The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, has been suspended from attending the traditional council meetings for six months.
Addressing reporters after the meeting of the Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers on Friday, the Orangun of Ila-Orangun, Oba Wahab Adedotun said: “The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, was not suspended because of the alleged assault on the Agbowu of Ogbaagba, Oba Dhikirulahi Akinropo.”
He said Oba Akanbi was suspended for indecent acts to some monarchs including the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Alake of Egbaland, Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi.
Orangun said: “These acts of gross misconduct are enough. He should go and stay at home for six months. He should must respect the traditional institution.
“He should caution himself with the way he talks to the media on kings in Yorubaland. We have also set up a committee headed by me to resolve the issues Oluwo have with some traditional rulers in Yorubaland.”
However, he said the Oluwo’s suspension was subject to the ratification of the Osun State government.
At the traditional council meeting presided over by the Ooni of Ife in Osogbo, the state capital, the monarchs said they could not fold their hands and allow the Oluwo drag the traditional institution in the mud with his “misconduct and indecorum acts.”
The meeting was charged to an extent that the Ooni was said to have ordered that the Oluwo and the Agbowu should excuse them before taking evidences from those who witnessed the incident at the Office of the Assistant Inspector General Zone 11 last Friday.
The Oluwo denied punching or slapping the Agbowu of Ogbaagba at a peace meeting in the AIG’s office.
AIG, Zone 11, Mr. Bashir Makama, who was also summoned to the meeting, corroborated the Oluwo’s position.
He explained there was no physical assault during the meeting but testified that there was a serious altercation between the Oluwo and the Agbowu.
The Ooni clarified that the Oluwo’s suspension was not because of the alleged assault against the Agbowu of Ogbaagba, saying the matter was already before the Police and the State Government.
After the Ooni’s comment, the period for Oluwo’s suspension was put to votes among the monarchs and they eventually arrived at six months.
Reacting to the suspension, the Oluwo described it as political.
According to him, the point given by the council was porous, lacking logic and does not portray the revered traditional council in good light.
He said they refused to address the allegation that he punched a monarch, the reason for the meeting.
In a statement by his media aide, Alli Ibrahim, Oba Akanbi said any suspension from the Osun State Traditional Council meeting is subject to the approval of the State Government.
He said it was unprofessional of the respected Osun State traditional council meeting to make such pronouncement without the approval of the State Government.
The Oluwo said the argument for the suspension was out of context, saying the reason the emergency meeting was summoned was not addressed.
Oluwo said he was surprised to note that his purported suspension for alleged conducts against certain traditional rulers was strange to the traditional institution book of history and will never stand.
He said he was disappointed that the traditional council could be turned to an avenue of politics.
He said: “I was never suspended. The suspension reported by the media is just from the monthly Osun State Traditional Council meeting which is subject to the approval of the state government. It is sad to note that Osun State traditional council could be so political.
“They said I was rude to the Alake, the Ooni and the Alaafin. And the same Ooni presided over the same meeting that purportedly pronounced my suspension from the Osun State traditional council meeting.
“If this should stand, many monarchs will not be encouraged to regard the council.
“It is just an audio pronouncement and an insult to the State Government without consultation by the council.
“We were invited to address the allegation that I punched another Oba. The AIG and the government officials came to the meeting as witnesses and gave account that I didn’t beat any Oba.
“May be because the truth from the witnesses didn’t go with their expectation, they hatched unfounded excuse to make an audio suspension. It is pure political and there are many things attached.”

By Adesoji Adeniyi