The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, has denied claims made by Governor Seyi Makinde that he consulted with three prominent traditional rulers in the state over the rotational chairmanship of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs. The Alaafin’s Palace issued a statement saying the monarch did not hold any meeting with Governor Makinde or the other traditional rulers mentioned, and did not endorse rotational chairmanship among the three monarchs.
This comes after Governor Makinde inaugurated the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, as the chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, with the Alaafin notably absent from the ceremony. The rotational system, which includes the Alaafin, Olubadan, and Soun of Ogbomoso, was approved by the Oyo State House of Assembly.
In a statement signed by Bode Durojaiye, Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin, the Palace clarified that “there was no time that His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Engineer Abimbola Akeem Owoade 1, held any meeting with either the State Governor or any of the two traditional rulers mentioned above.”
The statement further emphasized that “the Alaafin did not tell the Governor or make a categorical statement on his endorsement of rotational Chairmanship among the three traditional rulers in the State.”
The Palace referred to a Memo delivered to the Governor by the Oyo Council of Elders, which outlines the Alaafin’s position on the issue.
“The position of the Alaafin and the Entire Oyo Community on the general issue of the State Council of Obas and Chiefs has been enunciated in a Memo delivered to His Excellency by the Oyo Council of Elders,” the statement read.
The Alaafin’s Palace has therefore distanced itself from Governor Makinde’s claim, asserting its stance on the matter.