Oluwo of Iwo Oba Abdulrasaq Akanbi has slammed the Caretaker Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Abdulrasaq Salinsile.
This followed allegation that three commissioners in the Governor Adegboyege Oyetola administration stalled his chieftaincy installation as Otun of Oluwo.
The Nation reports that Salinsile, at a news conference in Osogbo, said the court order restraining Oluwo from installing him as Otun Oba was politically-motivated and to save face after the threat.
However, Oluwo yesterday through his spokesman Alli Ibraheem decried the claim by Salinsile, saying: “It is untrue and off-track that Oluwo was compelled not to install him. The monarch was stopped by the court.”
He said honorary titles such as Otun Oba are awarded by traditional rulers without governmental consent or intervention.
“Honorary titles as Otun Oba are awarded by kings without governmental consent. The government has no business in such title. It can neither intervene nor influence in choosing who to honour.
“Wahab Atanda was installed a few months ago as Otunba of Iwoland. The former Otun Oba was the father of Salinsile. Honorary titles are not hereditary. Oluwo, with the utmost respect for the judiciary, had to stop the installation. There was no time when any of the commissioners visited Oluwo on Salinsile’s chieftaincy matter.”
“Also, I think traditional and honorary title holders are installed to assist and protect the crown. Going public to discuss court matter and dragging Oluwo into it is unpatriotic of someone who wants to be bestowed with an honorary title. The earlier Salinsile knows this, the better. Any challenge should be thrown to the plaintiff. Oluwo has queried Otunba Wahab Atanda on why he sued him and Salinsile.”

By Toba Adedeji