By Gbenga Faturoti
The Osun has disclosed its readiness to establish a standing tribunal to handle all chieftaincy matters emanating in the state.
Governor Rauf Aregbesola gave the indication while receiving report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry into Disputed Chieftaincy Declarations and other Allied Chieftaincy Matters at Government House, Osogbo.
Aregbesola said that the initiative would serve as panacea to ending possible disputable Chieftaincy Declarations and other Allied Chieftaincy Matters in the state.
He said the Commission was constituted by his administration to resolve all disputed matters related to chieftaincy and traditional institutions in the state.
He said his administration would leave no stone unturned to find a lasting solution to recurrent challenges emanating from traditional institutions in the state.
It would be recalled that the Commission of Inquiry was inaugurated by Mr. Governor on 19th July, 2016 in response to a general clamour for the review of all disputed chieftaincy Declarations, due to faults in the Declarations.
The Commission was vested with a mandate to investigate the correctness or otherwise of all disputed Declarations in respect of recognized Chieftaincies in the state; the administration of the 5 per cent allocation to traditional councils in the state, and the constitution and administration of standing committees in each local government.
Governor Aregbesola expressed displeasure over the palpable grey areas in the Chieftaincy Declarations, saying the establishment of Standing-Tribunal would help to handle matters relating to Chieftaincies in the state and as well aid to resolve same amicably
“The acrimony is very worrisome and it has implication on the security of the state and as a serious government, the action taken to constitute a Judicial Commission of Inquiry into disputed chieftaincy Declarations was not only necessary but reflecting our administration’s commitment to promote and enhance communal peace and progress.
“To us as a government, the issue of traditional institutions and traditional councils remained sacrosanct that shouldn’t be handled with child gloves, thus informing the need to have a standing tribunal that would be handling matters relating to chieftaincies in the state .
“So, it is in view of this that our administration realising the need to stabilize issues attached to Chieftaincy Declarations, deemed it fit to constitute this Commission so as to find and revisit the problems confronting appointments into many chieftaincies, with a view to bringing peace, and stability to the appointments of chiefs in the state.
“We didn’t set up the Commission to deprive chieftaincy of its roles but rather to critically look into the challenges confronting Chieftaincy matter in our state by helping to find a lasting solution to the same”, Aregbesola stressed.
Commending the Commission for a selfless service rendered, Governor Aregbesola assured the Commission of thorough and proper study of the report, adding that he and other relevant authorities would review the report and as well issue White Paper on it before the first quarter of 2018.
“I want to believe that this is the beginning of seamless chieftaincy administration in Osun as I am assuring the Commission that we will properly look into the report and review it technically so as to issue White Paper on the state position on the matter.
”We will not rest on our oars towards ensuring smooth running and management of the traditional institutions in the state”, Aregbesola affirmed.
Presenting the report, the Chairman of the Commission, Justice Abdulrazak Babatunde Abdulkareem, said it proposed f to establish a State Standing Tribunal into Chieftaincy matters, having painstakingly studied issue regarding the disputed chieftaincy declarations there
The committee observed that crisis arising from traditional chieftaincy Institutions was not as a result of lack of extant laws and regulations guiding their mode of acceptance operation but rather the lack of observance and compliance with the laws.
“To prevent violation, and non-compliance with the laws; the Commission has made recommendations that would make for effective supervision by relevant bodies, and imposition of penalty for violating same.
“The Commission also observed that the unwieldy size of the State Council of Obas and Chiefs; was a result of unregulated promotions, and lack of proper process of inclusion into the Council.
“The recommendations provided in our report will prune down the Council to a manageable size as prescribed by laws.
“We equally noted that setting up ad hoc Commission to treat cases of recurrent challenges emanating from traditional institutions may not be the best of solution to these ever recurring issues.
“The Commission is therefore proposing the establishment of a State Standing Tribunal into Chieftaincy Matters like that of Lagos State, to handle matters relating to Chieftaincies in the state that may arise in the future. This would surely resolve latent Chieftaincy issues that may require to be nipped in the bud”, Justice Abdulkareem noted.
Speaking on how the Commission arrived at the submission, Justice Abdulkareem said 169 memoranda were received, and 713 rejoinders submitted in response to the memoranda, spread fairly over the entire six geopolitical zones into which the state was divided.
He said the basis for considering the case of any party coming before the Commission was memorandum, thus, memoranda not in-line with the Commission’s reference or sub-judice or in court for adjudication; were not entertained.
“Also in an effort to get to the roots of all matters that fell within our terms of reference, experts/consultants were engaged to advise the Commission on grey areas such as the hierarchy of Traditional Chieftaincy Institution
“In all, 69 memoranda were considered on merit, and adjourned sine die, and the Commission’s recommendations are hereby presented for government consideration and further actions.
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