The Palace of the Alaafin of Oyo has denied claims that the monarch, Oba Akeem Owoade, held a meeting with Governor Seyi Makinde concerning the rotational chairmanship of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
The palace made the clarification in a statement issued on Thursday by the Director of Media and Publicity to the Alaafin, Bode Durojaye, in Ibadan.
Governor Makinde had earlier announced during the inauguration of the council at the House of Chiefs Secretariat that the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, would serve as chairman. The governor stated that the decision followed consultations with the Alaafin of Oyo, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, and the Soun of Ogbomoso, adding that the three traditional rulers agreed that the chairmanship should begin with the Olubadan.
However, the Alaafin was noticeably absent from the inauguration ceremony.
Reacting to the governor’s remarks, the palace stated that the Alaafin never held any meeting with the governor or with the other two monarchs regarding the council’s leadership.
According to the statement, the Alaafin did not at any time endorse or give consent to a rotational arrangement for the chairmanship among the three traditional rulers.
The palace further explained that the position of the Alaafin and the people of Oyo on the composition and leadership of the State Council of Obas and Chiefs had already been formally communicated to the governor.
It noted that this position was conveyed through a memorandum submitted by the Oyo Council of Elders to the state government.
The palace urged the public to take note of its clarification in order to avoid misinformation regarding the monarch’s stance on the issue.
