A civic group, Save Oyo Movement, has accused Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, of squandering public funds on what it described as a “failed coronation” of high chiefs in Ibadan, alleging that over ₦1.5 billion was spent on the exercise.
The group made the allegation in a statement issued after its meeting in Ibadan on April 4, 2026, and signed by its Coordinator, Akeem Oladiti.
The controversy follows the governor’s decision to coronate three Ibadan High Chiefs as Obas in their absence—Akeem Adewoyin, Kola Babalola, and Sharafadeen Alli—all of whom reportedly declined to attend the ceremony.
The group questioned the legitimacy and rationale of the event, describing it as unprecedented.
“When in Yorubaland did a governor begin coronating Obas in absentia, such that billions of state funds will be spent to coronate empty chairs?” the statement queried.
SOM further alleged that the Makinde administration had, in recent months, spent over ₦10 billion on what it termed “political misadventures,” including the botched Peoples Democratic Party national convention.
According to the group, the coronation exercise may have been politically motivated, particularly targeting Senator Alli, who is being speculated as a potential governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo State.
“It was either Governor Makinde was misled or he misled himself into believing that by coronating Senator Sharafadeen Alli, he will not be qualified to contest for governor,” the group said.
The group insisted that holding a traditional title does not disqualify anyone from seeking elective office.
“Being a traditional ruler is not one of the grounds for disqualifying anyone from contesting for public office,” it stated.
SOM also revealed that one of the chiefs had been due for coronation since 2024 and had made several attempts to secure approval before the recent development.
The group maintained that the sudden move to proceed with the coronation only after emerging political interests suggests ulterior motives.
“But on this one, whether or not Senator Sharafadeen Alli is crowned as a king or not, it will not change the fact that being a traditional ruler does not disqualify anyone from contesting for public office,” the statement added.
