Dare Babalola
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Engineer Abimbola Akeem Owoade 1, has denied Governor Seyi Makinde’s claim that he consulted with the three traditional rulers in Oyo State – the Alaafin, the Olubadan, and the Soun of Ogbomoso – on the rotational chairmanship of the State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
Makinde had earlier inaugurated the Council in Ibadan with the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, appointed as the inaugural chairman for a two-year term.
The governor said the Council’s chairmanship will rotate among the three leading traditional rulers, noting that he consulted with the royal fathers before the decision was reached.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, one of the foremost monarchs in the state, was absent from the inauguration, which took place at the House of Chiefs Hall, State Secretariat, Ibadan, on Thursday.
However, in a statement signed by Bode Durojaiye, Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin on Thursday, the palace clarified that Oba Owoade did not hold any meeting with the Governor or the other traditional rulers on the issue.
The statement emphasised that the Alaafin did not endorse the rotational chairmanship arrangement, contrary to Governor Makinde’s claim.
The palace referred to a memo submitted to the Governor by the Oyo Council of Elders, which outlines the Alaafin’s position on the State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
The statement read, “The attention of the Alaafin’s Palace has been drawn to a statement credited to His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde that he consulted with the three traditional rulers in the State, the Alaafin, the Olubadan and the Soun of Ogbomoso on the rotational Chairmanship of the State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
“The Palace hereby wants to state clearly 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.
“Also 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 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.”
