Oluwo of Iwoland Archives

Ooni, Oluwo Deny Rift, Rancour

Two first class traditional rulers in Yorubaland, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi Ojaja II and the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi,Telu have denied media reports that the two are embattled in a rift.

The duo said the reports are untrue and mere insinuation.

The development came at the heels of a peace meeting of the Osun State Traditional Rulers Council at his palace in Ile-ife on Thursday, where Oba Ogunwusi, who is reportedly not in good terms with the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdukrasheed Akanbi, told the latter that he had not been prevented from attending the council meeting.

The Oluwo has never attended the meeting since he ascended the throne in 2015.

It was gathered that some Obas of the council had during the last meeting held on July 4, 2017, raised the issue of the Oluwo and they resolved to go to Iwo to go and prevail on him to attend council meeting.

The Ooni of Ife, who arrived at the venue of the meeting went round and greeted all the traditional rulers one after the other while the monarchs stood up to acknowledge his greetings.

The Ooni, who presided on the meeting prayed for the monarchs and the towns each of them presided over.

Oba Ogunwusi said, “It is been long we held this meeting. The meeting is usually held on a monthly basis. This is not the time to point accusing finger at anybody.

“The Timi came to me and told me that he would not be here because he was traveling out and that he had scheduled the trip before the meeting was called. So, also is the Orangun of Ila.

“I greet the Oluwo specially. Like I always say, all of you left here. I am the caretaker here. Unity and the development of our state is very important.

“Some traditional rulers have departed the world since our last meeting the Olubosin of Ifetedo, Salu Edun Abon and Olulamokun of Yakoyo.

“We should portray ourselves the way we should. We should carry ourselves with dignity and royalty. We should unite and stand as one. Our meeting is how to bring about development to our state and the nation.

“I greet the Oluwo special especially being his first time of coming here. Nobody is asking you not to come here. This is your house.”

Speaking, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Olawale said there peace and harmony among the traditional rulers in the state.

The Olojuo of Ido Osun, Oba Aderemi Adedapo, who is the secretary to the Council of Obas and about 70 other traditional rulers were in attendance.

I Am The Emir of Yorubaland – Oluwo Of Iwo

By Sodiq Yusuf

The Oluwo of Iwo in the State of Osun, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi has restated that he is the Emir of Yorubaland.

According to the traditional ruler, his decision to call himself the Emir is part of efforts to unify the nation saying using the appellation “Emir” does not change his position as an Oba in Yorubaland.

Oba Akanbi said in line with the historical background of Iwo as an Islamic town, he is empowered to wear turban as the general leader of his people as well as a father of the Yoruba race.

The monarch stated this on Tuesday while featuring on a radio programme monitored by our correspondent in Osogbo, the state capital.

“As a natural ruler and the Oba of Iwoland, I am not installed with beaded crown. I was turbaned in Islamic regalia. That makes me the leader of everyone to present my Oluwo has never adopted the Emir title. I only said I could also be called an Emir by the Hausa and ardent Muslims. I am an Oba for the nation with special attachment to the Yoruba.

“I promote Yoruba culture to the admiration of many youths. Just because of Oluwo dress code today, many children are attracted to Yoruba culture of wearing the aso ofi. I said so to integrate the Nigerian nation as an indivisible entity, all working tools are available for the integration and unity of our dear country.”

“I`ve visited the North several times, core Hausa hardly pronounce Yoruba words correctly. They called me emir when I am with them. Is there anything wrong in answering such? Even, the Hausa in Iwo here call me emir. Will I stop them from addressing me as such? No, I am a father to the nation being a first-class paramount ruler.”

On his right to install the Waziri of Yorubaland, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi explained that “All the Imams of Nigeria cannot install any Waziri. The waziri belongs to the royal kingdom. Its my own invention. I am a natural paramount ruler of Yorubaland. The paramount rulers of Yorubaland are kings that have never been upgraded. Waziri is an Islamic title.

“Alaafin is a natural ruler and installs the Aare Onakakanfo of the Yoruba race, he invented it. I invented Waziri of Yorubaland. Iwo is an Islamic town. In Islamic setting, the king of Iwo is the Amir/Leader in Islam. He is the first Imam of the town and because of his tight schedule, the King appoints Imam to lead the congregation.

“The Imam is one of the subjects of the king, I am the one supposed to lead prayers in Imam. The Islamic structure is from the king downwards, the Waziri is a title of the king and not of the Imam. Has any imam appointed a Waziri in history? The traditional system is going acaque, it has to be upgraded and updated from some of the things that do not make it attractive and apologetic to the people.”

