Oluwo ridiculing Yoruba monarchy – Traditional rulers

Traditional rulers from Ife North Local Government Area of Osun State, under the aegis of Origbo Meje Obas, on Thursday, criticised the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, saying his conducts are “bringing disrepute and ridicule to the thrones of all Obas in Yorubaland.”

The monarchs gave the Oluwo a 21-day ultimatum to either substantiate or withdraw his allegations against the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, or face legal action.

Speaking on behalf of the group, the Acting Vice Chairman of Ife North Traditional Council, Oba Kehinde Adesoji, who is the Salu of Edun Abon, accused the Oluwo of “denigrating the stool of the Ooni” and demanded a retraction of all defamatory remarks.

Flanked by the Olulamokun of Yakooyo, Oba Meshach Oyediran, and the Alakinlalu of Akinlalu, Oba Oluwabusola Oloyede, Adesoji recalled the Oluwo’s past controversies and condemned his latest claims that the Ooni conspired with his ex-wife to poison him.

“There is no gainsaying about the supremacy of the throne of the Ooni of Ife as the head of all Obas in Yorubaland,” Adesoji said. “Records are in the archive for verification regarding the outbursts of the Oluwo of Iwoland against the Ooni of Ife. Therefore, it is surprising that Oluwo is the only Oba in Yorubaland that is changing his title every six months—from Emir of Iwo to Alaafin of Iwo—to gain undue media recognition. The actions of the Oluwo are bringing disrepute and ridicule to the thrones of all Obas in Yorubaland.”

Adesoji also revisited the incident that led to Oluwo’s suspension from the Osun State Council of Obas in 2019 after he allegedly assaulted the Agbowu of Ogbaagba during a peace meeting.

“It was at the meeting that the Oluwo got furious and attacked the Agbowu of Ogbaagba and injured him. He was later hospitalised, which necessitated the emergency meeting summoned by the Ooni of Ife as Chairman of the Council. After listening carefully to the explanations and defence of the parties involved, the Council found the Oluwo guilty and resolved that he be suspended for six months. The decision was ratified by His Imperial Majesty, the Ooni of Ife, and received applause across the globe for taking prompt action,” he said.

On the latest accusations, Adesoji added, “The Oluwo’s claim that the Ooni conspired with his ex-wife to poison him is a criminal allegation, and he who alleges must prove. On this note, we are giving the Oluwo of Iwo 21 days to write to the Inspector-General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, or sue our father, His Imperial Majesty the Ooni of Ife, on the allegations. Otherwise, the Origbo Meje Obas will take legal action against the Oluwo at the expiration of this ultimatum.”

Oba Akanbi, however, had, in a new video posted on his social media handles on Tuesday, vowed that his feud with the Ooni would continue.

In the video, he said: “I helped Ooni Adeyeye, but because he aligns with the idols and me, God has put me above those idols as a king. Ooni doesn’t want me to tell the story and was looking for my downfall.

“What he did was that he packaged a woman for me whom I didn’t know before. It was a setup. She was in my house and they were talking to the woman to set me up through videos and others. The supposedly ex-wife would be asking me questions then, and they were communicating with her. She was there for over three years. She had a child, whom I don’t even know if it is mine. She poisoned me twice, they set up an assassination attempt, and they did other things to try to kill me, but they failed.”

He also accused Oba Ogunwusi of providing accommodation for his ex-wife after she left his palace.

“When I found out the secret and I kicked this woman out, the woman went to meet the Ooni at a hotel. It is the same Ooni who rented an apartment for the woman and her child. This fight cannot end and no one can kill me,” Oluwo said.(Punch)