Traditionalists in Ogun state have tackled the new bill signed into law by the state governor, Dapo Abiodun, regulating the installation and burial rites of monarchs.
The bill entitled, “Obas, Chiefs, Council of Obas and Traditional Council law of Ogun State, Bill 2021,” was initiated by the Awujale and Paramount Ruler of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, in 2020.
The bill was aimed at “respecting human dignity and promotion of modernity” in the installation and burial of traditional rulers.
It also permits families of the monarchs to decide the mode of burial.
Tackling the new law, the Oluwo of Iperu and Vice Chairman of Osugbo Remo Parapo, High Chief Ifasola Opeodu, said traditionalists will challenge the law before a competent court.
He argued that “a dead man has no right under the law.”
According to the Oluwo of Iperu, becoming a king was not by force and on no account should either a Christian or a Muslim buries an Oba.
ALSO READ: EFCC arraigns Mompha for alleged money laundering to the tune of over N6 billion
Opeodu said, “A dead man has no right under the law. Anybody that is dead has lost all the rights that he has.
“The right of Obas that they are claiming that we are violating is not right because a dead man has no right again under the law.
“Secondly, what we are saying is that Obaship institution will is optional, we are not forcing anybody to come there, we are not saying they should not bury Obas, but what we are opposing if you follow our augment is that how can they now say Christians and Muslims should come and be burying Obas, traditional heads?
“If there is anything that they don’t want during their burials, they should say, but traditionalists must be the ones to bury Obas, not Christians.
“Why don’t they say that Christians or Muslims should be the ones to install the monarchs? They are not saying this. The governor even said without prejudice to the rights of traditionalists under customary law.
“All these things are there. We are not saying that they should not bury Obas, but it should not be Christians or Muslims that will bury the Obas.”
