The Oyo State House of Assembly has commenced deliberations on a bill seeking to make the chairmanship of the Oyo State Traditional Council a two-year rotational position.
The amendment bill was presented by the Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Dele Adeola, in the absence of the Committee Chairman, Hon. Akintunde Olajide (AKT), who represents Lagelu State Constituency.
Tensions rose briefly during the session when Hon. Olorunpoto Cephas alleged that some members were gathering informally at the rear of the chamber, contrary to the House’s standing rules.
He objected to what he described as attempts to turn the plenary into a caucus meeting, accusing certain lawmakers of sidelining representatives from Oyo and reducing the session to a “family meeting.” He emphasized that history would record the marginalization of Oyo voices.
Speaking in a similar vein, Hon. Oyekola, who represents Atiba State Constituency, voiced his strong opposition to what he called an effort to “rewrite history.”
He stated that he could not be part of a sitting that seeks to undermine the revered Alaafin’s stool.
According to him, constituents in Oyo town have expressed displeasure over the amendment bill, believing that it seeks to diminish the historical significance of the Alaafin.
He warned that any perceived gang-up against the Oyo zone by representatives from other areas would be unacceptable and could spark unrest.
Hon. Oyekola then staged a walkout from the plenary, citing his unwillingness to be recorded by history as having supported the alteration of a long-standing traditional structure.
In a show of solidarity, Hon. Olorunpoto Cephas, representing Oyo East/West, also condemned what he described as an attempt to distort historical precedence and joined his colleague in walking out of the session.
