Oluwo of Iwo: Ooni plotting my removal after I helped him ascend throne

Abdulrasheed Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwo, has alleged that Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, is scheming to remove him from his stool. 

In a video that surfaced recently, Akanbi said he intervened during Ogunwusi’s bid for the throne, adding that he called one of the decision makers without hesitation to secure Ogunwusi’s enthronement as Ooni.

He said despite his support for Ogunwusi, the Ooni orchestrated his suspension from the Osun state council of Obas meeting.

“As a friend and peer, I had earlier called Tunji Ogunwusi to help him ascend the throne, but he underrated me and refused to take me seriously,” he said.

“We discussed, and he (Prince Adeyeye Ogunwusi at the time) disclosed that almost all the stakeholders, including governor Aregbesola, had agreed to his appointment, but there was a court case instituted by a few aggrieved individuals against him.

“He said his primary concern was the litigation. I asked him if that was all, and he said yes. I told him he was already a king.

“In his presence, I called the person in charge and told them what I wanted. The case was decided on Friday, and Adeyeye became Ooni on Saturday. This was before my own enthronement.

“To my surprise, the same person I helped ascend the throne has been planning evil against me. He orchestrated my suspension from the Osun State Council of Obas meeting.”

Akanbi said Ooni spoke ill of him before Ademola Adeleke, governor of Osun, claiming he is discouraging idol worship in the state.

“He is using a few kings in Iwoland to destabilise my territory. He attacked me last month in the presence of the governor, saying that I am discouraging idol worship. He was part of those who used my former wife against me,” he added.

“He wants me to be removed as Oluwo by all means. Such a dream can never come true. No one can remove me as Oluwo. No one can kill me, and no one can bring me down, except if I didn’t help him become the Ooni.”

However, Moses Olafare, the director of media at the Ooni’s palace, said Oluwo’s allegations were better ignored.

“This is not the first time Baba Oluwo will make comments like that. We never reacted, and we won’t react. Let him say whatever he wants. That is what he is busy doing. Everybody has something they are busy with,” Olafare was quoted by Punch. 

“Ooni is busy with developmental projects, so he is occupied and doesn’t have time to respond to someone looking for attention. We don’t have time for that.

“Whatever Baba Oluwo likes, let him say. We are not interested.”