Alaafin Kicks as Makinde Installs Ladoja Chairman of Oyo Obas Council
IBADAN, Nigeria — A dispute has erupted in Oyo State’s traditional institutions after Governor Seyi Makinde on Thursday inaugurated the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, appointing the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja (Arusa I), as its chairman under a new rotational leadership system — a move sharply contested by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I.
The ceremony, held at the House of Chiefs, Agodi, marked the revival of the council, dormant for over a decade, and followed amendments to the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs Law by the State House of Assembly. Under the new arrangement, the chairmanship will rotate every two years among the state’s three foremost monarchs — the Olubadan of Ibadanland, the Alaafin of Oyo and the Soun of Ogbomosoland — with Oba Ladoja inaugurated as the first chairman for a two-year term.
While Governor Makinde said he had consulted all three traditional rulers before the decision, the Alaafin’s Palace has publicly denied ever being consulted or endorsing the rotational chairmanship plan. In a statement issued by his spokesman, the palace insisted that there was no meeting with the governor or the other monarchs on the matter and that the Alaafin had not given his consent to the new leadership arrangement.
The Alaafin’s absence from the inauguration ceremony further underscored the brewing tensions, with palace officials saying the monarch was not present due to the lack of prior consultation.
Speaking at the event, Governor Makinde said the rotational system, now backed by law, was designed to promote unity, mutual respect and cooperation among the traditional institutions across the state. He also pledged to support the council’s operations, including the renovation of the House of Chiefs.
Oba Ladoja, in his first remarks as chairman, urged confidence in the newly inaugurated council, describing the occasion not as an end but the beginning of renewed collaboration between traditional rulers and government for community peace and development.
However, critics — including some members of the Oyo Forum, Abuja — have voiced concern that the rotational system might undermine the traditional status of the Alaafin’s stool, which historically held a central role in the council. They have called on authorities to reconsider the amendments to the law and respect longstanding cultural heritage tied to traditional leadership in the state.
The controversy highlights ongoing debates over the balance between modern governance reforms and traditional authority, with stakeholders on both sides watching closely as the new council begins its work.
