Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday inaugurated the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs for the first time in 15 years, appointing the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, as the council’s pioneer chairman.
The inauguration, held at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Secretariat, Ibadan, was marked by the absence of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, sparking controversy over the process that led to the council’s leadership arrangement.
At the event, Governor Makinde said the chairmanship of the council would be rotated among the Olubadan of Ibadan, the Alaafin of Oyo and the Soun of Ogbomoso, with each monarch serving a two-year term. He stated that the decision followed consultations and an agreement reached with the three first-class traditional rulers.
However, the Alaafin swiftly disputed the governor’s claim. In a statement issued by his media aide, Bode Durojaye, the palace said no such meeting ever took place and that the monarch did not endorse any rotational chairmanship arrangement.
“The palace hereby wants to state clearly that there was no time His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Engineer Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, held any meeting with either the state governor or any of the two traditional rulers mentioned,” the statement said. It added that the Alaafin’s position on the council had already been communicated to the governor through a memo submitted by the Oyo Council of Elders.
The inauguration came amid speculation of a rift between the Alaafin and the Olubadan, following a viral video suggesting frosty exchanges between the two monarchs at a recent public event. However, Oba Ladoja dismissed the claims, insisting there was no feud between him and the Alaafin.
Addressing journalists in Ibadan, the Olubadan described the alleged snub as a misunderstanding exaggerated on social media. He explained that his late arrival and seating arrangements at the event were responsible for the incident, stressing that there was no intention to disrespect the Alaafin.
During the inauguration, Governor Makinde said the reconstitution of the council was aimed at strengthening traditional institutions and promoting unity, peace and development across the state. He noted that the council last met in 2011 and described its absence for over a decade as a setback to effective collaboration between government and traditional rulers.
“No matter how hard an issue is, we will resolve it. The easiest thing is to encourage division, but we know that many of our achievements as an administration can be traced to our traditional institutions,” the governor said.
In his remarks, Oba Ladoja urged residents to have confidence in the council, describing the inauguration as the beginning of serious work rather than an achievement.
“This is not about any individual. It is about ensuring peace, safety and continued progress across our domains and the state at large,” he said.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Ademola Ojo, described traditional rulers as custodians of culture and agents of grassroots development, expressing hope that the council would serve as a platform for harmony, dialogue and socio-economic advancement in Oyo State.
