Alaafin of Oyo Denies Consultation Over Oyo State Council of Obas Chairmanship
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has dismissed claims that he was consulted by Governor Seyi Makinde and other monarchs over the newly introduced rotational leadership of the Oyo State’s Council of Obas. The Alaafin of Oyo made this known in a statement released on Thursday evening through his spokesperson, Bode Durojaiye.
According to the palace, the Alaafin of Oyo did not meet with Governor Makinde or any traditional ruler at any time to endorse or discuss the rotational chairmanship arrangement. He stated that he neither attended any meeting nor issued any statement in support of the rotation of the council leadership.
“There was no time that His Imperial Majesty held any meeting with the Governor or the other traditional rulers mentioned, nor did he make any statement endorsing a rotational chairmanship,” he said.
The palace further explained that the official position of the Alaafin of Oyo on the Oyo State Council of Obas had already been conveyed to the governor through a formal memo submitted by the Oyo Council of Elders. It stressed that the monarch’s stance was communicated well ahead of the inauguration of the council.
On Thursday, Governor Makinde inaugurated the reconstituted Oyo State’s Council of Obas in Ibadan with a rotational chairmanship structure. The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, Arusa I, emerged as the first chairman and will serve a two-year term under the new arrangement.
The Alaafin of Oyo was noticeably absent from the inauguration ceremony, which took place at the House of Chiefs Hall in the State Secretariat. The event followed the passage of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs Further Amendments Bill 2025 by the House of Assembly.
During the inauguration, Governor Makinde said the chairmanship of the council would rotate among the Olubadan of Ibadanland, the Alaafin of Oyo, and the Soun of Ogbomosoland. He explained that the decision was taken to promote unity and strengthen traditional institutions in the state.
He said, “I called the monarchs that we proposed in the law that the chairmanship of the Council of Obas will rotate, and I believe from the law it’s every two years that it will rotate. This is what we are known for. But when we sit down, if we don’t resolve issues and do what is right and proper for our people, then we have failed.
“So, I consulted my three fathers, the Alaafin of Oyo, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, and the Soun of Ogbomosoland, and the agreement is that they will start the rotation with Kabiyesi, the Olubadan of Ibadan.
“So on that basis, I hereby pronounce the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs inaugurated, in the person of Kabieyesi Olubadan of Ibadan land for two years.”
The governor also lamented the absence of a functional council since 2011 and said the amended law signed in August 2025 was meant to reposition traditional institutions and ensure proper coordination between the state government and royal fathers.
The development has continued to spark discussions across Oyo State, especially as the Alaafin of Oyo maintains that he was not part of any consultation leading to the rotational leadership arrangement.
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