The traditional ruler of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, has dismissed the call by the kingmakers for his dethronement and described it as a conspiracy led by his rival to the throne, saying it is dead on arrival.
The kingmakers consisting of 12 chiefs in a petition to Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola, said Oba Akanbi is not representing the throne well.
They listed the controversial activities of the Monarch to include an alleged disrespect of the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
“Oba Adewale Akanbi has a penchant for fighting notable personalities within and outside Iwoland. At the moment, Oba Adewale fought Chief Abiola Ogundokun, Imran Adio, (a leading Islamic cleric) whom he removed as Otun Ajanasi. He insulted the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi; Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi; Orangun of Ila, and other prominent Obas in the state,” part of the petition read.
In his reaction, the monarch stated that his purported removal by the kingmakers is the handiwork of a detractor who contested the stool with him,fighting so hard to become king.
In a statement posted on his Facebook wall, signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Alli Ibraheem, read in part:
“We learnt of a letter purportedly written by some kingmakers calling for the removal of Oluwo. We need not reiterating the fact that some of them were under duress stage managed by an over 40years serial contestant to the revered stool of Oluwo.
“We want to state it categorically that detractors who contested the stool with His Imperial Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, are making every possible attempts to derail the compassionate Oluwo from the glory his reign has credited to the ancient stool of Iwo.
““So much good things are happenings to Iwo under TELU. Why must it be him,” they thought.
“It’s a conspiracy of a detractor who has been fighting so hard to become the Oluwo of Iwo.The detractors has gone beyond many times to discredit Oba Akanbi and failed serially. The recent was to divide the king makers but dead on arrival. Achievements of Oluwo endeared him to Iwo, more. You can’t run down what your children may benefit in the future.”
Continuing, the statement read:
”Oba Akanbi is a king of positive marks. He is a market detractors are trying to de-market.
“All he was alleged of are not without reason(s). His reign is prosperous, fruitful and virile to the advantage of all and sundry but because someone who has been a serial aspirant want to be Oluwo by all possible means is romancing few individual to detract Oba Akanbi’s reign. The deaf could hear IWO is moving.
“In the olden days, losers who contested the stool with winner are not allowed to stay in town but thing has changed. We will keep managing him. He is my subject.
“From all indications, Iwo is secured economically, security wise. The religious Atmosphere, traditional and political deals are peaceful under his majesty. Iwo has never had it so good like this traditionally. The loathe is natural when good things keep coming to town.
“Traditional system is not parliamentary. Oluwo will keep serving humanity. Nothing will discourage the good work. He loves everyone. Together we can achieve better. Detractors romancing my Chiefs should continue wasting their time, Oluwo will keep lifting his subjects.”
Ojelabi, the publisher of Freelanews, is an award winning and professionally trained mass communicator, who writes ruthlessly about pop culture, religion, politics and entertainment.
