Amendment of chiefs law recipe for crisis in Oyo- Olugbon raises alarm

The Olugbon of Orile-Igbon in Oyo State, Oba Francis Olusola Alao, has disclosed that the proposed amendment to the chiefs law in the state may lead to a breach of peace in many communities in the state.

Alao made this disclosure while presenting his position paper during a public hearing on the proposed amendment.

Orile-Igbon is in the Ogbomosho geopolitical zone in Oyo State.

ROUNDOYO learnt that the executive arm of government in the state, led by Gov Seyi Makinde, had concluded plans to amend Section 28 (1) of the Chiefs Law, CAP 28 Laws of the State 2000.

The proposed amendment is currently before the Oyo State House of Assembly.

Alao has, however, said that the amendment may breed bad blood and lead to an avoidable breach of the peace in various communities in the state.

The monarch, while speaking during the public hearing, held at the state House of Assembly on Friday, insisted that the proposed amendment does not take the customs and traditions of the people into full consideration.

The monarch maintained that the proposed amendment is a recipe for communal crises over land and border disputes.

The monarch said: “Thus, it is the considered opinion of the Olugbon that this amendment, which may have been well thought out by the Executive Arm of Government, does not take cognisance of the customs and traditions of our people into full consideration.

“Furthermore, the Olugbon posits that this amendment may breed bad blood and lead to avoidable breaches of the peace in various communities throughout the state as it is a recipe for communal crises bordering on land and border disputes.

“That in order to preserve our cultural heritage, a proviso or clause be inserted into the amendment to provide that “elevation under this law shall only be applicable during any period where the Council of Obas is unable to hold deliberations for any reason whatsoever”.”