A report has indicated that the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, may challenge the emergence of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rasidi Ladoja, as Chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
Naijaonpoint reports that the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, inaugurated Ladoja as the chairman of the council.
But Alaafin shunned the event held at the House of Chiefs Secretariat in Ibadan, the state capital.
Speaking at the event, Makinde said the council chairmanship will be rotational among the trio of Olubadan, Alaafin, and Soun of Ogbomosoland, with each leader serving a two-year term.
However, sources who spoke to Punch disclosed that Owoade, deliberately stayed away from the inauguration out of what they described as “shame,” and may head to court to challenge the development.
“There is a tendency that the Alaafin will go to court. The late Alaafin, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, also went to court. The late Alaafin was the permanent chairman of the Oyo State traditional council, and he stated this clearly in all his letters. Nobody challenged him,” one of the insiders said.
Explaining Oba Owoade’s absence from the inauguration, the insider added, “I know the steps the current Alaafin is likely to take. If he had attended the inauguration, it would have been shameful. It was better he didn’t go. He is likely to go to court, although that may change if there is an intervention.”
Another insider knowledgeable about the workings at the Alaafin’s palace, corroborated the claim, saying the monarch was bearing the burden of actions taken during the reign of his predecessor.
“During Baba Lamidi Adeyemi’s time, he was involved in Ladoja’s impeachment. Since then, Ladoja has been angry with Alaafin stool but couldn’t do anything then.
“Now that he has become the Olubadan and Baba has passed on, he has decided to take it out on the new Alaafin. But he didn’t realise that this Alaafin is not that soft,” he added.