Alaafin Rejects Makinde’s Installation of Ladoja as Chairman of Oyo Obas Council

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has publicly rejected Governor Seyi Makinde’s claim that Oyo State’s three first-class monarchs — the Alaafin, the Olubadan of Ibadan, and the Soun of Ogbomoso — had agreed to rotate the chairmanship of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.

Governor Makinde revived the council after 15 years of inactivity, inaugurating it on Thursday and naming Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, as the first chairman under the supposed rotational arrangement.

In a statement issued by his media aide Bode Durojaye, the Alaafin denied any such meeting or endorsement:
“There was no time that His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Engineer Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, held any meeting with either the state governor or any of the two traditional rulers mentioned above.”

The palace referred to a prior memo from the Oyo Council of Elders outlining its opposition to rotational chairmanship.

Background:
Oba Owoade was crowned Alaafin in January 2025 following the death of Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III in 2022. His emergence was controversial, contested by rival princes, and remains subject to ongoing legal challenges. He was officially presented with the staff of office by Governor Makinde in April 2025.

Oversight:
As a first-class monarch, the Alaafin falls under the supervisory authority of the Oyo State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, which handles disciplinary actions subject to the Governor’s approval under the Chiefs Law of Oyo State.

Ladoja’s Response:
Oba Ladoja dismissed rumours of a rift, describing a viral video of a perceived snub or handshake refusal as a misunderstanding exaggerated on social media. He emphasized unity and collective progress despite the controversy.