Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, on Thursday inaugurated the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs after a 15-year hiatus, with the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, emerging as its first chairman.
The inauguration, held at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Secretariat, Ibadan, was however marked by controversy following the absence of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade.
Speaking at the event, Governor Makinde said the chairmanship of the council would rotate among the three foremost traditional rulers in the state — the Olubadan of Ibadan, the Alaafin of Oyo and the Soun of Ogbomoso — with each monarch serving a two-year term.
According to the governor, the arrangement was reached after consultations with the three first-class monarchs, aimed at promoting unity and cooperation among traditional institutions in the state.
“No matter how difficult an issue is, we will resolve it. The agreement is that the rotation will begin with the Olubadan of Ibadanland,” Makindeof said, as he formally inaugurated the council.
However, the Alaafin’s palace swiftly disputed the governor’s claim.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the monarch’s media aide, Bode Durojaye, the palace denied that any meeting or agreement took place between the Alaafin, the governor and the other monarchs on rotational leadership of the council.
“At no time did His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Engineer Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, hold any meeting with the governor or endorse a rotational chairmanship of the State Council of Obas and Chiefs,” the statement said.
The palace added that the position of the Alaafin and the Oyo community had already been formally communicated to the governor through a memorandum submitted by the Oyo Council of Elders.
Thursday’s inauguration came amid rumours of a rift between the Alaafin and the Olubadan, fuelled by a viral video showing the two monarchs appearing to ignore each other at a recent public function.
But addressing journalists in Ibadan, Oba Ladoja dismissed the speculation, insisting there was no feud between him and the Alaafin.
“There was no intention whatsoever. What happened was a misunderstanding that has been exaggerated on social media,” the Olubadan said.
Explaining the incident, he said he arrived late at the inter-faith gathering and tried to take his seat quietly without disrupting proceedings, adding that seating arrangements affected his movement.
“Why should I deliberately avoid anyone? My focus is unity and progress, not rivalry,” he said.
Speaking further at the inauguration, Oba Ladoja described the council’s inauguration as the beginning of serious work, not an achievement.
“Our responsibility is to ensure peace, safety and progress across our domains. We are not in competition with one another,” he said.
The Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs last met in 2011. Its reconstitution followed the passage and signing of a new law by the Oyo State House of Assembly in August 2025.
