas, and introduce a concurrent arrangement placing the Alaafin, the Olubadan of Ibadan, and the Soun of Ogbomoso as equals.
According to OGF, the proposal challenged a deeply rooted institution which for centuries symbolised the cultural unity and identity and civilisation of the Yoruba people.
“The Alaafin’s role as Permanent Chairman is not a matter of privilege or politics, but one rooted in historical precedent and traditional seniority.
“This bill, if passed, risks undermining a centuries-long legacy, one that Yoruba people should be proud of and ready to protect and preserve at all times. However, we have witnessed with grave concern a troubling blend of steps to degrade the influence of the Alaafin.
“At one point, Alaafin’s chiefs were elevated to Part II obas while the throne of their natural consenting authority was vacant, creating a bad precedent that severely limits the Alaafin’s powers over them when they go rogue and rebellious, or are even influenced by external forces against the Alaafin,” Adebayo stressed.
He noted that there has been a growing hope for the restoration and continuity of the revered stool since the coronation of new Alaafin, Oba Abimbola Owoade.
However, the Oyo Global Forum stressed that the bill threatened to set even worse and worrisome precedents that distort traditional hierarchies.
“To legislate a concurrent chairmanship not only risks a destabilising reinterpretation of Yoruba traditional hierarchies but also disregards the cultural, historical, and spiritual significance of the Alaafin’s place in our collective identity”, he said.
The forum urged all stakeholders to approach this moment with a clear understanding of what was at stake, not just positions or titles, but the legacy of an entire civilisation, the common heritage of a proud Oyo-Yoruba people.
It charged the stakeholders, including the Oyo State House of Assembly to reconsider and withdraw this bill, saying, “Legislative power must be exercised with a deep sense of historical responsibility.
“The current proposal could cause irreparable damage to the traditional balance in the state and indeed the entire Yorubaland. We appeal to your conscience and your duty to serve the public good, including the preservation of our cultural institutions”.
While noting that the record of Governor Seyi Makinde contained noteworthy strides in governance and infrastructure, the Forum noted that, “Yet, leadership is often defined by the cultural choices we defend.
“We urge you to reject any move that could erode the heritage of the people. This bill places your otherwise impressive legacy at risk of lasting damage. Stand as a custodian of Yoruba tradition and protect the integrity of the institution of the Alaafin”.
To traditional stakeholders and royal institutions, the Forum acknowledged their position as stewards of Yoruba tradition and heritage.
“We believe that your intentions are aligned with the preservation of our history and centuries-long traditional order. But current developments, especially this bill being rushed by the Oyo State lawmakers, place this legacy in jeopardy. We call on you to stand up for what your titles represent.”
Adebayo called on Yoruba people at home and in the Diaspora, to embrace the Forum’s position as a call to cultural duty. “Our heritage must not be redefined without our voices.
“Let us engage constructively, mobilise thoughtfully, and resist any erosion of our ancestral institutions. The Alaafin’s stool is a cultural cornerstone. It must be protected.
“This is more than a legislative matter; it is a defining moment for our cultural identity. The Alaafin must remain the sole Permanent Chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
That is our position. And that must not change”, it added.
