…Urge Makinde not to Assent Bill
Afijio Local Government Traditional Council has picked holes in the newly passed amended bill of the State Council of Obas and Chiefs and, thereby appealed to the State governor, Engr Seyi Makinde’ not to assent it in order to engender justice,equity and fair play
The Council had in a letter signed by its Solicitor and Advocate, Olajide Olanipekun submitted that the call became imperative as a result of the noticeable flaws in the bill.
It argued that the bill failed to mention the local government area each member of the Council represents, describing it as a monumental flaw that is not recognized in the face of law.
It noted that while monarchs like the Alaafin of Oyo and Olubadan of Ibadan represent/Chair more than one Local Governments Traditional Council), some local government areas are being shortchanged.
While the bill recognizes representation from each local government areas, same cannot be said of Afijio local government.
It argued that the recognition of Akibio of Ilora as permanent member of the Council of Obas is in violation of the
historical rotational tradition among the Obas in AFlJIO Local government.
The Chairmanship position of Afijio Local Government Traditional Council is being rotated among Onfiditi of Fiditi Amorin of Akinmorin, Akibio of Ilora, Alaawe of Aawe,, Onimini of Mini, Oniware of Aware and Baale of Jobele.
It added that Akibio of Ilora is not Permanent Chairman of the Council, hence the need for the bill to recognize other Obas and allow the local government representation in the Council to be rotated among all the Obas.
It argued, “The mention of Akibio of llora as a member of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs in the newly passed Bill cannot cure the fatal historical error in the said Bill because the Akibio of llora is not the permanent Chairman or even the incumbent Chairman of AFJIO Local Government
“Traditional Council thereby,the Akibio cannot solely fill the slot of AFIJIO which by Law should be rotated among Onifiditi of Fiditi,Akibio of llora,Alaawe of Awe,Onimini of Imini,Oniware of Iware or Baale Jobele and Amorin of Akinmorin.
“The omission of the statutory representative of AFlJIO Local Government Traditional Council Chairman from being a member of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs is one of many grounds upon which the newly passed Bill may be set aside by court of competent jurisdiction if peradventure,it becomes Law upon the assent of Your Excellency
on two years basis.
It is on this premise that the Council is appealing to Makinde’ not to give assent to the newly passed Bill in order to engender justice,equity,fair play and for the sustenance of the age long tradition of rotational practice in AFIJIO Local Government where the inhabitants have been living in peace and harmony because they share a sense of belonging occasioned by the rotational policy which the newly passed Bill has jettisoned.
“We urge Your Excellency to send the bill back to the House of Assembly for reenactment by correcting numerous historical anomalies which the Bill contained especially the omission of AFIJIO Local Government Traditional Council Chairman which should be on two years rotational basis among the principal towns that make up AFIJIO Local Government”
