22/08/2025
The Creation of Council of Obas in the South West.
Hrm Olu-oje Ojenpetu
The forum for Obas and Chiefs to meet was given a legal backing in 1959 when the
fist Obas and chiefs Law No. W.R. 38 of 1959 was put in place.
The Council was inaugurated in 24th March, 1960 consisting of the Chairman, The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adesoji Aderemi and six other members each of whom was appointed for Two years only. Oba Adesoji Aderemi was appointed the first African Governor in the British Empire and Common wealth in 1960 and Oba Ladigbolu Il, the Alaafin of Oyo,
replaced the Ooni as the Chairman of the Council of Obas and Chiefs.
🧉 The foundation members were:
1) Oba Adesoji Aderemi, the Ooni of Ife
2) Oba Ladapo Ademola, The Alake of Abeokuta;
3) Oba Gbadegesin Oladigolu II, the Alaafin of Oyo;
4) Oba Tewogboye II, The Osemawe of Ondo;
5) Oba Moses S. Awolesi, The Akarigbo of Ijebu Remo;
6) Oba Adetoyese Laoye II, The Timi of Ede;
7) Oba Obika A. Gbnuba, The Obi of Agbor;
The size of the Council had continually been enlarged since then, according to His
Excellency, Governor Omololu Olunloyo’s Broadcast on the crisis regarding the rotation
of chairmanship of the council of Obas was contained in the National Advocate of
Tuesday, December 6, 1983.
For example, when the Military took over government of Nigeria in January, 1966,
LT Col, F. Adekunle Fajuyi became the Military Governor, Western Nigeria. The Council
of Obas and Chiefs (Appointment) Edict, 1966, W.N.L.N. of 1966 published in the
“Supplement to Western Nigeria Gazette No 19, Volume 15, 17th February, 1966-Part B
provided for the appointment of the following Chairman, Deputy chairman and members
respectively:
i) The Oni of Ife - Chairman
ii) The Alaafin of Oyo - Deputy Chairman
iii) The Alake of Abeokuta
iv) The Awujale of Ijebuland
v) The Owa of Ijeshaland
vi) The Osemawe of Ondo
vii) The Olubadan of Ibadan
viii) The Orangun of Ila
ix) The Akarigbo of Ijebu Remo
x) The Ewi of Ado
xi) The Deji of Akure
The membership was further increased to twelve (12) when Olowo of Owo was
added in 1977 by His Excellency Governor Adeyinka Adebayo with the following
members as permanent members base on the paramountcy of Obas in the twelve Divisions
of Western state as follows.
i) The Ooni of Ife to represent Ife Division
ii) The Alaafin of Oyo to represent Oyo South and Oyo North Division
iii) The Alake of Abeokuta to represent Egba Division:
iv) The Awujale of Ijebuland to represent Ijebu Ode Division:
v) The Owa Obukan of Ijeshaland to represent Ijesa South and North Divisions.
vi) The Ewi of Ado-Ekiti to represent Ekiti Central Division
vii) Osemawe of Ondo to represent Ondo Division
viii) The Olowo of Owo to represent Owo Division
ix) The Deji of Okure represent Akure Division
x) The Orangun of Ila to represent Igbomina Osun North East.
xi) The Olubadan of Ibadanland to represent Ibadan City and Ibadan Division
xii) The Akarigbo of Ijebu Remo to represent Remo Division..
Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi - Ojaja II we Karo o jire love you as our Overlord.
