A combined photo of Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja and Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade
By Toyin Williams
The battle for supremacy is literally tearing apart the Alaafin of Oyo and the Olubadan of Ibadanland kingdoms.
According to information at NATIONAL WAVES’ disposal, the two revered monarchs, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Akeem Owoade and the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Rashidi Ladoja are currently not enjoying an ideal relationship.
According to report, based on historical, traditional, and recent political developments as of January 2026, the Alaafin of Oyo is generally regarded as having a more prominent historical and imperial standing across Yorubaland, while the Olubadan of Ibadanland currently holds greater immediate political and administrative prominence within Oyo State.
A 2025 amendment to Oyo State law created a rotational system for the Council of Obas, with the Olubadan of Ibadanland inaugurated as the inaugural chair in January 2026, marking a shift in administrative power.
That all is not well between the two top Yoruba traditional rulers came to bare recently when the Oba Ladoja snubbed Oba Owoade at a public event.
The two traditional rulers had attended the 2026 interfaith gathering held at the Grand Space, near the Oyo state house of assembly.
A video from the event, which went viral, shows the Olubadan walking towards his seat beside the Alaafin, who had arrived earlier and was already seated.
As Ladoja approached, Owoade extended his hand for a handshake, which the Olubadan ignored, prompting the Alaafin to withdraw his hand.
The incident has revived long-standing historical tensions over status and supremacy between the two foremost Yoruba traditional stools.
Reacting to the development, Ibadan traditional leaders condemned the Alaafin’s gesture, describing it as disrespectful to the Olubadan and the Ibadan traditional institution.
In a statement, the leaders—comprising monarchs, mogajis, baales and prominent Ibadan indigenes—argued that Ibadanland is not subordinate to the Alaafin, adding that offering the Olubadan a handshake while seated amounted to an insult.
They called on Seyi Makinde, Oyo governor, to caution the Alaafin against what they described as a “series of uncultured attitudes” towards Ibadan traditional stools.
“Alaafin’s disrespect to the Olubadan stool and traditional institution is getting out of hand,” the statement reads.
“If Governor Seyi Makinde does not caution him, and Ibadan people, including mogajis, baales and chiefs, are pushed to revolt against his insulting actions, the Oyo monarch will have only himself to blame.”
The leaders said there are records of previous incidents they described as disrespectful conduct towards Ibadan traditional institutions, warning that Ibadanland would no longer tolerate such actions.
“Ibadan people are not cowards or lazy; we are fearless. We have only been suppressing and calming the nerves of our people,” they added.
“Ibadan people cherish their culture and traditions and hold them in high esteem. Anything capable of ridiculing these traditions will be rejected.”
They further stated that it was unacceptable for the Alaafin to remain seated while stretching out his hand to greet the 82-year-old Olubadan within Ibadan territory.
“Oba Ladoja is a former senator, a former governor, an international figure and a successful businessman,” they said.
“The Alaafin may choose not to greet the Olubadan, but stretching his hand while seated is an insult to the entire Ibadan traditional institution.”
But Oba Ladoja seemed to have a divergent opinions while reacting to the incident. He dismissed insinuations making the rounds on social media that he deliberately snubbed Oba Owoade during a recent public function in Ibadan, Oyo State, insisting that the incident was neither intentional nor disrespectful.
In a chat with newsmen in Ibadan, Oba Ladoja described the incident as a misunderstanding that had been blown out of proportion, stressing that his actions were guided by circumstance rather than any form of royal discourtesy.
According to him, his movement at the event was influenced by protocol and timing, as he arrived slightly late and attempted to take his seat quietly without disrupting proceedings.
Oba Ladoja said: “There was no intention whatsoever. What happened was not deliberate. It has been misinterpreted, especially on social media.
“When I go late to a place, I try to bring good news. At the mosque, when prayers are ongoing, you wait until they form a line and then you join appropriately. I was simply trying to take my seat before anyone would say I could not move again.
“My seat was sandwiched between Soun and Alaafin. I had to pass through some people to get there. I didn’t make any decision to avoid or ignore anyone. Why should I?
“If you watch the full video, you will see me greeting people, including the governor. But social media has a way of taking things out of context.”
On whether he had reached out to address any perceived grievances arising from the incident, the Olubadan said: “I don’t think anyone was being offensive, and I don’t see the issue as an insult to anybody,” he said.
The discord between the Alaafin of Oyo and the Olubadan of Ibadanland became more glaring when the Alaafin stayed away from the maiden edition of the Oyo State Council of Obas meeting, where Oba Ladoja was appointed to chair the council for a two-year term. The Alaafin did not attend the event.
Governor Seyi Makinde at the meeting announced the appointment of Oba Ladoja as first official chairman of the Oyo State Traditional Council of Obas.
The inauguration was held on Thursday in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
The bill retains the rotational chairmanship system, with the position alternating every two years among the Alaafin of Oyo, the Olubadan of Ibadanland, and the Soun of Ogbomoso.
Ladoja, a seasoned politician and former Oyo State governor, was crowned the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland in September 2025, succeeding the late Oba Owolabi Olakulehin.
