The Mogajis of the Soun Ruling Houses in Ogbomoso have strongly opposed the proposed amendment to the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs Law, which seeks to make the Alaafin of Oyo the permanent chairman of the traditional council.
The amendment bill, currently before the Oyo State House of Assembly, has sparked widespread debate among traditional rulers and stakeholders across the state.
While many in Oyo Town support the Alaafin’s permanent chairmanship, voices of dissent have come from Ibadan and Ogbomoso.
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Both the Olubadan of Ibadanland and the Soun of Ogbomoso are proposed to lead the council in the Alaafin’s absence, reflecting a push for a more rotational leadership.
In a joint statement, prominent Mogajis of Ogbomoso’s ruling houses—including Prince Olawuyi Itabiyi (Aburumaku), Prince Sikiru Oyeyiola (Gbagun), Prince Amos Olawole Olaoye (Laoye), Prince Samuel Oyebamiji Oyedeji (Bolanta), and Prince Stephen Ilufoye Layode (Odunaro)—condemned the bill as “an affront to history and tradition.”
They argued that granting the Alaafin permanent chairmanship disregards the historical evolution of Yoruba traditional authority, especially following the collapse of the old Oyo Empire in 1837.
“History is clear: Oyo’s supremacy ended with the Fulani destruction of Oyo-Ile. After that, towns like Ogbomoso and Ibadan rose to prominence. Ignoring this reality in favor of sentiment is unjust,” the statement declared.
The Mogajis stressed that the current Oyo Kingdom, established in 1875 by Prince Atiba, is distinct from the original empire once ruled by Alaafin Oranmiyan.
They highlighted that present-day Oyo occupies land originally belonging to Ogbomoso’s Oja lineage, recalling historical instances when Ogbomoso and Ibadan provided refuge and protection to migrating Oyos.
They further emphasized Ogbomoso’s crucial role in halting the Fulani advance, standing as a buffer between Ilorin and Oyo to safeguard both their town and the emerging Oyo settlement.
“The glory and power of the old Oyo Empire rest in Katunga. Today’s kingdom reflects a post-1837 reality, and leadership must honor this history,” they asserted.
Citing legal precedents, including a 1984 Supreme Court ruling affirming Ogbomoso’s land rights over Oyo, the Mogajis underlined the continuing historical and territorial significance of Ogbomoso.
They recalled that the Soun of Ogbomoso once chaired the council during the reign of the late Oba Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade III and insisted that the rotational leadership system must remain intact.
“We reject any attempt to make the Alaafin permanent chairman. Rotational leadership ensures fairness and respects historical facts. Sentiment cannot override the truth. We stand firm in defending Ogbomoso’s dignity and legacy,” the statement concluded.
The Mogajis urged the Oyo State House of Assembly to honor the varied historical contributions of Yoruba towns and preserve the rotational chairmanship to maintain harmony and unity among the state’s traditional rulers.
