The Oke-Ogun Development Consultative Forum (ODCF) has formally appealed to the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde, urging for fairness, equity, and justice in the ongoing amendment of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs Law.
In a memo addressed to the Governor and copied to key members of the Oyo State House of Assembly, ODCF commended the administration’s decision to revive the Council, which had remained dormant for over a decade. The Forum praised the Governor’s commitment to inclusive governance, especially in the traditional institution.
However, the Forum expressed concerns over the historical exclusion of several traditional rulers from Oke-Ogun from permanent membership in the Council. According to the memo, despite numerous petitions and recommendations over the years, deserving monarchs such as the Alado of Ado-Awaye, Elero of Ilero, Onisanbo of Ogboro, and Ajoriwin of Irawo have not been granted permanent seats.
The memo argued that the traditional criteria for seniority among Obas—originally based on either founding a community or conquest—have been wrongly replaced by colonial-era administrative earnings. These earnings, the ODCF stated, were intended as a revenue-based system, not a hierarchy of prestige or authority.
The Forum called on the government to abandon outdated standards and instead adopt a modern, inclusive approach that promotes effectiveness and cohesion in the Council’s operations. It proposed the appointment of co-chairmen from each of the state’s five zones—Ibadan, Oyo, Ogbomoso, Ibarapa, and Oke-Ogun—to replace the current dominance by a single zone.
Furthermore, the ODCF urged the House of Assembly to increase the number of permanent representatives from Oke-Ogun, especially in light of the region’s large number of autonomous communities. It noted that other regions currently enjoy representation greater than the number of local governments they possess.
“Our appeal is based on the principles of equity and justice,” the memo stated. “If history and tradition are to be considered, several Obas in Oke-Ogun are more than qualified, not only as permanent members but also as Chairmen of the Council.”
Signed by Ahmed Adeniyi Raji SAN (President), Adebimpe Aderounmu (Secretary General), and Prince Remi Adegbola (Publicity Secretary), the document reaffirmed the Forum’s support for Governor Makinde’s developmental agenda and urged the State Assembly to give the matter due consideration.
