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Traditional Council: Protest As Oyo Assembly Backtracks

Two lawmakers staged a walkout on Tuesday when the Oyo State House of Assembly received the amended report of its committee reviewing the Council of Obas and Chiefs.
The Assembly, facing backlash over the proposed amendment, reverted to a rotational chairmanship among the Alaafin of Oyo, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, and the Soun of Ogbomoso.
The bill was passed during the plenary session, following the presentation of the report of the House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters and State Honours by its Vice Chairman, Bamidele Adeola.
It resolved that “the chairmanship position should be rotated among the Alaafin of Oyo, the Olubadan of Ibadanland and the Soun of Ogbomosoland.”
The bill, which passed its second reading on the floor of the House last Thursday, generated heated arguments among the traditional rulers and stakeholders in the state.
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The bill initially proposed making Alaafin the permanent chairman, with Olubadan and Soun serving as concurrent chairmen in that order of ranking during Alaafin’s absence.
The Olubadan and Soun, however, insisted on maintaining rotational chairmanship with the Alaafin and urged the Assembly to reverse its decision.
The PUNCH gathered that the committee, in its report, proposed that the permanent chairmanship clause in the bill should be replaced with a rotational chairmanship among the Alaafin, the Olubadan and the Soun on a two-year term.
The bill also struck out the permanent presiding officer role initially vested in the Alaafin.
The committee also recommended that the 10 beaded crown-wearing Ibadan obas, Samu and Agbakin be included as members of the Council of Obas and Chiefs.
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Some traditional rulers in the state, however, criticised the Assembly for expanding the council to include the 10 Ibadan obas.
While some stakeholders from Ibadanland and Ogbomosoland vilified the bill, others saw it as a welcome development.
Kicking against the rotational clause, the lawmakers representing Oyo East and Atiba constituencies, Olorunpoto Rahman and Gbenga Oyekola, respectively, walked out while the House was deliberating on the recommendation of the committee.
In a sideline interview with newsmen, Rahman said, “We should be guided by the truth in whatever law we make. Everyone knows the position of the Alaafin. We are not out of touch with history.
“Alaafin is a paramount ruler. We should not make a law for political convenience. We should make a law that can stand the test of time. We should make a law that will align with history.
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“We are not satisfied with the process by the committee. There was neither a public hearing nor stakeholder engagement. There is no instance where they invited anyone from Oyo to speak on this bill. I have serious issues with that.”
The Palace of the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon also viewed the Council of Obas and Chiefs (further amendment) Bill 2025 as a faulty political document whose consideration should be halted to give room for consultations.
The palace, in a statement by the Media Consultant to Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Bisi Oladele, described the bill as faulty, decrying inadequate consultation by the Assembly.
“For such an important bill that seeks to revive and do justice to the council of obas and chiefs, the key stakeholders are the traditional rulers, who should have been adequately consulted before it was packaged. Besides, there should be a public hearing on the proposal.
“The actions on the bill so far clearly ignored the relevance of traditional rulers in Oyo State. It is openly based on political patronage,” the statement stated.
READ ALSO:Oyo 2027: Makinde Speaks On His Successor
It lamented that the amendment further cemented Ibadans’ dominance over indigenes from other parts of the state.
“Should the bill be passed, indigenes of Oyo, Ogbomoso, Oke-Ogun and Ibarapa zones will again become second-class indigenes in their own state, just as Ibadan indigenes have been dominating other parts of the state politically.
“The city has produced governors since 1999, except for the late Adebayo Alao-Akala.
“While there is a need for the council to be revived and strengthened, it should not be skewed in favour of a particular zone to further dominate other zones.
“It should reflect fairness, justice, equity, and possess the capacity to promote peace among traditional rulers in the state,” it added.
READ ALSO:Oyo Unveils Committee For Alaafin’s Coronation
The Olugbon, Oba Francis Alao, urged the lawmakers and other stakeholders to suspend work on the bill and consult widely to avoid passing a bill that would breed crisis among monarchs in the state.
