Osun

I’m Not Interested In South West Traditional Rulers Council — Oluwo

BySodiq Lawal

PublishedMarch 24, 2025

Denies Contesting For Southwest Traditional Rulers Council Secretary Position

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has dismissed reports alleging that he contested and lost the position of Secretary in the Southwest Traditional Rulers Council.

In a statement issued by the monarch on his official social media handles on Monday, Oluwo described the claim as a deliberate attempt to tarnish his image and mislead the public.

He asserted that no such body exists, stressing that the ancient crown of Iwo would never stoop so low as to engage in such a contest.

“The story was confabulated to blackmail Oluwo and deviate from the truth His Imperial Majesty spewed out recently. Truth has no alternative side. No matter the forces, it can’t be suppressed. No one is so powerful to influence the truth to become lies,” the statement read.

Oluwo revealed that he had previously declined an invitation to join the Southern Council of Traditional Rulers, citing incompatible values.

He added that he rarely attends the Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers and has chosen a path of honour which he remains committed to.

“I’m so occupied to work with a council dominated by people with different mindsets. In addition to that, I rarely attend the Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers. Our modulus operandi is parallel. That is why he is hated and talked about. Guess what? He didn’t care,” he said.

The monarch further reiterated that repeated attempts to dethrone him had failed in the past and would continue to fail.

“For the umpteenth time, we will reiterate that no one can dethrone Oluwo. They have tried it severally and failed. Those actors playing the script are perpetual failures and they will continue to fail,” he declared.

Oluwo maintained that he remains unbothered by the blackmail and backbiting, insisting that such antics only serve to strengthen him.

He advised those behind the campaign of calumny to heed caution or risk dire consequences.

“The backbiting and blackmailing will not deter His Majesty from the path of honour. Rather, those stones and tantrums are strengths for him. Anyone who takes the warning may be lucky to escape perdition,” the statement concluded.

OSUN DEFENDER recalls that this is coming Oluwo had accused the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, of plotting his downfall after he (Oluwo) helped him (Ooni) to the throne.

In a viral video, Oluwo said he influenced Oba Ogunwusi’s emergence as the Ooni when he was contesting the stool in 2015.

However, Oba Akanbi said the Ooni had been orchestrating his removal, alleging that Oba Adeyeye was behind his suspension from the Osun State Council of Obas a few years back.

But Ooni dismissed Oluwo’s allegation, even as he said he would not react to it as “it was not the first time Oba Akanbi would be making such a statement.”

Speaking in the video, which his Press Secretary, Ibrahim Alli, confirmed to have emerged from a Ramadan lecture in Iwo on Wednesday, Oluwo claimed that he helped Oba Ogunwusi settled a (court) case that would have impeded his appointment and installation as the Ooni.

He said Oba Ogunwusi’s ally, Akin Daodu, connected the two of them, disclosing that he would have supported the Ooni’s elder brother, Tunji Ogunwusi, but he didn’t because the latter underrated him.

“In 2015, I got a call from Akin Daodu, a close ally of the then Prince Adeyeye Ogunwusi, now Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi. He told me Prince Adeyeye was on the phone, that he needed to talk and seek my help regarding his aspiration to the throne of Ooni of Ife. I knew him then, but I was closer to his brother, Tunji Ogunwusi, who was my peer. Tunji Ogunwusi, popularly called Dodo, and I were about eight years older than the Ooni.

“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.

“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. I was not selfish. I secured his own before mine. And a few months later, God used the same link for me to become the Oluwo of Iwoland.”

Lamenting the alleged plot against him by Oba Adeyeye, Oluwo said, “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.

“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 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, the Director of Media at the Ooni’s palace, Chief Moses Olafare, said Oluwo’s statement didn’t deserve any reaction.

Olafare said, “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.

“That is what Baba Oluwo is busy doing. 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.”

Sodiq Lawal

Sodiq Lawal is a passionate and dedicated journalist with a knack for uncovering captivating stories in the bustling metropolis of Osun State and Nigeria at large. He has a versatile reporting style, covering a wide range of topics, from politics , campus, and social issues to arts and culture, seeking impact in all facets of the society.