- An elderly Nigerian has sparked reactions on social media regarding the leadership of the Obas and Council of Chiefs in Oyo State.
- Controversy erupted following reports that the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, had rejected the proposed rotating presidential arrangement.
- Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Thursday formally appointed Oba Rashidi Ladoja, Arusa I as the new Chairman of the Council of Obas and Chiefs.
An elderly Nigerian has sparked reactions on social media amid the ongoing debate surrounding Obas and chieftaincy leadership in Oyo State amid reports that the Oba (Engineer) of Oyo State, Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has rejected the proposed rotating chairmanship arrangement.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde on Thursday formally appointed Oluubadan of Ibadan zone, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, Arusa I, as Chairman of the Council of Obas and Chiefs in the state.
Reports say the chairmanship is intended to be held on a rotational basis between the three main traditional rulers in the state. However, the Alaafin Palace later issued a statement in which the king distanced himself from the arrangement, stressing that he neither agreed with the rotation nor was he consulted before the decision was made.
An elderly man named Ahmeed Sarumi shared his views on Facebook, providing historical context for the council’s leadership structure.
Salumi said that during the old Oyo State era, the Ooni of Ife held the position of permanent chairman of the council. He further claimed that the late Alaafin Adeyemi played a key role in encouraging the then Olubadan to advocate for the introduction of rotation system.
Salumi wrote:
“Life is interesting. The fact is that in old Oyo State, the Ooni of Ife was the permanent chairman. It was Alaafin Adeyemi who instigated the then Olubadan to protest against the rotating chairmanship. I remember reading in the old TELL magazine.
“Ooni Sijuade boycotted the council until Osun was formed. After Osun was disbanded, Alaafin Adeyemi suddenly remembered that he should be the permanent chairman of Oyo, but he shot himself in the foot with ote and abosi against Ooniirisa.
“This is the origin of the rotation before your comment. Before the nonsense of ‘iku baba yeye’, no monarch of the old country ever doubted the Ooniirisa Permanent Chairman. Now, how can an Alaafin ask for something that his predecessor was against? Always be afraid of karma!
“For the rotation that was orchestrated by Adeyemi Adeyemi during his time in old Oyo State when Sijud was the permanent chairman. Alaafin Owoade now says he doesn’t want, doesn’t want, doesn’t want to be rough. lo ooo bee…oyo alafin lo etc…”.
See the post below;
