The Olugbon of Orile-Igbon Oba Francis Olushola Alao, has pledged the loyalty to the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs to its new chairman, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, the Olubadan of Ibadanland.
The monarch made this assurance to Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State while playing host to the governor in his palace at Orile-Igbon on Friday, January 16, 2026. The occasion was witnessed by some traditional rulers in Surulere Local Government, who joined the Olugbon to welcome the governor to Olugbon’s palace.
Oba Alao, who thanked the governor for the visit, assured that he and other members of the council of obas were behind Makinde, assuring that Oba Ladoja would enjoy the support of members of the council across the five zones in the state. The zones are Ibadan, Oyo, Ogbomoso, Oke-Ogun, and Ibarapa.
The traditional rulers that joined the Olugbon were the Aresapa of Iresa pupa, Oba Moses Ajiboye; Aranyin of Iranyin, Oba Lasisi Olagbemileke; Olujado of Ijado, Oba Hammed Adegbile and Iba Abogunde Tajudeen Aminullahi.
The monarch, who is the deputy chairman of the obas council, said: “Your Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde, we appreciate you for coming. And I would like to take this opportunity to explain that the government has done what is necessary regarding the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs. We are in support of the decision. The Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs has now been re-inaugurated. And we have a new chairman in the person of His Excellency Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, the Olubadan of Ibadan. I want to assure Your Excellency that we are all one in the council. We are united across the five zones: Ogbomoso, Ibadan, Oyo, Oke-Ogun, and Ibarapa. People can say things, but we are members of one united family.”
Responding, the governor said, “I came here over what happened in Oloka. I have visited there, and I assured them that their government will not fail them. The people own this government. I am also assuring the people of Surulere Local Government and everyone in Ogbomoso Zone that development projects will spread across all five local governments in Ogbomoso Zone. I only ask for your cooperation.”
