A senator representing Oyo South, Sharafadeen Alli, has spoken against the decision of Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde to install him and two other high chiefs as Ibadan traditional rulers even though they were not present at the event.
NOP NIGERIA reports that the senator reacted after a video spread online showing him questioning how the process was carried out.
He argued that in Ibadan tradition, anyone being given a chieftaincy title is expected to be physically present during the ceremony.
According to him, doing it without the people involved goes against long-standing customs and makes the event look improper.
He said that in the past, traditional installations were never done in the absence of the selected individuals. He compared the situation to a practice where a person is treated without being present, saying it does not follow normal tradition. He also described the event as looking more like a staged show rather than a proper traditional gathering.
According to Premium Times, the controversy follows the recent action of the Oyo State Government where several Ibadan high chiefs, including Akeem Adewoyin, Kola Babalola, and Sharafadeen Alli, were elevated to the position of Obas. According to reports, the individuals were not able to attend the ceremony due to different reasons, but the event still went ahead.
The senator added that the organizers did not postpone the ceremony even after it was known that the affected chiefs would not be available.
He also said that there are people influencing the decisions around the governor, although he made it clear that he does not have personal issues with Makinde or his deputy. Instead, he called for more open handling of matters involving traditional leadership in the state.
He said: “Our only concern is those who are influencing the governor negatively. I don’t have any quarrel with the governor… but some people are influencing them negatively.”