Clash Over Waziri Title By Oluwo, Imams, Edo And Delta States

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Adewale Akanbi and the League of Imams and Alfas in the South-West, Edo and Delta states are at loggerheads over the propriety or otherwise of the monarch to install Yaquob Abdul-Baki Mohammed as the Waziri of the entire Yorubaland.

The President, League of lmams and Alfas, South-West, Edo and Delta states, Sheikh Jamiu Bello, in a letter to Oba Akanbi, urged him to restrict the title to his domain, Iwo.

The League said Oba Akanbi lacked the power to install anybody as the Waziri of the entire Yoruba land because his domain was limited to Iwo town.

The letter read, “The proposed installation of the said recipient by your Highness as the Waziri of Iwo land is no doubt the result of your avowed commitment to the development of lslam, the lwo Community and Osun State in general

“However, it is our considered hope that your Highness should as a matter of urgency correct the rumours making the round that the organisers of this event are trying to overblow the ceremony to capture the entire Yorubaland. This is not right.”

“If such should be, it has to come through due process as we know you to be a man of honour, protocol and due process”

“To this end, we urge Your Highness to immediately call the organisers of the event to limit it to Waziri of Iwo land which your Highness has concluded arrangement to bestow on the recipient.”

The Oluwo could not be reached for his reaction to the Imams’ letter but his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Ali Ibrahim, who spoke on his behalf, said his principal had the right to install anybody as the Waziri of the entire Yorubaland because of the paramount role of Iwo in the South-West region.

Ibrahim said, “Everybody knows that Iwo is called Ilu Alfa (Alfas’ town) and whoever is the king in the town is the number one Muslim in Yorubaland because there is no town with such rich Islamic tradition in the South-West.

“Iwo has been installing Oluwo with turban and not crown for the past 450 years. There is no town that does that in Yorubaland. What the Oluwo is doing is to install a structure in Islam in the South-West. In the North, the Sultan is the head of all Muslims and Alfas there.

“The Oluwo is going to install the Waziri of Yoruba land and they cannot stop this because the title was invented by the Oluwo himself and not the Alfas. Are the Imams and Alfas in the North superior to the Sultan of Sokoto? Are the Imams and Alfas superior to the King of Saudi, the home of Islam?

“The Oluwo is more than qualified to install anybody he likes as the Waziri. It is not the chieftaincy title under the authority of Imams and Alfas. I invested it and they can’t stop me.

“As one of the natural paramount rulers in Yorubaland, I have the right to install the Waziri of Yoruba land. The Leagues of Imams and Alfas does not have the right to install it.

“Iwo is called town of Alfa and that is the only town that is called that in the entire Yoruba land. There must be a structure in Islam in Yorubaland and I am starting it because I am qualified to lead the way.”

Royal Rumble: Oluwo, Ooni Clash At Traditional Council Meeting

The traditional rulers summit which took place in Port-Harcourt last Tuesday was almost marred by an unpleasant confrontation between the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdurasheed Adewale Akanbi ,and the Chief Securiy Officer (CSO) to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.

The tense situation could have snowballed into a bigger crisis but for reason that eventually prevailed.

The incident occurred at the Presidential Hotel, Port Harcourt.

It was gathered that the Ooni of Ife ,Oba Ogunwusi had just finished giving a vote of thanks, and was on his way back to his seat when his CSO, Mr. Emmanuel Olawale Kolawole, who led other security aides of the monarch allegedly had a brush with the Oluwo, who appeared to be blocking the Ooni from accessing his seat.

The Oluwo, it was learnt, was by then discussing with the Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. Abdurahman Dambazzau, who shared the high table with the Ooni and the Rivers State gover, Nyesome Wike.

A source in the Oluwo’s court who witnessed the incident alleged that the CSO out of overzealousness, threatened to push the monarch if he did not give way for Ooni to pass.

He was said to have ignored Oba Akanbi’s entreaties to “take it easy” and pushed him out of the way.

A visibly embarrassed Oluwo, who is the Deputy Chairman of the Osun State Traditional Rulers Council had to step aside to pave way for Ooni to get to his seat, the source said.

But the media aide to the Ooni, Comrade Moses Olafare, denied that such scenario ever happened in Port Harcourt.

Olafare lamented that the report was not only shocking and a big surprise but also misleading, adding that there was no iota of truth in it.

Some of the guests at the event, and other eye witnesses accounts reported observing Ooni expressing satisfaction with the conduct of his CSO.

Some dignitaries at the event were however taken aback on what they considered as desecration of the crown wondering loudly how Ooni’s CSO could have the effrontery to push a first class paramount ruler of Oluwo’s status.

