Oyo princes fault Makinde’s ‘dictatorial’ chieftaincy reform
![Seyin Makinde](https://i1.wp.com/gazettengr.com/wp-content/uploads/Screenshot_20211025-071608_WhatsAppBusiness.jpg)
The Alaafin of Oyo ruling family has faulted the proposed amendment of the Chiefs Law of Oyo, cautioning against passing such an amendment into law.
The ruling family made its position known in a memorandum presented at the public hearing organised by the state House of Assembly on the proposed amendment.
The reform, initiated by Governor Seyi Makinde, seeking to amend section 28 of the State Chiefs Law, has passed second reading at the assembly.
The initial law gave the governor the right to approve beaded crowns for deserving chiefs but could only exercise this discretion after consulting the council of obas and chiefs.
However, the ongoing amendment will give the governor right to approve and elevate some chiefs to beaded crown-wearing Obas without consultation with the council of obas and chiefs.
But the Alaafin ruling family faulted the governor on the request, cautioning the assembly against passing the proposed amendment into law in its current form.
The memorandum, which was read by the Bashorun of Oyo, Yusuf Ayoola, at the public hearing, was jointly signed by all the Oyo royal titleholders (oloye omooba), led by the Babayaji, Mukaila Afonja. Others were the Onasokun of Oyo, Olusami of Oyo, Arole Oba of Oyo and Agunpopo of Oyo.
“The amendment is perceived in many quarters as being targeted at whittling the influence of the Alaafin and the Soun of Ogbomoso by transferring their consenting authorities over many chieftaincies to the governor,” the family said.
The princes noted that it would be better for the governor to dissolve the council than subject it to public ridicule and render it “toothless and irrelevant.”
Entitled ‘Memorandum on Chiefs Amendment Law, 2023, section 28’, the memo described the government’s attempt “to clip the wings of the state council of obas and chiefs” as a dangerous trend.
They said such a trend would bastardise the age-long traditional and customary administrative system that had sustained the civilisation and heritage at the grassroots level of governance.
It added that the conferment of beaded crowns might be turned into trophies for political servitude and awards to the highest bidders or the best connected.
Describing the proposed amendment as “dictatorial and usurpative,” the princes faulted the government’s justification for the move, saying it was to regulate chieftaincies in line with the dictates of modern society.
“Our understanding of this clause of the law is that the governor is the nominator, the specifier, the approving officer and the donor of the beaded crown to whomsoever His Excellency decides to favour,” they stated. “Royal fathers in Yoruba land are fathers of all their subjects, including those in governance. But by this new law, the tail will be wagging the dog.”
The family said that the innovation was strange to Yoruba custom and culture since most recognised chieftaincies provide for the following steps: family nomination, kingmakers’ recommendations, including community acceptance and support, and government scrutiny, approval and pronouncement.
“We plead with the governor and house of assembly to avoid giving room to the popular suspicion of seeking to donate compensatory crowns and chieftaincy titles,” the princes added. “They (lawmakers) should not donate compensatory crowns and chieftaincy titles to some well-known title holders who recently lost their well-publicised crowns to the ascension of a prominent traditional ruler.”
They urged the government to leave the kings and chiefs to perform their statutory duties under the traditions and customs of each city and community, as approved by the law.
(NAN)
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
![Katsina State](https://i1.wp.com/gazettengr.com/wp-content/uploads/1863B29B-AC06-49E0-ADFA-655BBEC3389A.jpeg)
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
![EFCC operatives](https://i1.wp.com/gazettengr.com/wp-content/uploads/IMG_1854.jpg)
States
Officers involved in killing of colleague arrested, charged with homicide: EFCC
“They had disagreed over procedures for the custody of items belonging to a suspect in detention, leading to a fight, a conduct which the commission frowns at.
![Federal High Court](https://i1.wp.com/gazettengr.com/wp-content/uploads/WhatsApp-Image-2022-10-14-at-10.57.26-PM.jpeg)
Lagos
Man jailed five years for drug trafficking
Mr Nwagu said that the defendant was arrested during the outward clearance of passengers on a Turkish airline flight to Italy.
![Nigerian police officers used to illustrate the story](https://i1.wp.com/gazettengr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Nigerian-Police-officer.jpg)
States
Police arrest four suspected killers of traditional ruler in Ebonyi
The traditional ruler was murdered at his palace on Feb. 27.
![NYSC Corpers used to illustrate the story.](https://i1.wp.com/gazettengr.com/wp-content/uploads/nysc.jpg)
States
Avoid using social media for rumour peddling, NYSC tasks corps members
He appealed to employers to always accept corps members posted to them and make necessary provisions for their welfare.
![Banks in Australia](https://i1.wp.com/gazettengr.com/wp-content/uploads/Banks-in-Australia.png)
Economy
Australian banks launch digital platform to help stop payments to scammers
The new real-time reporting tool will allow banks to quickly report fraudulent payments to stop customers from losing money to scams.
![Myanmar Cyclone Mocha](https://i1.wp.com/gazettengr.com/wp-content/uploads/Cyclone-Mocha.png)
World
400 people reported dead in Myanmar devastating cyclone
Officials on Tuesday reported that cyclone Mocha, which hit Myanmar’s Rakhine State, claimed over 400 lives and caused severe damage.