Oluwo of Iwo.
The traditional ruler of Iwo kingdom in Osun state, southwest Nigeria, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, says he was never suspended for six months by the Osun State Traditional Rulers’ Council.
Nigeria’s burgeoning online news platform, NewsOne Nigeria had reported earlier that the Oluwo of Iwo was suspended for claims of dragging the council’s name into disrepute.
This online news platform understands that the state council at its emergency meeting held at the Finance Building at the State Secretariat on Friday, February 21, banned the Oluwo from attending its meetings and also constituted a committee headed by Orangun of Ila, Oba Wahab Adedotun to further investigate the matter.
In his address to reporters after the meeting, Oba Wahab Adedotun, the Orangun of Ila, said the decision was not taken as a result of the alleged fight between the Oluwo and Agbowu but due to his conduct to other traditional rulers in Yorubaland, including the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Alake of Egbaland and the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
Reacting to the suspension in a statement, Oba Akanbi described the suspension as audio, stating that it is unprofessional of the respected Osun State traditional council meeting to make such pronouncement without the approval of the state government.
Oba Akanbi said the argument for the suspension was out of context, saying the reason the emergency meeting was summoned by the council was not addressed and that he was surprised to note that his purported suspension for his conduct against certain traditional rulers is strange to the traditional institution book of history and will never stand.
The statement reads as thus; “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 Alake, Ooni and 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 presence came to the meeting as witnesses and gave account that I didn’t beat any Oba.
“Maybe 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 but we keep mute to see how far this will stand,” the statement added.