The Salu of Edunabon, His Royal Majesty, Oba (Amb.) Adesoji Kehinde Oladepo, JP, Akinrinsa II, has criticised the establishment of the Osun West Council of Obas, declaring that the newly inaugurated body has no legal recognition under the Chieftaincy Laws of Osun State.
The monarch, who also serves as the Acting Chairman of the Ife North Chieftaincy Committee, made the remarks while speaking with journalists on Tuesday in response to the inauguration of the Osun West Council of Obas held at the palace of the Oluwo of Iwo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, where the Oluwo was announced as the council’s Permanent Chairman.
Oba Oladepo maintained that the traditional institution in Osun State is governed by clearly defined laws and government gazettes, insisting that there is no legal provision for the creation of a council of traditional rulers based on the state’s senatorial districts.
According to him, the Osun State Council of Obas and Chiefs remains the highest legally recognised traditional institution in the state, with the Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, CFR, Ojaja II, serving as its Permanent Chairman as stipulated by law.
The Salu explained that, beyond the State Council of Obas and Chiefs, the only legally recognised traditional administrative structures are the traditional councils established under the state’s Chieftaincy Law and the chieftaincy committees operating across Osun State’s 30 local government areas.
“There are only three recognised traditional structures in Osun State. The Osun State Council of Obas and Chiefs is the apex traditional institution, with the Ooni of Ife serving as its Permanent Chairman. We also have the traditional councils established by law and the chieftaincy committees in all the 30 local government areas.
“Any arrangement outside these recognised structures has no legal foundation. There is nothing known as the Osun West Council of Obas in the laws or gazette of Osun State,” the monarch stated.
Oba Oladepo further argued that any traditional institution seeking official recognition must derive its authority from the relevant provisions of the Osun State Chieftaincy Law, stressing that no individual or group possesses the constitutional or statutory authority to establish a parallel traditional council outside the existing legal framework.
He maintained that the newly inaugurated council enjoys neither statutory recognition nor historical legitimacy and, therefore, cannot exercise any official authority within the state’s recognised traditional governance structure.
“The so-called Osun West Council of Obas is not recognised by the Government of Osun State. It is not recognised by law, and it has no historical foundation. As far as the law is concerned, it is null and void,” he added.
The traditional ruler also suggested that the formation of the council appeared to be more of a publicity-driven initiative than a genuine effort to strengthen the legally recognised traditional institution in the state.
He called on traditional rulers across Osun State to remain committed to the established legal framework governing the institution of traditional rulers, emphasising that adherence to due process is essential to preserving the dignity, unity and credibility of the state’s revered traditional institution.
The comments come amid ongoing public discussions over the inauguration of the Osun West Council of Obas, a development that has continued to generate debate among stakeholders within the traditional institution and the wider public.
