Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has elevated three Ibadan High Chiefs to the status of beaded-crown-wearing Obas in absentia, a move that has sparked significant controversy following a requested postponement by the Olubadan and the affected chiefs.
A landmark shift in the traditional hierarchy of Ibadanland occurred on Friday, April 3, 2026, as Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde conferred beaded crowns on three High Chiefs in absentia during a ceremony at the historic Mapo Hall. Represented by Deputy Governor Bayo Lawal, the Governor pronounced Mobolaji Adewoyin as Ekerin Balogun, Oyekola Babalola (SAN) as Ekarun Olubadan, and Sarafadeen Alli as Ekarun Balogun. Makinde defended the decision to proceed without the physical presence of the honorees, asserting that the elevation was a “deliberate affirmation” of the government’s commitment to the rule of law. He maintained that the action was “anchored on due process” and complied with Section 20 (1 and 4) of the Chiefs Law of Oyo State, which vests the Executive Governor with the authority to confer such honors to avoid “creating a vacuum or distorting the well-structured Ibadan chieftaincy traditional system.”
The event has been clouded by intense controversy after the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, revealed that the affected chiefs had formally requested a postponement due to prior engagements. In a statement issued through his media aide, Adeola Oloko, the monarch noted that both his office and the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters had been notified of the chiefs’ unavailability. The government’s insistence on conducting the ceremony regardless of their absence has fueled political speculation, particularly concerning Senator Sarafadeen Alli, who is widely believed to be nursing a future governorship ambition. This friction mirrors a similar 2017 incident under the late Governor Abiola Ajimobi, where a mass elevation of chiefs was also met with high-profile boycotts and legal disputes.
Despite the internal friction, the state government insisted that the elevation of the High Chiefs to Obaship status was sacrosanct and based on the “merit and tradition of Ibadanland.” Addressing the newly crowned monarchs in their absence, the Governor’s representative charged them to lead with integrity and serve as custodians of unity. “To the newly crowned Obas, this honour is both symbolic and demanding. It places upon you a higher obligation to lead with wisdom, demonstrate integrity, and serve as custodians of unity within your respective domains,” the speech read. While the legal standing of the ceremony remains firm under the state’s current chieftaincy declaration, the immediate future of the relationship between the Olubadan-in-Council and the state executive remains a subject of intense public debate.