We Are Not Invited To OYHA For Memo Presentation Of Chieftaincy Law Amendment, Among Others - Soun-In-Council

We Are Not Invited To OYHA For Memo Presentation Of Chieftaincy Law Amendment, Among Others - Soun-In-Council

The public hearing staged by the Oyo State House of Assembly Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters last week Friday (May 12) on the proposed amendment of the Oyo stat chiefs law at the House of Chiefs, State Secretariat, Ibadan, witnessed a plethora of presentations of memoranda by traditional rulers, chiefs and groups, all stating their positions on the (now) vexed issue.

ogbomosoinsightonline.com recalls that the Executive Arm of government in Oyo state is making strenuous move to amend the chiefs law so that the governor will be conferred with the sole authority to grant minor chiefs or individuals the right to wear the beaded crown reserved for highest ranking and superior Obas in Yorubaland.

To legalize the move the executive arm requested the legislative arm to tinker with the law, which prompted the last week public hearing.

Obas such as Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Olusola Alao (a vice chairman of Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs), Onpetu of Ijeru Kingdom, Oba Sunday Oladapo Oyediran, Olubadan of Ibadanland Oba Lekan Balogun (represented by Otun Balogun of Ibadanland, High Chief Tajudeen Ajibola and Alado of Ado Awaye, Oba Olugbile Ademola, presented memos at the event.

But while the Alaafin and Aseyin chieftaincies were represented even though the paramount thrones are also vacant like the Soun’s, the Soun chieftaincy was conspicuously missing at the historical occasion.

The Basorun of Oyo, High Chief Yusuf Ayoola, who is traditionally head of kingmakers in the ancient city, presented a memo, which contained the view of the Oyo chieftaincy on the matter just as the Ikolaba of Iseyin, Chief Ismail Odubiyi, stood in for the Aseyin chieftaincy.

It is then a matter of concern that the Soun chieftaincy was not represented to present a position on the issue.

Was it case of negligence on the part of the Soun-in-Council or the heads of the Soun ruling houses? Or perhaps negligence of the part of the organizers of the public hearing!

However, investigations by ogbomosoinsightonline.com have revealed that the Soun-in-Council did not receive invitation to attend the public hearing held last Friday.

According to the Areago of Ogbomosoland, High Chief Sobalaje Otolorin, who is equally the head of kingmakers, the Soun-in-Council was not invited to present any memo at the event.

“I did not receive any invitation or may be it did not reach me,” the High Chief Otolorin curtly and matter of fact responded to the inquiry from ogbomosinsightonline.com.