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Mixed Reactions At Public Hearing On Proposed Amendment To Oyo State Chiefs Law
Mixed Reactions At Public Hearing On Proposed Amendment To Oyo State Chiefs Law
- The Public Hearing on the proposed amendment to section 28 of the Oyo state Chiefs Law was greeted with mixed reactions from participants.
The public hearing held at the House of Chiefs, parliamentary complex, Oyo state Secretariat, Ibadan on Friday May 12.
Section 28 of the Chiefs Law of Oyo state which is being proposed to be amended by the state assembly sought to empower the executive governor of the state to grant approval for wearing of beaded crown without consulting the council of Chiefs.
Recall that the Attorney General of Oyo state and Commissioner for Justice, Professor Oyelowo Oyewo disclosed at a press briefing shortly after the state’s 4th executive council meeting the executive bill was informed by the many requests to the state governor by traditional leaders known as Chiefs and Baales to wear beaded crowns.
The Attorney General also disclosed that the absence of the state Council of Chiefs which ought to interface with the governor before granting approvals for such requests has not been able to sit for necessary deliberation for many years.
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He said, the proposed amendment, when fully effective, will empower the state Governor as the sole authority without consultations with the Chiefs to grant approvals for wearing of beaded crowns.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, while shedding more light on the proposed amendment bill said before forwarding the bill to the House said, “The law as it is today is that the Governor can only approve application for beaded crown after consultations with Oyo state Council of Obas and Chiefs but we all know that Council has not met for a very long time now and we have a lot of pending applications for approval of beaded crowns.
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The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, while shedding more light on the proposed amendment bill said before forwarding the bill to the House said, “The law as it is today is that the Governor can only approve application for beaded crown after consultations with Oyo state Council of Obas and Chiefs but we all know that Council has not met for a very long time now and we have a lot of pending applications for approval of beaded crowns.
“So, that section 28 of the law has now been amended to give the governor sole authority to approve application for beaded crown in Oyo state without consultations.”
At the public hearing on the proposed amendment, however, some of the participants who are mainly traditional rulers and leaders from different parts of the state cautioned against hasty passage of the law while others noted that the amendment was a laudable move saying the bill has fulfilled constitutional requirement as it is being subjected to necessary channel of legislative process.
In his welcome address at the public hearing, the Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Honourable Akintunde Olajide, expressed his gratitude to the royal fathers and traditional leaders who graced the event despite the short notice.
Addressing journalists shortly after the event over the mixed reactions of participants during the public hearing, Hon. Akintunde said, “let me say that the executives have done the needful and we are now doing the lawful.
“We’re treating a particular section of the Oyo state constitution which is section 28 of the Chiefs Law which empowers the governor on maybe after consultation with the Council of Obas and Chiefs grant approval for wearing beaded crown.
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“Inviting stakeholders to this public hearing is very important in lawmaking. While we are doing what is lawful, I’m very impressed with the turn out of our royal fathers, the kings and chiefs that came around. We have received all necessary documents needed to work in tandem with the provisions of the constitution of Oyo state, so, I’m very happy with what we’ve achieved today.
“The main reason we’re all gathered here today is to collate their views and opinions on the bill and I can assure you we’re going into the theatre of work to do justice to this very important bill.”
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Earlier in a position paper presented at the public hearing by His royal majesty, Oba Sunday Oladapo Oyediran Lagbami Osekun III, the Onpetu of Ijeru Kingdom, titled “Amendment of Section 28 of the Chiefs Law Cap 28 Laws of Oyo state, stipulates that the Governor may from time to time after consultation with the Council of Obas and Chiefs of the State by order specify the chieftaincies, the holder for the time being of which are entitled to wear beaded crown.
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“The wearing of beaded crown by chieftaincy holders in the State is at the discretion of the Governor by the provision of the present law and the Governor can only exercise his discretion after he must have consulted the Council of Obas and Chiefs. The amendment sought by the Governor is to give him the right to exercise his discretion as provided by the Law unfettered.
“It is my opinion that the amendment of the Law is a good development however, the exercise of the Governor’s discretion in respect of the chieftaincy holders that are entitled to wear beaded crown should be exercised based on the historical antecedent of the chieftaincies, the peculiarity of a given area and doctrine of necessity.
“In exercising his discretion, the Governor should carry out due diligence to ensure that territorial identities are respected, avoid overlapping of areas of traditional authorities and draw a distinct line between traditional Chiefs and honorary ones. The beaded crown so approved by the Governor should be annotated with the inscription of Obas created by statute.
“With this amendment, the Governor is now placed in the position of a Judge of the Court in respect of entitlement to wear beaded crown and he must exercise his discretion judiciously and judicially.” Onpetu of Ijeru stated.
Other royal fathers who spoke at the event which included the Olubadan in Council, Okere of Saki, and other notable traditional rulers from different parts of the state, however, cautioned against failure to take necessary cognisance including history of such individual seeking to wear beaded crown as well as that of the crown to avoid insubordination in the order of leadership and crowned authority.