Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, on Monday, signed into law the controversial bill regulating installation and burial rites of traditional rulers in the state.
Governor Abiodun signed the bill inspite of the vehement opposition of traditional religion worshippers, who clashed on many occasions with Obas and the lawmakers in the state House of Assembly over the bill.
They had alleged the passage of the bill was an attempt to erode Yoruba culture.
The bill was first presented before the state Assembly in early 2020 and passed second reading on March 3, 2020.
The bill marked “State Traditional Rulers (Installation and Burial Rites) Bill 2020,” was sponsored by the Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Akeem Balogun.
It sought to make “a law to provide for the Preservation, Protection and Exercise by Traditional Rulers of their fundamental rights to be installed and buried according to their religions or beliefs and for other related matters.”
Awujale and paramount ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, initiated the bill, but traditionalists in the state resisted it from being passed into law.
Following the controversy generated by the bill, the state Assembly in June 2020 had to suspend indefinitely a public hearing earlier fixed for the bill.
But one year after, the bill was reintroduced in the Assembly in July 2021 with its title slightly modified.
It was then rechristened “H.B. No. 069/ OG/ 2021- Obas, Chiefs, Council of Obas and Traditional Council law of Ogun State, 2021- A bill for a law to provide for an approved method for the selection, appointment and recognition of Obas, Chiefs and Traditional Council in Ogun State and for purposes incidental and supplementary to them.”
But inspite of the traditional religion worshippers’ stiff resistance, the Assembly passed the bill late 2021 and forwarded it to Governor Abiodun for his assent.
During Monday’s signing of the bill into law, Governor Abiodun was joined by the state Assembly Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo; Chairman of the State Traditional Council and Akarigbo of Remoland, Oba Babatunde Ajayi; Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Adetona; Olu of Ilaro, Oba Kehinde Olugbenle and the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade at the private residence of the Awujale in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State for the ceremony.
Speaking on the occasion, Governor Abiodun said the new law now empowers royal families to determine how they would bury the remains of deceased monarchs.
According to him, “The traditional institution is the oldest form of administration and a very dependable and reliable one at that.
“This law was promoted by kabiyesi, the Awujale during his tenure as the chairman of the Ogun state traditional council.
“I believe that one of the unique things about this law, besides the fact that it spells out a method of selection Obas and chiefs, is a clarity that this law now provides as it relates to the passage rites of our kabiyesis (Monarchs).
“This law seeks to improve on previously existing Western region laws or where there had been ambiguity as it relates to how our kabiyesis will be buried, henceforth, this law now empowers the families to determine how our kabiyesis will be interned, will be buried.
“Of course without prejudice to traditional rites that is meant to be performed by the customary, but it clarifies and removes any ambiguity about the fact that the families of our kabiyesis now have a say in how they want our royal fathers to be buried and I think this is very laudable.”
In his response, the Awujale said with the signing of the bill into law Governor Abiodun had secured the support and assurance of the people for a second term in 2023.
The monarch expressed gratitude of both Muslims and Christians in the state to the governor “for signing the bill.”