The Alaafin of Oyo’s Palace has rejected claims by Oyo State governor Seyi Makinde that he consulted the Alaafin of Oyo Oba Abimbola Owoade, the Olubadan of Ibadanland Oba Rashidi Ladoja and the Soun of Ogbomosoland Oba Ghandi Olaoye on the introduction of a rotational chairmanship for the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
In a statement dated January 15 and signed by the director of media and publicity to the Alaafin, Bode Durojaiye, the palace said no such consultation took place.
According to the statement, the Alaafin did not meet with the governor or the other traditional rulers mentioned on the issue of rotating the leadership of the council.
“The attention of the Alaafin’s Palace has been drawn to a statement credited to Governor Seyi Makinde that he consulted with the Alaafin of Oyo, the Olubadan of Ibadanland and the Soun of Ogbomoso on the rotational chairmanship of the State Council of Obas and Chiefs,” the statement said.
“At no time did His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, hold any meeting with the governor or with any of the traditional rulers mentioned. The Alaafin did not convey to the governor, directly or indirectly, any endorsement of a rotational chairmanship.”
The palace also dismissed reports suggesting that the Alaafin supported the rotational arrangement.
“The Alaafin neither met with the governor nor endorsed rotational leadership of the council,” the statement added.
The palace explained that the position of the Alaafin and the people of Oyo on the leadership structure of the council had already been communicated to the state government through a memorandum submitted by the Oyo Council of Elders.
It said the memorandum represents the position of stakeholders in Oyo and remains the official stance of the Alaafin and the Oyo community on the matter.
The response followed comments by Governor Makinde at the inauguration of the reconstituted Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs in Ibadan on Thursday, where he announced the Olubadan of Ibadanland as chairman of the council.
At the event, the governor said the decision to rotate the chairmanship was reached after consultations with the Alaafin of Oyo, the Olubadan of Ibadanland and the Soun of Ogbomosoland, adding that the chairmanship would rotate every two years, beginning with the Olubadan.
“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,” the governor said.
The inauguration marked the commencement of the council’s activities under the amended Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs Law, 2025, passed by the Oyo State House of Assembly.
The amended law repealed the Oyo State Chieftaincy Law of 2000, which made the Alaafin of Oyo the permanent chairman of the council.
Under the new law, the chairmanship of the council will rotate among the Olubadan of Ibadanland, the Alaafin of Oyo and the Soun of Ogbomosoland.
The Alaafin’s palace did not address his absence from the inauguration ceremony in its statement.
