A Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Publicity, Mr Temitope Ajayi, has dismissed claims rooted in the historical dominance of the Oyo Empire, saying such narratives no longer define leadership or authority in present-day Yorubaland.
Ajayi’s remarks come amid the renewed supremacy debate involving the Alaafin of Oyo, the Olubadan of Ibadanland and the Soun of Ogbomosoland, following the inauguration of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs by Governor Seyi Makinde.
According to Ajayi, the age of empires has long faded, stressing that historical influence should not be weaponised in contemporary governance. He argued that even global powers that once ruled vast territories no longer claim authority over former colonies, noting that the same logic applies to traditional structures in Nigeria.
He maintained that the Oyo Empire belongs to history, adding that not all parts of present-day Yorubaland were under the rule of the Alaafin. Ajayi urged traditional rulers to clearly understand and respect their modern constitutional roles, saying society would function better when monarchs work collaboratively rather than competitively.
“Our kings should focus on preserving peace, unity and development in their domains while upholding cultural values,” he said, advocating cooperation over rivalry among traditional institutions.
The comments followed the conspicuous absence of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade, at the inauguration of the reconstituted Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs held on Thursday at the House of Chiefs Hall, State Secretariat, Ibadan.
At the ceremony, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, was appointed as the inaugural chairman of the council for a two-year term.
Governor Makinde explained that the chairmanship would rotate among the Olubadan, the Alaafin and the Soun of Ogbomosoland, with each monarch expected to serve a two-year tenure. He stated that the three royal fathers had been consulted before the arrangement was finalised.
However, the Alaafin’s Palace rejected the governor’s claim of consultation. In a statement issued by the Chief Press Secretary to the Alaafin, Mr Bode Durojaiye, the palace said no such meeting or agreement took place.
The statement insisted that Oba Owoade neither met with the governor nor held discussions with the Olubadan or the Soun on the rotational chairmanship of the council. It added that the Alaafin did not endorse the arrangement and that the position of the Oyo Palace had already been formally communicated to the state government.
The controversy was further amplified by a video that circulated on social media ahead of the inauguration. The footage, recorded during a 2026 inter-faith service at the state secretariat in Ibadan, showed the Alaafin extending a greeting while seated to the Olubadan, a gesture that appeared to be ignored after the Ibadan monarch exchanged pleasantries with the Soun of Ogbomosoland.
The video triggered widespread reactions online, reigniting public debate over hierarchy, respect and relevance among the revered traditional stools.
