BY OLA AJAYI –
Following the alleged removal of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi from the permanent chairmanship seat of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs by the Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, members of the council have rejected the amendment of the law that led to the removal.

They described the amendment of the law by the 32-member-legislative arm and assented to by Governor Akala as an exercise in futility.

Speaking on behalf of the other monarchs in the council, the Vice-Chairman, Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Samuel Adegboyega Osunbade said emphatically that the purported amendment could not stand the test of time.

They were in Oyo town Wednesday on a solidarity visit to Oba Adeyemi. He said since the legislative arm of government that amended the law was a party, it was wrong for them to resort to self help.

He said, “We, however note with all amazements the purported amendment to the law of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs as published by some national dailies of today. We like to assure members of the public that this purported amendment cannot and will not stand the test of time as there are over 10 fundamental errors which will be addressed appropriately by our permanent chairman”.

The State House of Assembly had amended the law in a rather hasty manner which many people believed was aimed at taking a pound of flesh for the way Alaafin prevailed on his people to vote out the governor. All the four councils in the domain of Alaafin voted against the Governor Alo-Akala and other candidates of the PDP in the elections.

The spokesperson for the council, Oba Osunbade is one of the four monarchs which the amended law favoured to be rotating the vice chairmanship of the council. Others to rotate the vice chairmanship of the council, according to the amended law are Eleruwa of Eruwa, Okere of Saki and Aseyin of Iseyin.

Oba Osunbade probably insinuating political vendetta enjoined politicians in the state to accept the verdicts of the people who had spoken through their votes.

“The electorates in Oyo State have given their verdicts and we as royal fathers appeal to all politicians especially those seeking elective offices to accept the verdict of the people as declared by INEC. In any contest, there must be winners and losers. Those who are aggrieved should seek redress from the law courts”, he advised.

According to him, “This is the first time we are visiting him (Alaafin) in his capacity as our permanent chairman in his palace after the general election of April 2011 especially the gubernatorial elections held throughout Nigeria”.

The traditional rulers declared their support for the governor-elect, Senator Abiola Ajimobi saying “we thank the good people of Oyo State for their collective efforts in choosing the governor of their choice and members of the House of Assembly. We declare our unalloyed support for the governor elect, Senator Abiola Ajimobi. We shall assist the in-coming governor in whatever way we could”.

To the royal fathers, discussing or taking any action on the matters relating to Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs are subjudice and exercise in futility because the “House of Assembly is a party in this case. You all know that it is not right for you to resort to self help when an issue is before the court of law”.