He also debunked the claim of historical significance of Ogbomoso by the mogajis of the town in their opposition to the bill.
Oba Alao noted that should history alone be the factor of decision-making concerning the constitution of the council’s leadership, the Olugbon of Orile-Igbon would be ahead of the Soun of Ogbomoso.
“We should not forget that the current palace of the Soun of Ogbomoso sits on the land that falls within Olugbon’s kingdom.
“Orile-Igbon borders with Ijeru, which is also more ancient than Ogbomoso.
READ ALSO:Makinde Presents Staff Of Office To New Oyo Monarch
“But demography has kept Ogbomoso in a better standing than other towns and communities in the zone.
“This is the reality all traditional rulers in the Ogbomoso zone accepted, and this accounts for why more ancient towns in the zone do not contend with the status accorded Soun in the Obas Council. We understand it as good for administrative and political convenience,” he added.
Oba Alao said Alaafin ran a huge kingdom with many other kingdoms under it, and believed Alaafin deserved the permanent chairmanship.
“Where is Soun’s kingdom? Where is Olubadan’s kingdom? Alaafin ran a huge kingdom with many other kingdoms under it.
“But we are putting the past behind us because the world is dynamic. Yet the honour must be there for the thrones that deserve it,” he added.
READ ALSO:Makinde Suspends Oyo Monarch
A group, the Ebedi Frontliners, Iseyin, has called on the Oyo State Government to make the Aseyin of Iseyin a co-chairman in the bill.
This was contained in a statement released by its Public Relations Officer, Segun Fasasi, in Ibadan, on Tuesday.
Ebedi Frontliners, in a statement, said, “Alaafin is representing the interests of four local government areas in Oyo town, Soun of Ogbomoso represents the interests of five local government areas while Olubadan represents the interests of 11 local government areas, leaving Oke-Ogun area with 10 local government areas with no co-chairmanship candidate.”
The group, however, lauded Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration for what it called “the democratisation of the state’s chieftaincy laws,” saying the legislative exercise would give more roles to the traditional rulers.
(PUNCH)
News
Back To School: Lions Club Distributes Educational Materials In Edo Schools

The Benin Etete Unique and Edo Heritage Lions of the International Association of Lions Club on Friday jointly distributed educational materials to two schools in Benin City as part of the association corporate services to humanity.
The two clubs in District 404-A4 Lions Nigeria, jointly carried out the distribution of notebooks, maths sets, school bags and sandals, pens and other writing materials to excited pupils in Ivbioba Primary School and Oghede-Ivioba Primary School, Ugbighoko, Egor Local Government Area, and Evbiyenava Primary School, in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.
Themed, Back to School Project, pupils were also engaged in Reading Action Program (RAP) and Spelling Bee Competition, after which winners were presented with special prizes.
In their remarks, Lions Darlington Uyi and Franca Nikoro, presidents of Benin Etete Unique and Edo Heritage Lions Clubs stated that the vision of the Lions International is to serve humanity.
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They, therefore, tasked pupils on commitment to their studies in order to attain their fullest potentials in life.
“Emulate Lions in your visions for tomorrow. We have various professionals as members, and if you are committed to your studies, obedient to your parents and teachers, you will attain great heights,” Lion Uyi Darlinton Stated.
“Our vision is to serve, and we are here like we do every period to ensure Literacy is inculcated in pupils to enable them to attain their full potential. It is our earnest desire that you grow into well rounded personalities. Literacy is important in order to actualize that aspiration,” Franca Nikoro stated.
Earlier, in his address, Lion Sir Dede Henry Idemudia, Zone 6A Chairperson, tasked the pupils on good conduct, honour to parents and guardians and obedience to instructions of school authority.
News
NAFDAC Gives Nigerian Food Companies 18 Months To Cut Trans Fats

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has set an 18-month grace period, effectively giving food companies until early 2026 before facing full enforcement of regulations to eliminate industrially produced Trans-Fatty Acids (TFA).
