Posted by From AKEEB ALARAPE, Ibadan on
The simmering crisis rocking the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs reared its head again yesterday, as the traditional ruler of the country home of the state governor, Soun of Ogbomoso land, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade III has dragged Governor Adebayo Alao Akala to court on his decision to reconvene the state Council of Obas and Chiefs meeting.
The simmering crisis rocking the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs reared its head again yesterday, as the traditional ruler of the country home of the state governor, Soun of Ogbomoso land, Oba Jimoh Oyewumi Ajagungbade III has dragged Governor Adebayo Alao Akala to court on his decision to reconvene the state Council of Obas and Chiefs meeting. Soun's grouse was mainly due to the council's meeting of November 8, 2007, which was presided over by Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111. In a fresh litigation initiated by Soun, he insisted that the action was in contravention of the June 25, 2007 order which asked that the status quo be maintained in council.
Represented by his lawyer, Mr. Kunle Sobaloju, the aggrieved monarch, in a Motion on Notice dated November 9, 2007, also asked for an order setting aside the reconstitution, with the Alaafin as presiding chairman contrary to the order of the court. It would be recalled that the immediate past administration of Senator Rasidi Ladoja, in the state, had on July 9, 2003 dissolved the council which had Alaafin as the permanent chairman and later reconstituted the council into six zones, in a bid to solve the leadership crisis rocking the council.
But a section of the traditional rulers, mainly from Oke-Ogun area of the state kicked against the reconstitution and challenged the action of the government in court. An Oyo State High Court later declared the reconstitution, without the input of the state House of Assembly as illegal, null and void, while reaffirming the chairmanship status of the Alaafin.
But after the last meeting of the council on November 8, Soun felt aggrieved and approached Justice Gbolagade Gbolagunte of the Iyaganku High Court 16 asking for an order 'setting aside the purported reconstitution of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, contrary to the order of this honourable court made on June 25, 2007 during the pendency of this action."