Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has inaugurated the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, ending a 15-year lull in the statutory body, with the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, emerging as its first chairman.
The inauguration, however, was marked by the absence of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade.
Speaking during the inauguration, held yesterday at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Secretariat, Ibadan, Makinde said the chairmanship of the council will be rotational among the trio of Olubadan, Alaafin of Oyo, and Soun of Ogbomosoland, with each leader serving a term of two years.
The governor emphasised the decision was 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.
He said, “No matter how hard a issue is, we will definitely resolve it, my three fathers, the Alaafin of Oyo, the kabieyesi Olubadan and the Kabieyesi Soun, the agreement is that they will start the rotation with the Olubadan of Ibadan land.”
“So on that basis, I hereby pronounce the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs inaugurated, in person of Kabieyesi Olubadan of Ibadan land for two years.”
“The Oyos State Council of Obas and Chiefs, like the Honourable Commissioner mentioned, last met like this in 2011. And we’ve been at this for a while. I mean, I’ve been here for close to seven years now.”
It’ll be seven years exactly in May 29 that this administration came into office. And the easiest thing for me to do, or for this administration to do, is to encourage a division. You know, when they say divide and rule, that is the easiest thing.”
“But we know that some of the things that we have been able to achieve as an administration, they can be traced to our traditional institution. You come to me, we discuss, we rub minds on what is happening in our various communities.”
“I get most of those information from yourselves. And then we thought, for 15 years running now, we supposed to be setting the pace. We don’t have a council of elbows and chiefs.”
“And some of the things that we’re supposed to do as an administration for our traditional institution as a state, but as the state also, we’re supposed to look after our traditional rulers. But if we don’t have a council, how do we play an active role as a state?”
“At best, what we have will be a adhoc arrangement, which is what has been happening since 2011. I’ve been here since 2019. So I encouraged the status of assembly and also I consulted widely amongst the traditional rulers.”
“I mean, if we look at this, this is House of Chiefs. We cannot see it. It has not seen any improvement. We only come here for a few events. But our traditional institution must be strengthened. The AC is not working because nobody is in charge.”
“Nobody can. There’s no one telling us, calling the state government on this. We signed the law passed by the State House of Assembly. I signed it on the 14th of August, 2025,” Makinde said.
In his remarks, the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja said the event marked the beginning of work rather than an achievement, urging the public to have confidence in the council’s mandate.
Noting that the council was not set up for rivalry or personal interests among traditional rulers, Ladoja maintained that confidence in the council would grow after its first meeting, as people would come to understand that members were united in purpose and not in competition with one another.
According to him, the primary responsibility of the council is to ensure peace and safety across their domains while contributing to the continued progress of the state.
The Olubadan stressed that the council’s work was focused on making the state a better place for all residents, adding that its activities would be guided by collective responsibility rather than individual ambition.
He further emphasised that the council was established to bring people together and foster cooperation among traditional institutions for the overall good of the state.
“We appreciate the goodwill and congratulations we have received. This inauguration is not an achievement in itself; it marks the beginning of serious work.”
“After our first meeting, people will begin to have confidence in us, because they will see that we are not in competition with one another. We are not here to fight or to pursue personal interests, so there is nothing to fear.”
“Our sole concern is to ensure that our domains remain safe and peaceful, and that Oyo State continues on the path of progress.”
“We want Oyo State to be a good place for everyone. That is the purpose of this council.”
“This is not about any individual; it is about bringing people together and working collectively for the common good,” Ladoja stated.
Earlier in his address, the Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matter, Ademola Ojo, stated that as custodians of our culture and communal harmony, royal fathers have, over the years, remained the pillars of peace, moral authority and grassroots development, complementing the efforts of the government in fostering unity and progress across the state.
“As we formally inaugurate this council, it’s my earnest hope that it will remain a beacon of harmony, a forum for constructive dialogue, and a strong partner in our shared quest for peace, security and socio-economic advancement,” the commissioner emphasised.