Alaafin and Soun Snub Governor Makinde’s Oyo @ 50 Kickoff Amid Bitter Throne Dispute

What was supposed to be a grand display of unity to celebrate 50 years of Oyo State’s history turned into a glaring showcase of “royal cold war” this Monday. As Governor Seyi Makinde took to the stage to flag off the state’s Golden Jubilee, the most talked-about part of the room wasn’t the anniversary cake it was the two empty, high-backed chairs reserved for the Alaafin and the Soun.

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, and the Soun of Ogbomoso, Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye, both stayed away from the International Conference Centre in Ibadan, leaving the Olubadan, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, as the lone “big three” monarch in attendance.

The silence from the Oyo and Ogbomoso palaces was deafening, especially following a recent explosion of controversy over who really “heads” the state’s traditional council. For decades, the Alaafin held a permanent grip on the Council of Obas chairmanship, but Governor Makinde recently shook the table by making the position rotational. While the Governor claimed all the kings were on board, the Alaafin fired back just days ago, basically saying: “I never agreed to this.”

Adding to the tension is a viral video from a recent interfaith gathering showing a “cold handshake” incident between the Alaafin and the Olubadan, which has sparked a war of words between Ibadan and Oyo loyalists.

But it wasn’t just the kings who stayed home. In what looked like a coordinated political snub, all three APC senators representing the state and former First Ladies were also missing. Observers are calling it a “shun-fest,” noting that even a 50th-anniversary milestone couldn’t bridge the widening gap between the Governor’s administration and his critics.

Governor Makinde, however, kept his focus on the future. He called the anniversary a “moment of reflection” and promised that the next 50 years would bring even more “measurable progress” to the Pacesetter State. He urged the people to focus on unity—a message that seemed aimed directly at the empty seats in the front row.

As the week-long celebrations continue, all eyes are on the upcoming “Awards and Dinner Night” to see if the monarchs will finally break their silence or if this royal rift is set to overshadow the entire Golden Jubilee.