The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, will today (Friday) formally present staff of office to newly-elevated crown-wearing Obas in Ibadanland.
The Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday.
Those to be crowned are the senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District, Sharafadeen Alli, who has been promoted to Ekaarun Balogun, Bolaji Adewoyin and Kola Babalola, who have been promoted to Ekeerin Olubadan and Ekaarun Olubadan, respectively.
Following their promotion, the high chiefs will ascend to obaship status and attain an elevated rank within the state traditional council.
The event is scheduled to be held at the historic Mapo Hall, Ibadan, at 10:00 a.m.
The government said dignitaries from across the country, including traditional rulers, government officials, and members of the public, are expected to attend the event.
However, feelers from the town and reports from the family compounds of the elevated monarchs show there was no preparation on the ground for the ceremony.
Investigation by The PUNCH, on Thursday, revealed that the trio would be conspicuously absent, as the only high chief who was in town on Thursday said he would not show up at the event.
One of the sources said, “You will remember that the government just sent a letter or a memo to Olubadan last week. Kabiyesi informed all the affected high chiefs immediately.
“To be candid, I don’t know their responses. But when I was talking to one of them on the phone last night (Wednesday) to congratulate him and find out about the preparation, he only said, “My brother, don’t disturb yourself because I won’t be around.”
Another source close to one of the promoted high chiefs said, “The three of them will not go. First, Baba Ladoja is not in town. Kabiyesi is currently in Lagos. One of the promoted high chiefs is currently out of the country for medical treatment, while Senator Alli is in Abuja on national assignment. So, who are you expecting there?”
During a visit to Alli’s family compound at Oke-Aremo in Ibadan North Local Government Area, The PUNCH observed that there was no preparation to show that the extended family members were preparing for the coronation.
An informed source close to Olubadan said the newly promoted high chiefs were not happy due to the short notice given for the coronation by the state government.
Another source said the boycott was partly to shield Alli, who is said to be at the centre of the controversy surrounding the coronation and its political undertones.
The PUNCH reported on March 24, 2026, that Alli may emerge as the consensus candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the 2027 governorship election in the state.
Following the revelation, the state government announced that the coronation of the promoted high chiefs will be held on Friday, April 3, 2026.
When The PUNCH contacted the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Ademola Ojo, he said the coronation would go as planned, saying the government would not have placed announcements on air if the coronation would not hold.
He said, “If the government will not go ahead with the programme, will it be placing an announcement that it is holding the programme? The announcement is all over the air now. So, the coronation will go ahead as planned.”
When The PUNCH contacted the Olubadan, Oba Ladoja, in Ibadan, the state capital, on Thursday, the paramount ruler said, “I’m in good health. I truly went to Lagos, but I’m back home now. I just finished eating “Amala and abula” (Yoruba traditional soup).
“I only went to Lagos with my daughter. My trip to Lagos is personal. So, I’m right now in my house.
“I had earlier scheduled a Lagos journey before, but I’m back home now. Those three that the government wanted to present with beaded crown-wearing Obas said they were not available.
“The first person said he is in Canada for medical treatment; the second person is on a national assignment. So, who do they want to install as new Obas?”
A statement issued on Thursday by Oyelade said Makinde had installed 12 kings and over 40 Baales since 2019, a feat he said was unequalled in the history of chieftaincy installation in Oyo State.
The statement said, “The ceremony will witness the official coronation of three distinguished traditional rulers, His Royal Majesty, Oba Akeem Mobolaji Adewoyin, the Ekerin Balogun of Ibadanland; His Royal Majesty, Oba Oyekola Babalola (SAN), the Ekarun Olubadan of Ibadanland; and His Royal Majesty, Oba Sarafadeen Abiodun Alli, the Ekarun Balogun of Ibadanland.
“The ceremony underscores the administration’s commitment to strengthening traditional institutions and preserving cultural heritage.”
‘No rift between Makinde, Olubadan’
The media aide to the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Adeola Oloko, has disclosed that there is no rift between Oba Ladoja and Governor Makinde as erroneously perceived in some quarters over the ill-fated coronation.
This was contained in a statement released in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, on Thursday.
The statement read, “The attention of His Imperial Majesty, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has been drawn to trending news that there is a rift between His Excellency, the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde and Kabiyesi Olubadan.
“We wish to make it abundantly clear that there is no rift between Kabiyesi and Olori Omo Oba of Ibadanland.
“In addition, the Olubadan did not travel out of Ibadan to avoid the coronation ceremony slated for today (Friday).
“We wish to make it abundantly clear that Kabiyesi is hale and hearty in Ibadan, and performing the role expected of him as Olubadan.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the three concerned high chiefs due to be crowned have formally informed the Olubadan that they would be unavailable, and have, therefore, asked for postponement.
“This information has been duly communicated to the state government through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.”
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