Hon Rasaq Salinsile, the Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in the State of Osun, has alleged that some officials of the state government were behind the decision of the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba (Dr) Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi Telu I to shelve his planned installation as Otun Oluwo of Iwo.
Salinsile said it was the officials who mounted pressure on the Oluwo not to install him as Otun Oluwo of Iwo.
The Osun APC Secretary in a media briefing where he spoke on a video which circulated on social media at the weekend that the Iwo monarch knew why he cancelled the installation ceremony, said claims by the State Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Hon Adebayo Adeleke were untrue.
Adeleke had in the clip debunked an allegation of the involvement of the state government in the cancellation of Salinsile’s installation as Otun Oluwo of Iwo by the traditional ruler.
In the video which lasted a minute and 17 seconds , the commissioner held that government was only involved in the appointment of Kings and not chiefs, adding that Governor Oyetola has no influence in giving out Chieftaincy titles.
The Commissioner said, “Government is only involved in the appointment of Kings and not chiefs. Governor Oyetola has no influence in giving out chieftaincy titles. If Alhaji Salinsile is to be honoured with a chieftaincy title, we are supposed to be there because he is a member of our party.
“So we have no connection with Oluwo’s decision to deny him the title. Oluwo knows why he refused to offer him the title. Those spreading the rumour are detractors. He is a member of our party and we have no reasons to say he should not be given the title.
The claims by the Local Government Commissioner did not go down well with Salinsile and swiftly reacted saying Oluwo confirmed to him that Governor Gboyega Oyetola sent three of his Commissioners to him to stop his installation as Otun Oluwo.
Salinsile said while addressing journalists in Osogbo on Monday that: “Three years ago during Aregbesola’s administration. Oluwo informed me that he wants to honour me with a Chieftaincy title because he wants me to be close to him. He wanted to give me Otun Balogun title, the Chieftaincy title that he has stripped Chief Abiola Ogundokun and I told him to give me few days to think about it. Days later, I met with the monarch and I declined the offer.
“When we later saw, he said I should choose any title I want as his chief and I told him that my father died as Otun Oluwo and currently the position is vacant, I told him that I will be glad if he honours our family with the title.
In the past year, he started to mount pressure on me for my installation so two months ago I informed him that I am ready. I put all preparation in place, Committee formed, Aso Ebi widely bought but surprisingly on 4th January 2021, Oluwo called me around 6:30 to 7:00 pm that he wants to see me in his palace. When I got there he asked me, “What was the issue between me and Oyetola,” I told him that nothing at all other than we are from the same party, and I am the Secretary of APC.
“Oluwo told me that the Commissioner of Police called him a day earlier that there was a security report against me being installed as Otun Oluwo of Iwo and I said what! I am not a criminal.
He said even aside that very day, there was a powerful deligations from the state comprising three of his eminent Commissioners delivering the Governor’s message to him against my installation. I appealed to him but all my appeals fell into his deaf ears.
Oluwo said, “He loves me so much but if he installs me as the chief he would have a problem with the government.” I was wondering why installation as a community chief turned political.
“I went to see Baba Akande over the matter and he promised to see the governor because the governor was not in Nigeria at that time.
“Baba Akande later told me that he had spoken with the Governor and governor told him, he knew nothing about his installation.
“I met the APC Chairman, Prince Gboyega Famodun, he also Promised to meet the Governor and it was the same thing Baba Akande told me that the Chairman said.
“I inquired from CP and DSS over the acclaimed security report that negates my installation but they both said the were not aware of anything against his installation.
“Oluwo insisted that the three commissioners that came to meet him threatened him that there would be repercussions for him and Iwo town if he installed me as a chief.
“In the message Oluwo sent to me, Oluwo said , ‘I hold you to high esteem and I appreciate your love for me and Iwo in general, you are the Otun Oluwo of Iwo but the political rhetorics recently in the state requires a bit of caution. Do bear with me. Definitely, your installation will come up immediately the political tension subsides. Please understand my plight I can’t do the installation except you don’t love me. I can’t face the consequences else I will pay dearly. It will cost this stool in a negative way and Iwo in general.
“One of those commissioners was going round on Saturday in defending himself and inciting people against me. That is why I am reacting to this issue.
While reacting on the court injunction barring Oluwo from installing him, Salinsile said “the court issue came after the whole plan and threats. It is just face-saving for the political undertone. Those people behind it were mischievous about the issue.
