By Adeyinka Adeniran
The rift between two foremost monarchs in Oyo State, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade and the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja might have deepened.
Indication of the rift emerged on Monday when the Olubadan ignored the Alaafin as the latter made to greet and welcome the former to the 2026 Inter-faith service held for civil servants at the state Secretariat.
The Olubadan had arrived shortly after the governor got to the venue and went ahead to exchange pleasantries with the governor after which he went to other monarchs at the event who all stood up to welcome and acknowledged him.
However, tension rose when the Olubadan ignored the outstretched hand of the Alaafin but proceeded with others, before going to calmly take his seat, leaving the Alaafin visibly stranded.
The dramatic snub sent murmurs through the audience and has since ignited widespread outrage across the state and beyond.
While the event lasted, tension could be felt in the air, particularly around where the monarchs were seated.
Opinions were divided about the incident.
While some observers see it as disrespectful for the Alaafin to be seated, and extending his hand to greet an ‘elderly’ Olubadan, others are of the views that the stool of Alaafin is more supreme to that of the Olubadan and that the current Olubadan must respect the stool irrespective of the age of the current occupant.
Unconfirmed sources are of the views that the rift bothers on supremacy tussle between the two monarchs.
The public display of the acrimony first showed up on Monday, December, 15, 2025 during the unveiling of the Oyo@50 logo, an event organised by the state government at the same venue.
On the fateful day, the Alaafin was represented by one of his chiefs. However, upon arrival of the Olubadan to the event, a little argument ensued as he was ushered to sit on his reserved seat, beside the Alaafin.
The Olubadan displayed open annoyance at what he called disregard, noting that he would not sit beside the representative of the Alaafin on a seat which was place before his, despite not been physically present.
The matter which generated a lot of tension saw many top government functionaeies and politicians pushing to pacify the Olubadan.
By the time the dust would settle, the Olubadan chair was not only changed as requested, he was also relocated to a place before the seat of the Alaafin.
The situation has made observers question the propriety of the initial effort of the governor at facilitating peace and harmony between the monarchs.
The Nation reports that, Governor Makinde on Monday, December 22, 2025 had a brief closed door meeting with the Alaafin and the Olubadan.
The brief meeting held shortly after the governor signed the 2026 Appropriation Bill at an event which held at the Executive Council Chamber of the Governors office, Agodi Secretariat, Ibadan.
The meeting, which was observed to be unscheduled, held at the Coffee Room opposite the photo gallery stage of the Exco Chamber.
The details of the meeting remains unclear as at the time of this report.
It was observed that, shortly after the signing of the 2026 Appropriation Bill, the governor and the dignitaries who attended the event were on the way to take group photographs at the photo gallery stand when the Governor invited both the Alaafin and Olubadan into the coffee room.
The budget signing event was attended by traditional rulers, political office holders, lawmakers, the judiciary among other relevant stakeholders
The meeting lasted barely 15mins, as other dignitaries waited patiently at the photo gallery standing awaiting the arrival of the governor and the monarchs.
However, observers believed the meeting could be based on the need for unity and togetherness between the two first class monarchs.
Prior to the meeting, the social media has been enmeshed with reports of acrimony and class tussle between the foremost monarchs over perceived superiority tag.
The incident has triggered intense public debate, with critics questioning the Alaafin’s judgment and propriety, given the longstanding hierarchy, customs, and sensitivities surrounding Yoruba traditional rulership.
Observers said yesterday’s episode has reopened old wounds and revived concerns over an alleged rift among traditional rulers in Oyo State, raising fears about the unity and stability of the revered institution.
Governor Makinde, who was present at the event, has so far remained silent on the controversy, at least publicly.
Also, both the two monarchs including the Olubadan and Alaafin have declined to make any public statement, further fueling speculation and public curiosity.
Social media platforms have since exploded with reactions, as citizens, culture enthusiasts, and commentators trade words over who was right or wrong.
While some accuse the Alaafin of overstepping boundaries, others condemn the public nature of the snub, describing it as an embarrassment to the traditional institution.
Calls are now growing for calm, dialogue, and reconciliation between the two monarchs to prevent further damage to the dignity of Yoruba traditional governance.
As the image of the Alaafin’s rejected handshake continues to dominate discussions, many are left asking pressing questions: Will there be an apology? Can the widening rift be mended? Or is this the beginning of a deeper crisis within Oyo state’s traditional hierarchy?
