Top 10 Most Powerful Kings in Nigeria

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In Nigeria, traditional rulers have from time immemorial been the closest to the people.

They have a stronghold in their various locations and bring about peace and orderliness among the people.

Here are the top 10 most powerful Kings in Nigeria

The Emir of Kano

His Royal Highness Mallam Muhammad Sanusi II is currently the Emir of Kano. He heads the entire Kano Emirate and is loved passionately by his people.

He became the successor of Alhaji Dr. Ado Bayero who ruled for 51 years.

Before becoming the Emir, Mallam Sanusi was a renowned banker and former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

Alaafin of Oyo

Among the most powerful and influential monarchial titles attainable in Nigeria is the position of the Alaafin of Oyo. The ruling Alaafin of Oyo is Lamidi Olayiwola III, who is the successor of AlaafinGbadegesi Ladigbolu II. This position is very powerful and the title owner until recently was also the Chairman of the Council of Obas and the Chiefs in Oyo State. This was however changed by the former Governor of Oyo State, Adebayo Alao-Akala, and a rotational arrangement was adopted.

Sultan of Sokoto

As far back as the era of the British, the position of the Sultan has been held in high esteem. The Sultan is also known to be the spiritual leader to the Muslims in Nigeria. The current Sultan is Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar IV; he was the successor of his late brother Muhammadu Maccido who lost his life in the ADC Airline flight 53 flight.

Ooni of Ile-Ife

The current Ooni of Ile-Ife is Ooni Okunade Adele Sijuwade (now late) and is the ruler of the dynasty of Ife, which has been in existent for many years. This powerful ruler is known to play a strong role in determining who becomes the governor of Osun state.

Dein of Agbor

The ruling King is called Benjamin Ikenchukwu Keagborekuzi and he ascented the throne when he was just four months after the death of his father thus he became the youngest monarch to ascend a royal throne. He is known as the Officer in the order of the crown.

Oba of Benin

The Oba of Benin is also referred to as the Omo N’Oba. The current Oba of Benin is Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa (now late) and he is the ruler of the Edo people. His power stretches to politicians too and he is often called upon by politicians to intervene in important political issues.

Oba of Lagos

This is the traditional ruler and ceremonial head of one of the largest cities in Africa. The current Oba of Lagos is his Royal Highness Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu and is also referred to as the Eleko of Eko.

Olu of Warri

The Kingdom of Warri is currently under the rule of Godwin Toju Emiko. He is a lawyer by profession and has held several important positions in Warri. He is the head of the Itsekiri people.

Obi of Onitsha

Currently sitting on the throne is Igwe Nnayelugo Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe and he is the traditional ruler and Obi of Onitsha people. He is often widely consulted and has made tremendous contributions to the development of his people.

Olubadan of Ibadan

This title is prominent and highly influential and is currently held by Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade. He has a strong hold in Ibadan land and calls political leaders to order on issues such as corruption and violence.

43 thoughts on “Top 10 Most Powerful Kings in Nigeria”

  1. Even the people you put in the first place before oba of Benin kingdom are not even close to the oba in rank or anything, the oba of benin is the greatest among all of them, the sultan of sokoto that one is not king now, they can remove him and replace him with another person they like, is that one a king? The benin is the oldest among them, the benin king is the highest there, the person that listed them here, is tribalistic, and doesn’t know anything at all, you need to go and no more about benin kingdom, the king of agbor is chief not oba, most of them you mentioned there are not kings they are chiefs and can be replaced by another person, but king isn’t like that, kings are born not elected, stop comparing king with chiefs

  3. The Omo Eko of Eko is the most wise;
    Eko akete “the revered” , is the ilu ogbon “home of wisdom”,
    What qualities distinguish the most influential but these two?

  5. The Ovie of Ughelli Kingdom is the highest and most prominent in the Urhobo Kingdom and Delta state as a whole because the kingship is not political, it’s being pass on in the Oharisi bloodline right from time immemorial, Unlike the Olu of Warri who has no right being there instead of being called Olu of Itsekiri, this title is not even a king or oba it’s an Olu which is a chief in the native language

    • Why spread so much hate? You’re clearly tribalistic…if you know how the word warri came to be from a British pronunciation of iwerre, you’d know that itsekiris have every right to say that it is OLU OF WARRI. Besides losing some of our lands in the past and due to wanting to occupy lands closer to our best occupation which is fishing, most of the real warri is itsekiri land. I don’t mean the outskirts people usually call warri, the lands are intertwined.
      Also you can’t compare the King of a single village to that of the entire itsekiri people which is MONARCHY. So ….I really dunno why you even felt the need to say this and purposely pick out itsekiri,????

  6. It’s surprising that one of the few treaty King in the land was not even mentioned here. The place of Obong of Calabar in the history of Nugeria is undisputed.

    I can understand the bias in this post.

  7. Shehu of Borno is the the most inluencial traditional rular in Nigeria. The Emir of Kano is a subject or one of the diciples of Shehu Usman Dan Fodio therefore he is not the most influencial.

  8. Borno empire is the longest empire in nigeria hence the shehu of Borno is the most inluencial leader, in the northern part of nigeria. It is claimed that most of the traditional institutions are founded on the basis of religion and Borno has been practicing Islam for over 1000 years and have adopted Islam as state religion during the reign of Mai Umme Jilmi over 1000 years ago and even the el-Kanemi is just a comtempory of the femous Dan Fodio of Sokoto, therefore when it comes to who is most inluencial it is the Shehu of Borno.

  14. the emir of lafia late alhaji dr isa mustapha agwai the most powerful king in nigeria their is no state in nigeria that if he talk the will never disapoint

  31. OBA OF BENIN IS NO 1, INSTITUTION SPANNING CENTURIES,OF WHICH:- ELEKO OF EKO,MANY YORUBA KINGS,WARRI KING,ONITSHA,AGBOR etc ALL CAME OUT OF BENIN Descendants KINGDOM/EMPIRE.

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