“Kings Must Be Fathers to All”: Funny Thinker Backs Makinde on Partisan Traditional Rulers
A Facebook user known as Funny Thinker has thrown his weight behind Oyo State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde, over the governor’s position that traditional rulers should be cautious about openly taking partisan political positions.
According to Funny Thinker, traditional rulers occupy a different position from elected politicians and should therefore avoid becoming active participants in partisan politics.
He argued that traditional rulers operate within the framework of the state’s administrative and chieftaincy structures and do not possess the constitutional political authority exercised by elected governors and other public office holders.
“Kings are the lowest civil servants in the hierarchy of public administration because they are under local government,” Funny Thinker stated, while expressing support for Makinde’s position.
He further argued that any traditional ruler who becomes deeply involved in partisan politics risks losing the neutrality and moral authority expected of the traditional institution.
“Seyi Makinde is right on this. Any traditional ruler caught in politics must be dethroned,” he said.
The debate has generated significant reactions online, particularly because it touches on the sensitive relationship between Nigeria’s traditional institutions and the country’s modern democratic political structure.
One commenter argued that, under Nigeria’s legal framework, no traditional ruler—including highly respected monarchs such as the Sultan, Omo n’Oba or Ooni—is constitutionally superior to a state governor in matters of state administration.
“By Nigerian law, no king, not even the most respected like Sultan or Omo n’Oba or Ooni, is above governor,” the commenter wrote, adding that traditional rulers operate within a legal framework established by government.
Another contributor, Ruth Adegoke, observed that many people fail to understand the distinction between traditional authority and constitutional political authority.
“Most people don’t know that. They allow emotions to get the better of them,” she said.
She also referenced concerns that federal intervention could become a factor if the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, were perceived to cross certain political boundaries.
Others, however, urged caution against treating the issue as a simple question of superiority.
One commenter argued that different circumstances require different approaches, stressing that Oba Ladoja should be viewed as a father to all, while Makinde remains the elected governor.
“G.S.M. is my governor, but he needs to play wisely to gain more votes because Ibadan is different from other states,” the commenter stated.
Another contributor strongly supported Funny Thinker’s position, arguing that traditional rulers should primarily serve as custodians of culture, heritage and communal values rather than become partisan political actors.
“Every king should be neutral and should be father to all,” the commenter wrote. “Every politician or former governor can publicly support anyone he likes. But whenever any politician becomes a king, he can't do most of the things he did before. He's now father to all.”
The argument also produced a distinction between merely endorsing a political candidate and actively campaigning as a traditional ruler.
One commenter stressed that the issue should not be exaggerated, arguing that “endorsing is different from a king who carries a candidate on his head as a godfather.” According to the commenter, Makinde’s position was not necessarily a threat of immediate dethronement, but rather a warning that partisan conduct could expose traditional rulers to public criticism.
Another participant cited the political implications of a monarch openly supporting one candidate over another.
“If Oba Rasheed Ladoja is supporting APC and eventually Accord Party or APM candidates won the gubernatorial election, how can Oba relate with someone that he opposed?” the commenter asked, arguing that traditional rulers should stay away from partisan contests to preserve their ability to work with whoever wins.
Where the Law and Politics Meet
The controversy is particularly significant in Oyo because the traditional institution remains an important component of the state's social and cultural structure.
In January 2026, Governor Makinde inaugurated the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, ending a period of about 15 years during which the council had been inactive. Oba Rashidi Ladoja emerged as its chairman under a rotational arrangement involving the Olubadan, Alaafin and Soun.
The development demonstrates the complicated relationship between elected government and traditional institutions: monarchs command enormous cultural respect and community influence, while their official roles operate within laws made by the state.
The Oyo State Government itself has repeatedly described traditional rulers as highly respected custodians of the people while emphasizing that their roles exist within the state's legal and administrative framework.
That distinction is crucial. Traditional rulers are not simply ordinary civil servants, nor are they elected politicians. Their authority is largely derived from customary institutions and state chieftaincy laws, while governors derive their executive authority from the Constitution.
For Funny Thinker and those supporting Makinde, the central principle is therefore simple: once a person ascends a traditional throne, he should become a father to everyone—not a political campaigner for one side.
The opposing view is that traditional rulers are also citizens with personal political opinions and should not be stripped of their individual rights merely because they occupy royal stools.
Ultimately, the debate is less about whether kings command respect—they unquestionably do—and more about where traditional influence should end and partisan politics should begin.
As Oyo's political temperature continues to rise, the question of whether monarchs should remain neutral may become increasingly difficult to separate from the wider contest for political influence in the state.
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