The Olosi of Osi-Ekiti, Oba Stephen Alabi, has said that there should not be any controversy on who should be regarded as the highest traditional authority in Yorubaland between the Ooni of Ife and Alaafin of Oyo.
The first-class traditional ruler stated this in an interview with newsmen in Ibadan on Saturday.
The royal father said that whereas Oyo Empire which had its capital in Katunga collapsed a long time ago, Ife is the undisputed origin of Yoruba kingdoms, including Oyo itself.
He noted that the collapsed Oyo empire did not cover Ekiti, Ijesa, Egba, Ijebu, Ondo, and other major towns and cities in Yorubaland.
He said that Ooni of Ife has always been the supreme authority, while every Yoruba kingdom traces its history to Ile-Ife.
“No one traces its history to the Oyo Empire. The Alaafin does not command the awe and respect that the Ooni commands from Yoruba royal fathers.
“Ile-Ife is not a kingdom, but the Source. So, there is no issue with the effusions of the new Alaafin. I will advise him to concentrate on enduring issues, rather than dwell on illusion,”he said.
Speaking on the rising calls for constitutional roles for traditional rulers, Oba Alabi, who is a Constitutional Law lecturer, noted that the Parliamentary system is better suited for Nigeria than the current winner-takes-all presidential system.
The royal father recalled that the late Ooni Adesoji Aderemi played a constitutional role as Governor of the old Western Region.
He, however, suggested that the presidential or parliamentary system could be reformed by making the local government system a town-based structure where funds for development can be disbursed through the towns directly.
“Instead of the Council taking charge of everything and very little gets done, traditional rulers can be given the constitutional role of managing developmental efforts in their kingdoms directly, while the Council takes responsibility for policy approval and supervision.
“The traditional rulers become the ones who make up the Council, not elected officials, thus eliminating the incessant struggle for control of this level of government in every dispensation.
“Where the local government area coincides with the territory of a single royal father, the senior chiefs will join him to form the Council.
“But where there is more than one royal father in a local government area, the first-class Obas will rotate the chairmanship between themselves on a four yearly basis with other royal fathers as members,”he said.
Oba Alabi further stated that the bureaucracy remains as it was in the colonial times to advise the Council and implement daily administrative duties.
Alabi, the Olosi of Osi-Ekiti in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti, is an accomplished Broadcaster, veteran journalist, Public Relations consultant, Legal practitioner, Law lecturer and Sports administrator.
