There is a raging debate about the class of traditional rulers that we have in Nigeria, the common joke is that they can be put in a tabulated form with headings including first, second and third class category.
A typical Nigerian, especially one who is a Yoruba will tell you never to insult a First Class Oba, due to his revered status as one of the seven sons of Oduduwa.
Here is a list of rich and influential Yoruba Obas in no chronological order.
ALAAFIN OF OYO
Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Aeyemi III was crowned the Alaafin of Oyo in 1970 at the age of 32.
Before he became the Alaafin, he was a business man, an interest which he still maintains while still on the throne.
He served as an insurance clerk to a firm and he was also a professional boxer he ascended the throne.
Alaafin was the Chancellor of the Uthman dan Fodiyo University in Sokoto between 1980 to 1992.
The Alaafin of Oyo is one of the most powerful monarchs in the country especially to the Yoruba speaking community and a business man with many landed properties both in Nigeria and abroad.
OONI OF IFE
Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, who is the current Ooni of Ife ascended the throne in 2015 at the age of 41.
He became the Ooni, following the death of Oba Okunade Sijuade, who was also a rich and influential king during his reign.
Oba Adeyeye has been able to fill the shoes left by Oba Okunade very well, he is one of the respected rulers in the world, with recognition from the United Nations, UNESCO and USA.
The 51st Ooni is the Chancellor at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Oba Ogunwusi built a befitting palace for himself in Ile-Ife within five months, a spacious mansions with 2 living rooms, 6 bedrooms, a kitchen, a dining room, a large hall that can accommodate 200 people and has over 50 servants within the palace.
Ooni acquired an eighth generation of the legendary Rolls-Royce Phantom in 2016 for more than N100 million, to show that he is one of the richest monarchs in the country.
He is also influential within all circles, being a businessman with major interests in real estate and construction before he became a monarch.
OBA OF LAGOS
Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu of Lagos ascended the throne in 2003 at the age of 59.
Before his coronation as the Oba of Lagos on the 23rd of May 2003, he was a police officer and attained the rank of Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) of Police before he retired in 2002.
Since his assumption to the throne, Oba Rilwan has been of great positive influence on the political and economic changes in Nigeria, most especially in Lagos State.
Despite the fact that this ruler does not have real governmental power, many lawyers and politicians revere him.
The ceremonial head of Lagos is still an extremely authoritative person because he rules in one of the largest cities in Africa.
Lagos is the financial heart of Nigeria so it’s no wonder that local Oba automatically becomes a man of enormous influence.
Oba Akiolu’s palace is said be worth N2 billion while he has many luxurious cars in his collection.
OLUGBO OF UGBO KINGDOM
Oba Frederick Obateru Akinruntan may not be one of the influential kings in the Yorubaland but he is certainly one of the richest, maybe the richest of them all.
He is owner of the largest petroleum depot in Africa, Obat Oil Company which he founded in 1981 alongside a gas station which has grown to over 60 gas stations across the nation.
Oba Akinruntan ascended the throne in 2009 at the age of 59, ruling over the Ugbo Kingdom located in Ilaje Local Government of Ondo State.
Apart from Oil business, Oba Akinruntan is into real estate with Hotels in Abuja, buildings both home and abroad.
Rated among the billionaires monarch in the country, the investment of Oba Akinrutan ranges from oil and gas, real estate, etc.
According to Forbes, Oba Akinrutan net worth is estimated at US$300 million in 2014, which ranks him the second richest king in Africa after King Mohammed.
He entered the history books in 2012 when he became the first black person to buy the 2014 model of Bentley which was accustomed only for Queen Elizabeth of England.
Oba Akinruntan has other cars but he also drives a custom built 2012 Rolls Royce similar to the royal Queen Elizabeth II vehicle.
AWUJALE OF IJEBU LAND
Oba Sikiru Kayode Adetona Ogbagha II, the Awujale of Ijebu land is the most experienced among the traditional rulers in the country.
He became a monarch at the age of 25 and has interacted with all the Presidents the country has produced since independence having ascended the throne on April 3, 1960.
Oba Adetona is one of the seven-man committee that was set up for possible political solution to the crisis in the defunct Western Region by Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa Balewa with the knowledge of the principal leaders of the two warring factions, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Chief Ladoke Akintola in 1962. The meeting was held then at Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Adetokunbo Ademola’s guest’s chalet.
He is in charge of the popular Ojude Oba festival, an annual festival sponsored by prominent multinational corporations like MTN, GLO, amongst others.
Awujale is super rich and has good investments and clocked 85 today and has been on the throne for 59 years.
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