By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
Oyo State Governor, Engr Seyi Makinde has disclosed that his administration is determined to make the State Council of Obas and Chiefs functional again,
The governor made this known last Friday, when he met with traditional rulers from across Oyo State, at the House of Chiefs, Secretariat, Agodi, Ibadan.
Governor Makinde maintained that to achieve this, his administration is ready to fully resolve all issues towards restoring the body adding it has become expedient to resolve all issues so that the Council could contribute its quota to the development of the state in its official capacity.
Speaking through his deputy, Barrister Bayo Lawal, Gov Makinde said his administration had, in a bid to reconstitute and restore the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, earlier called for recommendations and suggestions from the members of the council.
According to the governor, the government has received recommendations and suggestions from all the geopolitical zones of the state and would go ahead to treat the same with all the seriousness and confidentiality they deserve.
“We have engaged the monarchs in consultative activities relating to the Council of Obas and Chiefs in Oyo State. Recall that this council has not been functioning as required by law and it has become a source of worry for the government of Oyo State. The governor, in his wisdom, has decided to do something about it in such a way that the council becomes functional again”, he said.
The governor added, “Since 2011, this council has not sat for once, and you recall that our royal fathers are custodians of culture in various local government areas and zones of Oyo State”
” Therefore, the government, with a view to reconstitute the council, called for ideas, suggestions and recommendations from our royal fathers in a manner that will promote stability in the council and promote development in Oyo State”.
He stressed, “We have received observations and suggestions from the five geopolitical zones of the state, Ibadan zone, Oyo, Ibarapa, Ogbomoso and Oke-Ogun zones.
We have received very profound and useful suggestions that will make the government to make necessary amendments to the Chiefs law of Oyo State.
” This is our discussion until proper reports are made.Those suggestions from our Kabiyiesi will be treated with confidentiality by the government of Oyo State until we are able to come up with agreed resolutions by both the royal fathers and government of Oyo State.Those suggestions and recommendations remain as they are now.”
Speaking at the meeting, the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Hon. Olusegun Olayiwola tasked the traditional rulers to seek common ground and embrace unity, respect, and mutual understanding in the efforts to reconstitute the Council.
Hon Olayiwola maintained that it would take the collaborative efforts of the state government and the Council to stamp out many criminal activities, including land grabbing, Kidnapping, banditry and illegal mining.
