The Ondo State Government has upgraded some traditional rulers in the state to a higher class in the state Council of Obas.
To this end, the government declared that no king in the state has the right to paramountcy claim, saying paramountcy is not part of the Chief’s Law of the state.
The state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Charles Titiloye spoke with journalists in Akure, the state capital while releasing the White Paper on the Justice C.E.T. Ajama Judicial Commission of Inquiry on Chieftaincy Matters.
The commissioner explained that the immediate past administration of Olusegun Mimiko instituted the commission on January 30, 2015, to attend to the recognition, adjustment, upgrade and elevation of chieftaincy stools in the state.
He noted that the Akeredolu-led administration set up a six-man committee at the state Executive Council meeting held on January 12, 2022, to review the recommendations made by the Justice Ajama Commission.
He noted that the new committee set up by the present administration reviewed it and prepared the government white paper on the report, settling 51 disputes on chieftaincy stools across the 18 local government areas of the state.
Titiloye said, “The government receives the recommendation of the commission on the paramountcy of some traditional rulers in the state.
“The state government notes that paramountcy is not part of the Chief’s Law of Ondo State. Consequently, the government has directed the office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to set machinery in motion for the amendment of the Chief’s Law of the state to accommodate this recommendation.”
Speaking, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters in the state, Mr Akinwumi Sowore, commended Governor Rotimi Akeredolu and other stakeholders for addressing the chieftaincy crises in the state.
He said, “The state government is hopeful that this consideration and review of chieftaincy matters in the state will bring peace, unity and progress to our various communities.
“The government hereby assures the public that the review of chieftaincy matters will be a continuous exercise, and requests or issues that have not been looked into in this White Paper will be considered in the future.”
