…urges monarchs to prioritise security in S-West
By Adeola Badru
Yoruba nation activist, Chief Sunday Adeyemo, popularly known as Sunday Igboho, has intervened in the ongoing dispute over the rotational chairmanship of the Oyo State Council of Obas between the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja and the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Laoye Ghandi.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Igboho described it as “unimpressive for the prominent traditional rulers, whose stools were germane to the historical evolution of Yoruba, to dissipate energy on crisis over positions,” urging all monarchs to work together to address insecurity in Yorubaland and advance the South-West’s development agenda.
He also called on Yoruba leaders, including the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Olushola Alao, to help defuse the tension surrounding the permanent chairmanship of the Oyo State Council of Obas.
The intervention followed the inauguration last Thursday by Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, of a new Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs in Ibadan, the state capital.
Under the new arrangement, the permanent chairmanship of the council is to rotate among the Olubadan, the Alaafin and the Soun of Ogbomoso.
The inauguration, which took place at the House of Chiefs Hall, State Secretariat, Ibadan, was boycotted by the Alaafin, Oba Owoade.
Oba Ladoja subsequently emerged as the inaugural chairman of the council for a two-year term.
Governor Makinde explained that the inauguration followed the passage of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs (Further Amendments) Bill, 2025, by the Oyo State House of Assembly.
He said the legislation was aimed at strengthening traditional institutions in the state and was enacted after wide consultations.
However, the Alaafin denied having any engagement with the governor on the matter.
Reacting to the development, Igboho noted that old empires in Yorubaland had given way to modern traditional institutions without distorting historical facts.
He advised Oba Owoade, who is reportedly considering legal action, to cooperate with the Oyo State Government.
According to the statement: “Why should our royal fathers dissipate energy on positions when bandits, terrorists and other criminal elements have taken over our forests in the South West, considering the recent ignoble killings of guards in Old Oyo National Park and few other parts of Oyo State?
“It is critical for traditional rulers irrespective of hierarchy to close ranks in protecting Yoruba’s territorial integrity against ravaging insecurity, foster unity and healthy developments in the collective interest of the South West.”
“Traditional rulers should continue to be agents of cohesiveness, harmony and economic growth. When your subjects, most especially farmers in rural communities, were being gruesomely murdered, it is not ideal to promote dispute over ephemeral positions,” the statement concluded.
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