Alaafin Stool: Oyo Forum Urges Makinde to Reject Rotational Obas Council Bill

IBADAN, Oyo State – A socio-cultural group, the Oyo Forum, Abuja, has strongly appealed to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to reject the controversial Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs (Amendment) Bill, 2025. The Forum warns that the proposed legislation, which seeks to introduce a rotational chairmanship for the state’s Council of Obas and Chiefs, could undermine centuries of Yoruba tradition and trigger widespread discord.

Historically, the Council of Obas and Chiefs has been permanently chaired by the Alaafin of Oyo, a role that the Oyo Forum asserts is integral to the heritage of the entire Yoruba race. In a press statement issued on May 31, 2025, and signed by Engr. Segun Owolabi and Ambassador Tunde Mustapha, the Forum condemned the amendment, stating it “seeks to desecrate and destroy our cherished common cultural heritage and value of the Alaafin stool.”

The group emphasized that the Alaafin institution extends beyond the present geographical confines of Oyo State, representing the “soul of the entire Yoruba race.” They cautioned that any attempt to alter the traditional role of the Alaafin could ignite inter-communal tensions and create rifts among traditional rulers and communities across the state.

While acknowledging that they are not against the elevation of other monarchs, the Oyo Forum argues that the rotational chairmanship provision directly undermines the historical and cultural foundations of the Oyo Empire. “This bill, if signed into law, is turning history upside down and forgetting our reputable background. It can potentially lead to long-term crises,” the statement further read.

The Forum cited global precedents where modern laws are enacted to preserve, rather than dilute, cultural heritage. They implored Governor Makinde to “tarry a while” and thoroughly consider the long-term ramifications of the bill.

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The statement concluded with a poignant plea to the governor: “Your Excellency, without yesterday — the Oyo Empire led by the Alaafin — today would not be a reality. Please protect our heritage so that history will not count us among those who destroyed it.”

This call to action from the Oyo Forum comes amidst ongoing discussions surrounding the bill. It is noteworthy that there have been opposing views on the matter, with reports indicating that Ogbomoso Ruling Houses have expressed opposition to the Alaafin’s permanent chairmanship of the Oyo Council of Obas. Conversely, prior reports also suggested that Oyo lawmakers were initially set to take a second reading of a bill to reaffirm the Alaafin’s role as permanent chairman, before the Oyo Assembly reportedly succumbed to pressure and made the chairmanship rotational. The Governor’s decision on whether to assent to the bill remains highly anticipated.