Following the face-off between Oluwo of Iwo, Abdulrosheed Akanbi and Agbowu of Ogbaagbaa, Oba Dhikrullah Akinropo at the peacemaking meeting in Zone XI police command, Osogbo last week Friday, fifteen monarchs from Ayedire and Ola-Oluwa local government have issued a communique addressing Governor Gboyega Oyetola to suspend the monarch.
A communique dated February 16th, 2020 issued at the end of an emergency meeting of members of Iwo Traditional Council held at the palace of Agbowu of Ogbaagbaa demanded that Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi should be suspended by Governor Oyetola, investigate and arraigned by police among others.
Also, protesters led by the Asiwaju of Ile-Ogbo, Chief Raphael Akanmu stormed Office of Osun State governor, Bola Ige House, Abere, Osogbo on Monday urged the State government to separate Traditional Councils for Ayedire Local Government Council and Ola-Oluwa Local Government from Iwo traditional council for the other monarchs.
The protesters in a peaceful manner bore placards with inscriptions such as: “Oluwo must be brought to book”, “Justice must prevail”, “Oluwo destroys traditions: Suspend him!”, “Oyetola save our souls” and “Suspend Rasheed Akanbi now”, Oluwo is lawless”, among others.
While Asiwaju of Ile-Ogbo, Chief Raphael Akanmu addressing the government officials, Special Adviser on Local Government, Rasak Adeosun and Commissioner of information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemonde explained that the alleged beating of Oba Dhikrullah by Oluwo called for the action and they are seeking from the government to see to the matter before it snowballs to another crisis in the region.
His words, “The action of Oluwo of Iwo is quite unfortunate and shameful as a king and abomination in Yoruba land. It is forbidden for any king to engage in assault not to even talk of doing it publicly to fellow monarch.
“We, traditional chiefs should not be carrying placards to protest with our age but Oluwo action called for it because if he is not checked, things might go wrong in the society. We are carrying these placards in front of the Governor’s office to demand justice and want an end to embarrassing actions to Oba Abdulrosheed misdeeds.”
“I am 87-year-old and I have witnessed the reign of four kings. There was no issue of this kind during the reign of Oba Koshiru, Oba Ajani Karounwi, Oba Samuel Abimbola and Oba Tadeshe Olatunbosun. But when Oba Akanbi was made king strife, argument and fight started in the region.”
He added that Oba Akanbi said, whenever they want to sell any land in Iwo they come to his palace to obtain receipt which I told him that such request is baseless. These monarchs in the Iwo region are only affiliated by the administration and not otherwise.
Therefore, we don’t want all these activities again in traditional rules, and we urged the governor to please help to make the right justice, and that is why we raised up to the government to please help us separate our local government to avoid grudges within the community. He ended.
The communique was signed by Oba Dirkrullahi Akinropo, Agbowu of Ogbaagbaa, Oba Abibu Adetoyese, Olu of Ile Ogbo, Oba Adekunle Oyelude, Olowu of Kuta, Oba Oyeleso Oyebamiji, Olupo of Oluponna, Oba Abioye Oyewale, Olubode of Bode-Osi, Oba Ismaila Gbadamosi, Ola of Ajagunlase.
Others are; Oba Abdul Kadiri Olatunji, Oluwo of Iwo-Oke, Oba Kaseem Orioye, Onigege of Igege, Oba Sikirulahi Ogunleye, Olowu of Ilemowu, Oba Tajudeen Adewale, Oloke of Obamoro, Oba Hafeez Adigun, Onikoyi of Ikoyi, Oba Asimiyu Sodiq, Ologburo of Ogburo, Oba Oye Alajide, Oloja of Agberire, Oba Alamu Oparonke, Onisara of Fees and Oba Solomon Oyewo, Olofi of Ikonifin.
The communique read, “We call upon His Excellency Alh Gboyega Oyetola, to immediately suspend Oba Adewale Akanbi from office as the Oluwo of Iwo and Chairman Iwo Traditional Council for engaging in physical assault in public place, more so against a fellow Oba, an act unbecoming of the exalted office of an Oba.
“That the Police should be encouraged to conclude their investigation and arraign.
Oba Adewale Akanbi in the appropriate Court immediately, Government should create separate Traditional Councils for Ayedire Local Government Council and Ola: Oluwa Local Government.
“Government should kindly approve all pending applications at the Ministry of Local Government Bureau Of Chieftaincy to prescribed Authorities for the Part II Obas from Iwo Zone, which applications are being frustrated by the intransigence of Oba Adewale Akanbi.”
“We pledge our loyalty to the Government in power at Local, State and Federal levels. However, no development can take place in an atmosphere of violence and fear.”
“Finally we appeal to Osun State Government to consider Oba Adewale Akanbi the incumbent Oluwo of Iwo as a problem to be solved not a problem solver. We have never had any problem with any of his predecessors in the office.”
Meanwhile, the Osun government said it’s aware of the face-off between Oluwo and Agbowu describing it as unfortunate.
In a statement signed on Monday by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, noted that situations, where royal fathers engage in a public display of temperament, do not edify the revered stools of our forebears.
“We believe in the dignity of traditional stools and sacredness of royalty. We will continue to preach peace among all our citizens and harmonious relationship among our traditional rulers.
“Government is aware that the State Council of Traditional Rulers has stepped into the matter and we are confident that the council will take appropriate steps to preserve peaceful coexistence among the Obas in the state. We do not want any crisis in any part of the State,” the government added.