Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has inaugurated the inaugural edition of the Oyo State Council of Obas, with the Olubadan of Ibadanland l, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Akanmu Ladoja ARUSA 1, appointed as the chairman for a two-year term.
Naija News reports that this development marks a new chapter in the governance of traditional institutions in the state, as the council will now rotate leadership among the Obas.
The announcement was made by Governor Seyi Makinde at a brief ceremony held at the House of Chiefs, Agodi, Ibadan.
The event, which was attended by various traditional rulers and dignitaries, marked a new chapter in the history of the Oyo State Council of Obas.
According to Governor Makinde, the chairmanship of the council will be rotational among the trio of Olubadan, Alaafin of Oyo, and Soun of Ogbomoso-land, with each leader serving a term of two years.
This decision, the Governor emphasized, is aimed at promoting unity and cooperation among the traditional institutions in the state. The rotational system, he noted, will provide an opportunity for each of the prominent traditional rulers to contribute to the development of the state.
Meanwhile, the absence of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, at the event has raised eyebrows.
The appointment of Olubadan Ladoja as the new Chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas has been welcomed by many as a positive step towards strengthening the traditional institutions in the state.
As a seasoned leader and a respected traditional ruler, Olubadan Ladoja is expected to bring his vast experience and expertise to the table to drive development in the state.
Dignitaries in attendance include the Deputy Governor of Oyo State, Barrister Adebayo Lawal; the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Honorable Segun Ogunwuyi; and the Secretary to the State Government, Professor Musibau Babatunde.
Also present were prominent traditional rulers across the state, including the Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty Oba Rashidi Ladoja; the Soun of Ogbomosoland, Oba Ghandi Olaoye; the Okere of Saki; the Olugbon of Ile-Igbon; the Eleruwa of Eruwa, Oba Adebayo Akande; and the Ekerin Olubadan of Ibadan, among others.
However, the move has been met with strong opposition from the Oyo Forum, Abuja, a group of influential Oyo indigenes, who have voiced concerns over the proposed amendment to the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs Law. The Forum, in a statement jointly signed by its Chairman, Engineer Segun Owolabi, and Media/Publicity Chairman, Ambassador Tunde Mustapha, warned that the introduction of a rotational chairmanship could undermine the cultural and historical significance of the Alaafin stool.
The Forum called on Governor Makinde to withhold assent to the bill currently before him, following its passage by the Oyo State House of Assembly.
The Oyo Forum’s statement highlighted that the Alaafin stool is not merely a local political office, but one with a historical legacy that dates back to pre-colonial times, representing the spiritual and ancestral leadership of the Yoruba people. According to the Forum, reducing the position to a rotating office could be seen as disrespecting a legacy that holds deep cultural value for the entire Yoruba ethnic group.