Ibadan witnessed a dramatic blend of history and quiet controversy on Thursday as Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, inaugurated the long dormant Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs after 15 years, installing the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, as its pioneer chairman. The ceremony, held at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Secretariat, marked a major reset in the traditional leadership structure of the state and signaled a new era of coordinated royal administration.
However, the event was overshadowed by the conspicuous absence of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, whose nonappearance sparked murmurs among attendees and observers. The Alaafin’s absence stood out sharply, given the historic significance of the council’s revival and the presence of other top traditional rulers and government officials at the venue.
Addressing the gathering, Governor Makinde clarified that the leadership of the council would operate on a rotational basis among the three foremost monarchs in the state, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, the Alaafin of Oyo and the Soun of Ogbomoso. He explained that the arrangement was the outcome of mutual consultations and agreements reached with the three first class rulers, aimed at promoting fairness, unity and stability within the traditional institution.
With Ladoja now setting the tone as the council’s first chairman, expectations are high that the revived body will strengthen collaboration between the government and traditional authorities, enhance conflict resolution at the grassroots and restore the council’s relevance in shaping cultural and socio-political affairs across Oyo State. The real test, observers say, will be how seamlessly the rotation system works and whether all royal stakeholders fully buy into the new structure.