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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde has signed the state’s amended chiefaincy bill into law.
The signing of the bill into law give the governor the autonomy to present beaded crowns and coronets to chiefs in the state without consulting the traditional council.
Recall that the House of Assembly had passed the bill at Wednesday’s plenary. The Assembly amended the Chiefs Law, Cap 28, Laws of the Oyo State of Nigeria, 2000, after the presentation of the report of the House Committee on Local Government and State Honours.
The Assembly had held a public hearing on the proposed amendment where the opinions of all stakeholders, including traditional rulers bwere aggregated.
Makinde, while assenting to the amendment bill at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governor’s Office on Friday, commended the lawmakers for the timely passage of the bill, saying it would help the traditional council function well and forestall constant litigation.
“Well, the implication is that we must have a law in the state that allows the smooth running of the traditional council, which is important. Before I came in, the traditional council was not functioning, but now they can function.
“You remember that the previous administration tried to reform the traditional council system, especially in Ibadan land.
“The government gave coronets to some high chiefs. One of the high chiefs went to court, and the court decided that the previous administration didn’t follow their own law. Now that we have amended the law, we will follow our own law, and no one can go to court now and succeed,” he said.
Earlier, the deputy speaker, Ayobami Fadeyi, while presenting the amended bill to the governor, said there was a public hearing on the amendment, where the opinions of all stakeholders, including traditional rulers were aggregated.
Fadeyi opined that the new law would impact the state positively.
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Lekan Balogun, who was represented by the Balogun Olubadan of Ibadanland, High Chief Owolabi Olakulehin, led the Olubadan-in-Council and other traditional rulers to the ceremony.