The security detail concerned, Kolawole, also denied pushing the Oluwo or manhandling him, although he admitted in a telephone interview that the had an encounter with the monarch in the course of discharging his legitimate duty.

He said he could not have disrespected a revered Oba as a true Yoruba son, but maintained that he had a duty to secure his principal.

According to him, when the Ooni finished his speech and was returning to his seat beside the Minister of Interior, Lt. Gen Abdurahman Dambazzau and the Rivers state governor ,as well as some Emirs ,he quickly moved to receive and sit behind him.

“I didn’t expect the Oluwo to stand there because his seat was not there. So, I only excused and asked him to move away from there. I didn’t push him as alleged’’.

Emmanuel who reiterated that he was only doing his job added; ’’I’m the Ooni’s CSO, and all the other CSOs sat behind their principals.

He also denied that he acted on the instruction or the approval of Ooni Adeyeye, saying that he was not aware of any cold war between the two royal fathers. “Eyan wa ni won now, meaning: He (Oluwo) is our own now. How could I have done that?”

Olafare in a reaction added that there were over 100 journalists and 30 camera men at the event, arguing that if such a thing happened, it would have been reported since last when the event was held.

He wondered why the report was being pushed in the media “to cause confusion.”

He said there has been no running battle between the Ooni and Oluwo, adding that when the Ooni arrived the venue of the occasion, Oluwo was the first among the set of prominent traditional rulers and guests that he (the Ooni) greeted.

He, however, argued that what the Oluwo had misunderstood as a molestation by the Ooni’s CSO was a mere protocol assignment that he (the CSO) had the mandate to perform for his principal.

Olafare said that the CSO politely asked the Oluwo to excuse the Ooni to be able to access his seat.

He said that in fairness to him, the Oluwo obliged immediately and the Ooni was able to access his seat.

“Going to the high table to introduce himself to Dambazzau on the high table while the programme was still on and blocking the Ooni from accessing his seat after delivering his speech and blocking the views of other guests was a breach of protocol on the part of the Oluwo.

In any case, when his CSO politely asked him to excuse the Ooni to get to his seat, he obliged in fairness to him and there was no problem. So, it is surprising that Oluwo is now trying to make a case out of this,” Olafare said.

Culled From The Sun Newspaper

PHOTONEWS: Aregbesola Prays In Osogbo Central Mosque

Governor Rauf Aregbesola of the State of Osun joined other Muslim faithfuls at the Osogbo Central Mosque to observe the two rakat Jumat Prayers on Friday.

He accompanied to the mosque by personal aides and the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi Telu the first among others.

Aregbesola used the opportunity to urge the people of the state to troop out en-masse to vote the candidate of their choice during Saturday’s Local Government Parliamentary Elections.

The Governor was cheered by teeming supporters and residents of Osogbo while leaving the Central Mosque.

Oluwo Debunks Purported Date Of Iwo Day

……Says Iwo Day Remains 23rd of December, 2017

Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi Telu 1 has dissociated himself from a purported Invitation Card announcing the celebration of Iwo Day on 16th November, 2017.

Oluwo described the Invitation Card which has his name as the one inviting people to Iwo Day Celebration on 16th of November, 2017 as a fake, null and void.

He also said it is impersonation of the highest order to use his name to invite anyone to a celebration he knows nothing about.

In a release signed by the Oluwo himself, He further enjoined the entire public to be wary of those going around with the invitation cards, saying they are simply doing it purposely for their selfish interest and not that of the interest of the entire Iwo people.

“The 2017 Iwo Day has been fixed for 23rd of December, 2017. This date was agreed after a concensus was reached by Oluwo and Iwo Board of Trustees (The umbrella body of all clubs and associations and the apex decision making body in Iwoland). Those people going around peddling all sorts of rumors about Oluwo canceling this year Iwo Day are enemies of this land.”

Oluwo also warned anyone going around using his name to invite people to Iwo Day Celebration on 16th of December, 2017 to desist from such act, adding that the only approved date for the celebration of Iwo Day 2017 as approved by Oluwo of Iwoland and Iwo Board of Trustees is 23rd December, 2017.

OBJ, Tinubu, Others To Storm 50th Birthday Bash Of Oluwo

Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwoland has said eminent Nigerians are expected to attend his second anniversary on throne and 50th birthday on 7th of October.

Oluwo, in statement he persinally signed said: “As a responsible father I am thirsty of development. There are two Iwos: the old Iwo and the new Iwo. The new Iwo is the best because we have migrated from obscurity to light. The name is everywhere now and big investments are underway.

According to him, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, are among many dignitaries expected to grace the event marking his 50th birthday and coronation anniversary.

According the statement, the State Governor of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola will be the chief host to the invited guests.

