The Oyo State Government has formally dismissed the reported sacking of Dr Saka Adegbite Balogun from his position as the Balogun of Ogbomoso by Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, the Soun of Ogbomoso.
The government described the action as contrary to the state’s existing laws, insisting that the authority to remove a recognised Part II chieftaincy holder rests exclusively with the governor.
In a statement dated October 23, 2026, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Ademola Ojo, said the purported removal was not recognised under the law governing traditional council operations in the state.
Ojo cited Section 26(1) of the Chiefs Law of Oyo State, 2000, which vests the power to appoint, suspend and depose a Part II recognised chieftaincy holder in the state governor.
He described the reported action by the Soun of Ogbomoso as “an aberration and unknown to the existing law that guides the Traditional Council operations in the State.”
The commissioner reaffirmed that Dr Balogun remained the duly recognised Balogun of Ogbomoso land.
He urged members of the public to disregard reports of the purported removal, maintaining that the state government did not recognise the action.
The statement comes amid reports concerning the status of the Ogbomoso traditional title, with the state government restating its position on the legal authority to remove recognised chieftaincy holders.
What You Should Know
The Oyo State Government has stepped into a traditional dispute in Ogbomoso, making it clear that local monarchs do not have the unilateral legal power to remove recognised traditional chiefs.
- Positive Impact: This intervention reinforces the rule of law and protects recognised traditional titleholders from arbitrary removal by royal authorities.
- Potential Concerns: The disagreement highlights potential tensions between traditional rulers and state government authorities regarding chieftaincy affairs.
