On Friday, the Oyo State government engaged some traditional rulers in a consultative meeting on ways to resuscitate the State Council of Obas and Chiefs.

The meeting was held at the House of Chiefs, State Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.

The state government delegation at the meeting was led by the deputy governor, Bayo Lawal, who represented Governor Seyi Makinde.

The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Olalekan Balogun and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Laoye, led other traditional rulers across the six zones of the state to the meeting.

In his welcome address, the deputy governor said the meeting was called to ensure that the Council of Obas and Chiefs was revived and functioned optimally.

Mr Lawal noted that the government was looking at the council as co-partners in the developmental endeavours of Mr Makinde’s administration.

He said a functional council would make the obas have a common and united voice on the government’s policies; “thus, this will make the government feel the impact of traditional rulers.”

The deputy governor said issues on the rotation of chairmanship and vice chairman positions, including more members to expand the council and other issues that would promote unity among the traditional rulers, would be deliberated upon.

He recalled that the 2011 gazette by the Alao Akala administration placed the chairmanship of the council on a rotational basis of two years among Alaafin of Oyo, Olubadan of Ibadan and Soun of Ogbomoso.

He said the gazette provided that the vice chairmanship should be rotated among four traditional rulers, namely: Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Eleruwa of Eruwa, Okere of Saki, and Aseyin of Iseyin.

He urged the obas to deliberate on whether their operations should be guided by the 2011 gazette or reviewed.

Mr Lawal charged the Obas to come up with suggestions and recommendations devoid of bias “but well focused” for the overall development of the state.

He assured that recommendations presented to the government by the Obas would be carefully studied and implemented.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Segun Olayiwola, said the meeting was imperative to discuss the reconstitution of the council in alignment with the provisions of the Chieftaincy Law, Cap. 37(5), Law of Oyo State, 2000.

He urged the traditional rulers to seek common ground and embrace unity, respect, and mutual understanding to reconstitute the council of Obas and chiefs in the state.

(NAN)