The initiative, launched as a comprehensive strategy and roadmap for TFA regulation, moves Nigeria from simply having the policy to enforcing its world-class standard: a regulatory limit of no more than two grams of industrially produced trans fat per 100 grams of total fat or oil.
The Director-General of NAFDAC, Professor Mojisola Adeyeye, emphasised that the roadmap moves the country beyond policy creation to aggressive enforcement and implementation.
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This was contained in the NAFDAC DG’s keynote speech posted on the agency’s official X (formerly Twitter) on Friday.
Adeyeye stressed the moral imperative of the Agency’s mission.
“The removal of industrially produced trans fats from the food chain is not only a technical achievement, but a moral imperative.
“Eliminating industrially produced trans fats is possible, achievable, necessary, and urgent,” Adeyeye stated, calling for national collaboration.
The moratorium period is designed to allow manufacturers to exhaust existing stock with outdated labels and reformulate their products to comply with the legal limit.
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NAFDAC’s action targets a dangerous dietary risk factor strongly linked to cardiovascular disease, stroke, and premature death globally.
Adeyeye emphasised the significance of the move beyond technical compliance, noting, “The removal of industrially produced trans fats from the food chain is not only a technical achievement, but a moral imperative.”
This aggressive step builds upon Nigeria’s existing reputation; the country was recognised by the World Health Organisation in 2023 for adopting best-practice TFA elimination policies.
The new roadmap is key to securing WHO validation of Nigeria’s full TFA elimination programme, establishing the nation as a regional leader in public health interventions.
News
Mohbad’s Father Urges Lagos AG To Prosecute Wife, Nurse, Others

Joseph Aloba, the father of late singer Mohbad, has urged the Lagos State government to initiate criminal proceedings against individuals named in the coroner’s inquest into his son’s death.
Mohbad passed away on September 12, 2023, following an injection administered by auxiliary nurse Feyisayo Ogedengbe.
Despite being buried the next day, public outcry and ongoing investigations led to the exhumation of his body on September 21, 2023, for an autopsy.
In a letter dated October 3 and addressed to the attorney general of Lagos State through his lawyers, Aloba demanded that criminal charges be filed against those indicted within 14 days.
READ ALSO:Mohbad: Naira Marley Speaks In New Video
“Specifically, we refer to persons indicted by the coroner’s verdict hereunder: Miss Ogedengbe Fisayo, indicted for unlawful medical practice and gross medical negligence; and Mrs. Omowunmi Aloba, indicted for negligence,” the letter reads.
“This includes Ibrahim Owodunni, a.k.a. Prime Boy, and others who either facilitated the invitation of the auxiliary nurse or refused to take him promptly to a recognised medical facility for treatment.”
Mohbad’s father said he was concerned that despite the coroner’s clear verdict, no prosecutorial steps had been taken against those indicted nearly three months after the judgment.
He asked the attorney general to exercise prosecutorial powers within the 14 days, or, in the alternative, grant him and his legal team a fiat to prosecute the matter on behalf of the state.
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“Our Client, as a bereaved father desirous of ensuring that justice is done and seen to be done, is deeply concerned that notwithstanding the clear indictments contained in the Coroner’s Verdict, no prosecutorial steps have been taken against the aforementioned persons since the delivery of the Verdict on 11th July, 2025,” the letter reads.
“The judicial observations amount to clear indictments warranting the prosecution of the said individuals in order to give full effect to the Coroner’s findings and recommendations, and to ensure that justice is manifestly and adequately served in this matter.
“We request that you exercise your prosecutorial power on the above subject matter within 14 Days Next, in view of the high sensitivity of this matter and the public attention and outrage it has generated.”
In October 2023, Naira Marley and Sam Larry were arrested over allegations linking them to Mohbad’s death, but were released on bail after five weeks in detention.
By February 2025, a magistrate court cleared them of any involvement in the singer’s demise.
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