Makinde and the Crowns: How Oyo’s Governor Became History’s Most Prolific Kingmaker

By the time Oba Rasheed Adewolu Ladoja steps onto the throne as the 44th Olubadan of Ibadanland, Governor Seyi Makinde will have added yet another laurel to his already impressive legacy of royal appointments. In a state where tradition and politics are intertwined, Makinde has emerged as a kingmaker whose influence across Yoruba chieftaincy has become both historic and defining. 

Since assuming office in 2019, Makinde has appointed or endorsed the coronation of more monarchs than any of his recent predecessors. He oversaw the crowning of Oba Moshood Olalekan Balogun as the 42nd Olubadan in March 2022; helped install Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye as the 21st Soun of Ogbomoso in December 2023; and presented the staff of office to Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade, the Alaafin of Oyo, in January 2025. 

Beyond these headline installations, his administration has resolved long-standing chieftaincy disputes — recognizing Oba Samuel Adebayo Adegbola as the Eleruwa of Eruwa, and installing monarchs in towns such as Iseyin and Igboora. These moves have not only filled thrones that lay vacant for years but restored dignity to various traditional institutions across Oyo State. 

No governor in recent memory — not Ajimobi, not Akala — has overseen so many royal transitions. Through sheer numbers and symbolic importance, Makinde’s reign has come to represent more than infrastructure or policy; it’s a turn toward cultural renewal. As the Yoruba saying goes, “Adé ò sì, ilé kò ní balẹ̀” — without the crown, the house cannot have peace. 

The coronation of Ladoja — a former governor himself — is especially symbolic. It is not just the elevation of another ruler; it is the crown of someone who walks with one foot in modern governance and the other in pre-colonial tradition. Ibadan, with its unique succession system where age, rank, and seniority (not bloodline) determine the path to the throne, will see one of its own return to sovereignty through heritage rather than election. 

As the people of Oyo gather at Mapo Hall, the weight of expectation is heavy. Governor Makinde’s legacy of kingmaking is now measured not in numbers alone but in how these crowns heal, unite, and bring balance. Oba Ladoja’s reign, set to begin in a few days, will be a test: Can he bridge tradition with modern governance? Can he preserve cultural identity while steering Ibadan into its future?

For Makinde, history is already kind. But for Ibadanland, the story truly begins with the crown — may it rest well, endure long, and bring peace to the land.