Ogun State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon. Afolabi Afuape has said that the Ministry would not approve promotion in the traditional council until the review of Chief Laws and reform of the Obaship institution by the State House of Assembly.
Afuape said there is a need to have the statistics of Obas and Baales, profiles ,as well as their grades to know those that are truly due for promotion and to which level they are promoting to, adding that there would also be an E-library establishment, which would make it easy for people in need of information about chieftaincy affairs have access to information needed at a token, without coming to the ministry.
He said the ministry is proposing to have an Alternative Dispute Resolution unit, a legal department that would be responsible for legal aspects on issues relating to the ministry instead of referring to the Ministry of Justice, this he noted would not deter the ministry from seeking legal advice from the Justice ministry.
The Commissioner said the proposed reforms are overdue, noting that it would aid efficiency and performance of the ministry,as well as reduce the number of petitions often received from obaship and Baale’s activities.
In his contribution, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Olakunle Oluomo said the purpose of the meeting was to put up a proposed bill that would sanitise the traditional institutions, assign specific roles to the royal fathers, especially in the area of security in the State, adding that the bill would comprise; installation, promotion, burial rites, selection process, as well as gazetting the Baales and Coronet chiefs in the State.
The review process according to the Speaker, would involve a public hearing of stakeholders in the institution across the State, stating that memorandum would be welcomed from the Council of Obas, Baales and the supervising ministry.
Responding, the Chairman Council of Obas, Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, HRM Oba Sikiru Adetona, represented by Dagburewe of Idowa, Oba Yinusa Adekoya, said the review of chief laws and proposal of the new bill was a welcome idea, noting that the last chief’s law of the State was cumbersome and needs to be made simple for a layman to understand.
Chairman Council of Baales, Chief Tunji Falola, said he was elated that Baales in the State would be part of the reform, adding that they are ready to contribute their quota to the success of the process
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