Hostility resumes over Obas’ burial rites bill in Ogun

Traditionalists have resumed their stiff resistance to the controversial bill seeking to regulate burial and installation rites of traditional rulers in Ogun State.

The hostility follows the assembly’s planned public hearing on the proposed bill on Wednesday (today).

The bill seeks respect for human dignity and the promotion of modernity in the installation and burial of traditional rulers.

The proposed legal framework, when finally passed into law, is expected to curb idolatry practices in the process of installing and burying traditional rulers.

The Muslim community in the state, however, described the bill as “a welcome development”.

Eko Trust reports that the legislature had in June 2020 fixed the bill for a public hearing, but it later suspended it indefinitely following the controversy it generated.

However, more than a year after, the proposed legal framework has bounced back in the assembly with slight modification.

Tagged “Ogun State Traditional Rulers (Installation and Burial Rites) Bill 2020”, the bill is now titled “H.B. No. 069/ OG/ 2021- Obas, Chiefs, Council of Obas and Traditional Council law of Ogun State, 2021- A bill for a law to provide for an approved method for the selection, appointment and recognition of Obas, Chiefs and Traditional Council in Ogun State and for purposes incidental and supplementary to them.”

The bill has passed first and second reading at the assembly.

However, Ifayemi Osunlabu, the spokesperson of traditionalists in the state under the aegis of ‘Isese’ practitioners called on the Assembly to stop further deliberation on the bill, saying if it sails through and signed into law,” it would constitute an infringement on the rights of the traditional worshippers and might promote chaos and pandemonium in the communities”.