Assembly Proposes Ban On Ogun Monarchs From Political Rallies

The Ogun State House of Assembly says it has proposed a bill
that would put a stop to the attendance of political rallies by
traditional rulers.

Olakunle Oluomo, the Speaker of the House, disclosed this
Wednesday while declaring open the public hearing on a proposed
bill on traditional councils, stressing that any politician who
needs the support of a king should go to his palace to solicit
same.

The bill is titled ‘Obas, Chiefs, Council of Obas and
Traditional Council Law of Ogun State Bill, 2021.’

Mr Oluomo, who complained that the Yoruba traditional
institution has been abused by some intruders, noted that it is a
disgrace for traditional rulers to attend rallies with
politicians.

The Speaker, however, opined that it is important to bar
traditional rulers from attending political rallies so as to return
the institution to its place of honour.

“They now turn our king to politicians; when they want to do a
campaign, it is a must a king follow them which is not proper,” he
said.

“You will see some kings in Ogun state following a governor to
rallies; they will be following the governor to anywhere he is
going.

“We call them kings and a king must be at his palace. When the
governor or president wants to campaign, they should go and meet
them at their palaces.”

“These are part of the things we are trying to correct and if
you look at the number of petitions before the House and
litigations going on in the various courts of law in the State,
over 70% of such court cases are based on Obaship issues because of
the lacuna and errors of application of the existing traditional
council laws.”

Earlier, traditionalists and clerics had stormed the assembly
complex to participate in the public hearing of the bill.

According to the traditionalists, the bill, if passed, would
eradicate all traditional rites pertaining to kingship in the
state.

But the speaker noted that the legislation was initiated to
correct existing anomalies in the traditional institution,
especially the conduct of installation without following due
process, including the absence of declaration for some traditional
stools.

He said the anomalies had been creating difficulty on how to
determine those entitled to the throne.

The Ogun State House of Assembly says it has proposed a bill
that would put a stop to the attendance of political rallies by
traditional rulers.

Olakunle Oluomo, the Speaker of the House, disclosed this
Wednesday while declaring open the public hearing on a proposed
bill on traditional councils, stressing that any politician who
needs the support of a king should go to his palace to solicit
same.

The bill is titled ‘Obas, Chiefs, Council of Obas and
Traditional Council Law of Ogun State Bill, 2021.’

Mr Oluomo, who complained that the Yoruba traditional
institution has been abused by some intruders, noted that it is a
disgrace for traditional rulers to attend rallies with
politicians.

The Speaker, however, opined that it is important to bar
traditional rulers from attending political rallies so as to return
the institution to its place of honour.

“They now turn our king to politicians; when they want to do a
campaign, it is a must a king follow them which is not proper,” he
said.

“You will see some kings in Ogun state following a governor to
rallies; they will be following the governor to anywhere he is
going.

“We call them kings and a king must be at his palace. When the
governor or president wants to campaign, they should go and meet
them at their palaces.”

“These are part of the things we are trying to correct and if
you look at the number of petitions before the House and
litigations going on in the various courts of law in the State,
over 70% of such court cases are based on Obaship issues because of
the lacuna and errors of application of the existing traditional
council laws.”

Earlier, traditionalists and clerics had stormed the assembly
complex to participate in the public hearing of the bill.

According to the traditionalists, the bill, if passed, would
eradicate all traditional rites pertaining to kingship in the
state.

But the speaker noted that the legislation was initiated to
correct existing anomalies in the traditional institution,
especially the conduct of installation without following due
process, including the absence of declaration for some traditional
stools.

He said the anomalies had been creating difficulty on how to
determine those entitled to the throne.