Olugbon supports Ladoja as Oyo Obas Council chair, assuring Governor Makinde of unity amid controversy over the inauguration

The Olugbon of Orile-Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, has assured Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde that members of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs will give full backing to the new chairman, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, following the council’s re inauguration after 15 years.

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Oba Francis Alao gave the assurance on Friday while hosting Governor Seyi Makinde at his palace in Orile-Igbon, Surulere Local Government Area, according to a statement released in Ibadan on Sunday.

The monarch, who is the deputy chairman of the council, thanked the governor for the visit and said traditional rulers across the state were united behind the decision that produced the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, as chairman.

Oba Alao said Oba Ladoja would enjoy the support of council members from all five traditional zones in the state, namely Ibadan, Oyo, Ogbomoso, Oke Ogun and Ibarapa.

He described the council as a single family despite differing opinions expressed in public.

Governor Makinde on Thursday inaugurated the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Secretariat, Ibadan, marking its return after more than a decade. Oba Rashidi Ladoja emerged as the council’s first chairman under the new arrangement.

The inauguration, however, was overshadowed by the absence of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade. Governor Makinde had stated at the event that the chairmanship of the council would be rotated among the Olubadan, the Alaafin and the Soun of Ogbomoso, describing it as an agreement reached with the three first class monarchs.

That claim was disputed in a statement issued by the Alaafin’s media aide, Bode Durojaye, who said there was no meeting between the governor and the Alaafin on the rotational arrangement.

Amid the disagreement, Oba Alao said the government had acted appropriately in re inaugurating the council and urged traditional rulers to align with contemporary governance realities.

He said monarchs must work with elected authorities to promote stability, development and peaceful coexistence.

The Olugbon stressed that Nigeria operates under a constitutional system rather than a monarchy, adding that cooperation with government was essential for effective governance.

He described the world as dynamic and said traditional institutions must adapt to changing political and social structures.

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Other traditional rulers present during the visit included the Aresapa of Iresa Pupa, Oba Moses Ajiboye; the Aranyin of Iranyin, Oba Lasisi Olagbemileke; the Olujado of Ijado, Oba Hammed Adegbile; and Iba Abogunde Tajudeen Aminullahi.