KEY POINTS
- Oyo State Council of Obas was inaugurated after a 15-year gap.
- Governor Makinde proposed a rotational chairmanship among top monarchs.
- Oyo State Council of Obas leadership claims triggered an immediate dispute.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Thursday inaugurated the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs for the first time in 15 years, naming the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, as its inaugural chairman under a proposed rotational leadership arrangement.
The ceremony at the House of Chiefs in Ibadan immediately exposed tensions among the state’s top traditional institutions after the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, stayed away and publicly disputed Governor Seyi Makinde’s account of how the parties agreed on the leadership structure.
Makinde said the council’s chairmanship would rotate every two years among the Olubadan, the Alaafin and the Soun of Ogbomoso, describing the formula as the outcome of consultations with the three monarchs. Hours later, the Alaafin’s palace issued a statement denying any such meeting or endorsement.
Rotational leadership for Oyo State Council of Obas
Makinde told attendees that reviving the Oyo State Council of Obas was central to strengthening traditional governance and restoring a formal channel of engagement that had lapsed since 2011. He said ad hoc arrangements had weakened coordination between the state and royal institutions, despite their influence at the community level.
“No matter how difficult an issue is, we will resolve it,” Makinde said, adding that unity among traditional rulers had helped his administration address security and social challenges since taking office in 2019. He said the law reconstituting the council, signed in August 2025, created the legal foundation for its return.
The governor argued that rotating the chairmanship would promote harmony and prevent rivalry, beginning with the Olubadan’s two-year term.
Dispute shadows Oyo State Council of Obas revival
The Alaafin’s media aide, Bode Durojaye, rejected Makinde’s account, saying the monarch neither met the governor nor agreed to a rotational system. He said the palace had already communicated its position through a memorandum submitted by the Oyo Council of Elders.
The inauguration also followed social media speculation about a rift between the Alaafin and Oba Ladoja after a viral video from a recent public event. Ladoja dismissed the claims, saying the incident was misunderstood and exaggerated online.
Speaking after his appointment, Ladoja urged residents to judge the council by its work rather than early controversy. He said the council’s priority would be peace, safety and cooperation across the state, not competition among monarchs.
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters Ademola Ojo said the revived council should serve as a forum for dialogue and a partner in advancing security and development.
