Ibadan, Ogbomoso Monarchs Reportedly Oppose Aladdin’s Appointment as Permanent Chair of Obas’ Council…In a move that underscores deep-rooted tensions within Oyo State’s traditional leadership structure, monarchs from Ibadan and Ogbomoso are said to have rejected the alleged appointment of a certain individual known as Aladdin as the permanent chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
Although official confirmation and detailed reports remain scarce, the development is already generating conversations about the balance of power among the state’s foremost traditional institutions.
The Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, which once served as a critical advisory and ceremonial body for the traditional rulers across the state, has experienced a prolonged period of inactivity. For over a decade, the council has remained dormant following disputes over its leadership and operational structure. Central to the tension is the question of who should preside over the body and on what basis such a decision should be made.
Historically, the chairmanship of the council rotated among the most senior monarchs in the state, namely the Alaafin of Oyo, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, and the Soun of Ogbomoso. This arrangement, enshrined in a gazette issued in 2011 during the tenure of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala, was intended to preserve equity and mutual respect among the region’s key traditional powers. The vice-chairmanship was similarly rotated among other prominent Obas, allowing for broader participation and preventing the dominance of a single bloc.
Recently, however, Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration initiated consultations with traditional rulers aimed at reviving and possibly restructuring the council. In March 2024, the government met with several monarchs to solicit their views on the future of the council. The goal, according to officials, was to create a more inclusive and unified body capable of advising on traditional matters and maintaining cultural heritage across Oyo State.
It was within this context that the alleged emergence of Aladdin as a proposed permanent chairman of the council sparked resistance. Although the exact identity and credentials of Aladdin remain unclear in the public discourse, sources close to palace circles in Ibadan and Ogbomoso suggest that the monarchs view the suggestion—or possible plan—as a breach of protocol and tradition.
For the Olubadan-in-Council and the Ogbomoso traditional establishment, any move to permanently cede the leadership of the council to a single individual, particularly one outside the trio traditionally recognized as central to the state’s monarchy structure, is seen as an affront. It is not just a matter of personal rivalry, but a challenge to a carefully maintained equilibrium of power and prestige among Oyo’s royal institutions.
Beyond questions of tradition and hierarchy, the reported rejection of Aladdin also reflects broader political undercurrents. The Council of Obas and Chiefs, though ceremonial in many respects, carries symbolic weight and serves as a platform through which traditional rulers can influence state matters. Control over its leadership could signal shifting alliances or the rise of new power dynamics within the traditional and political arenas of the state.
As of now, the Oyo State government has not issued any official statement regarding the appointment of a new permanent chair or the reported objections from Ibadan and Ogbomoso monarchs. However, insiders indicate that further consultations are ongoing, and the matter remains sensitive.
Observers are calling for transparency and adherence to long-established customs in resolving the leadership question. Many believe that only a consensus built on mutual respect among the royal houses will ensure the successful revival of the Council of Obas and Chiefs as a unifying institution.
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Until then, the lingering dispute serves as a reminder of the delicate interplay between tradition, politics, and modern governance in one of Nigeria’s most historically significant states.
