Responses
He's an aide to the Fire Daimyo (Naruto's version of King of Fire Nation) and his opinions have more wait than the Hokage (real world version is a governor or a mayor of the Leaf Village, that reside in the Fire Nation). Whatever Lord Kobu say, can change the outcome of the Leaf Village because he has power behind him. There are a lot of politics going on, in the background of Narutoverse, but we don't care because we want to see fight scenes instead.

augh,,, why is that kobu guy have so much authority... well, it wouldnt be as exciting when something goes easy as it is.