Makinde Inaugurates Oyo State Council of Obas; Alaafin Denies Consultation

Governor Seyi Makinde has inaugurated the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, reviving the traditional institution after nearly 15 years of inactivity. The event took place at the House of Chiefs, State Secretariat, Ibadan, with several monarchs and dignitaries in attendance.

At the ceremony, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, Olubadan of Ibadanland, was appointed as the first chairman of the council under a new rotational system. Governor Makinde announced that the chairmanship would rotate every two years among the Olubadan, the Alaafin of Oyo, and the Soun of Ogbomosoland, aiming to foster unity and cooperation among the state’s traditional institutions.

Local government chairmen and stakeholders have praised the revival of the council, describing it as a positive step toward strengthening traditional institutions and supporting grassroots governance.

However, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, was notably absent from the inauguration. The monarch later denied ever being consulted on the rotational chairmanship arrangement, stating that he had not participated in any meeting or discussion regarding the council’s leadership. His absence and public denial have sparked debates about consultation and representation within Oyo State’s traditional system.

The Council of Obas and Chiefs, dormant since 2011, is now poised to play a more active role in state governance and cultural affairs, though the recent disagreements highlight ongoing tensions between the state government and some traditional rulers.