Egba Traditional Council Members, the Alagbado of Agbado, Oba Adedayo Shyllon Sogbulu, and the Alakija of Ikija, Oba Babatunde Kolawole Ayorinde, expressed disapproval of the manner in which the Egba Traditional Council is making unilateral decisions regarding the Olu-Obafe stool issue.

Speaking against the backdrop of the recent indefinite suspension of the Olu of Obafemi in Obafemi Owode Local Government, Oba Taofeek Kayode Owolabi, after the expiry of the initial six-month suspension, the duo disclosed that the indefinite suspension is an aberration and has no basis in the state laws governing obas and chiefs of Ogun State, 2021.

The monarchs stated that during the last monthly meeting, no Egba Traditional Council members discussed or raised the issue, emphasising that the oba in question arrived at the last meeting expecting that his suspension had lapsed.

“Traditional Council has no power to suspend any oba indefinitely, but for another six months, that by the Traditional Council not an individual,” they said.

While noting that there is no provision for a regency council in the chiefs’ law of Ogun State, they added, “It is also very clear in the chiefs’ law that no oba should exercise powers beyond his local government and indeed his area of prescribed authority.

“The Ogboni chiefs are not recognised or acknowledged by any law in Ogun State; there is a circular from the State Government to traditional councils forbidding Ogboni chiefs from interfering in the installation of Baales, talk less of serving as regents to a recognised oba’s stool of first-class status that has a cabinet in his town, even if the suspension continues.”

The entire action is again based on a unilateral decision, not made or approved by the Egba Traditional Council, as it was never discussed nor sanctioned in any of our meetings.

The duo also noted that, although a meeting initially suspended the Olu of Obafemi for six months due to ethical concerns, this decision was based on the report of the council’s ethics committee, headed by the Olowu of Owu, Oba (Prof.) Saka Matemilola, at the council’s December 2024 meeting. The Olu of Obafemi was suspended for six months, and this suspension expired in June 2025.

“Upon Olu Obafemi’s return in June 2025, his matter was never discussed at the statutory monthly council meeting held in June 2025, in which Olu Obafemi himself was present.”

“Our laws (Obas and Chiefs Law of Ogun State, 2021 as amended) do not provide for indefinite suspension or the appointment of regents,” they said.