According to the Monarch, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Mike Adenuga and Femi Otedola as well as Akin Ogunbiyi and Wale Babalakin, are other dignitaries expected at the much publicized event.

He added that traditional rulers expected at the event are Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa`ad Abubakar, Emir of Ilorin, Ibrahim Sulu-Gambari, Orangun of Ila, Oba Abdulwahab Olukayode, Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, Oba Obateru Akinruntan, Osile Oke Ona Egba, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, Etsu of Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Olanipekun, and other high ranking monarchs.

Court Strikes Out Oluwo/ Oluwo Oke’s Case

An Osogbo Chief Magistrate Court on Wednesday (15th February, 2017) struck out the case between Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi and Oluwo of Iwo Oke, Oba Kadiri Adeoye in the spirit of fostering peaceful and harmonious relationship within the domains of the two traditional rulers.

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi tendered a letter of apology and discontinuance of the suit filed against him by the complainant.

The Magistrate, Mrs Sodamade Fatimoh, struck out the substantive case against Oba Akanbi on the ground of the peaceful move initiated by both traditional rulers.

Fatimoh said, the complaint had earlier applied to the court for the withdrawal of the suit on the 3rd January, 2017, while the defense Counsel, Chief Yekini Olaide tendered a letter of apology and discontinuance of the suit against his client on the 15th February, 2017.

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi verbally apologised to the Magistrate for his attitude shown during his trial.

“I am a friend of the judiciary and I never meant to disrespect the court.

“When there was threat to close down the High Court and Magistrates Court in Iwo land, I took it upon myself.

“I renovated the High Court and Magistrates buildings, put new furniture and other things but to mention a few.

“All what happened was misinformation and my feelings had been tendered in the letter before the Court’, he said.

Counsel to the Plaintiff, Mrs Oyedele Yusuf, however, agreed to the withdrawal of both the substantive case and the contempt of court against Oluwo of Iwo.

Osun Assembly Tasks New Oluwo On Communal Peace And Development

The Assembly made the call through a statement issued by the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Honourable Olatunbosun Oyintiloye to congratulate the monarch on his coronation and presentation of staff office.

Osun State House of Assembly has charged the new Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi to lead in the crusade for peaceful coexistence, community development, security and improved commerce.

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola of State of Osun presenting instrument of appointment to a ruling house chieftaincy to Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi

They also urged the monarch as custodian of tradition to protect the cultures and virtues of Yoruba people.

Oba Abdul-Rasheed mounted the throne about three years after the demise of his predecessor, the late Oba Asiru Olatunbosun Tadese who died on February 18, 2013.

The Assembly which stressed that Iwo is known for cattle keeping and abattoir management , urged the monarch to do everything possible to promote this venture and possibly modernise it.

It implore the monarch to also explore landmarks and tourism potential in the ancient town.

Similarly at a visit of the Assembly members to the monarch’s palace, the Speaker, Honourable Najeem Salaam said the culture of Yoruba should be promoted beyond the shores of Nigeria.

Noting that the emergence of the monarch has shown that the youths have decided to take up the development of their communities, he urged the king to use his youthful energy, to bear for the development as well as promotion of peace and unity in Iwoland, Osun and Nigeria in general.

The Speaker urged the monarch to use his position to sensitise the people to support the government through prompt payment of their taxes and other dues.

Expressing optimism that credentials of the monarch speaks volume of his exposure, candor and resourcefulness, the Assembly admonished the king to bring all these qualities to bear on the throne.

The parliament further implored the monarch to use his position to sustain the religious harmony that has been in existence in the ancient town over the years.

Stressing that Iwo has continued to enjoy religious harmony, it said this must be sustained by all possible means.

The legislature also noted that since the monarch has established himself in the entrepreneurship and corporate world, he should use his position to assist the government in its quest to provide jobs for the teeming youths of the state.

“While the government is doing all it could to develop the ancient town, we are optimistic that the enthronement of Oba Abdul-Rasheed would also assist the government in this regard”, it said.

The Assembly then commended all the ruling houses, the contenders for the throne and the entire people of Iwoland for the peaceful manner they comport themselves during the selection process of the new monarch.

It stressed that the manner in which they harmoniously resolved their differences during the selection process showed that they buy into Governor Aregbesola agenda of ensuring Communal Peace and Progress in the state.

The legislature also congratulated the Osun state government, the Council of Obas, and the descendants of Iwoland, home and abroad for the peaceful transition.

The Assembly then charged him to join hands with other traditional rulers and government at all levels to inspire harmony, peace and development in the state and the country at large.

It also urged the people of the ancient town to support the new monarch in his efforts to make Iwoland the pride of all.

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