Princes across Iwo, Osun State under the aegis of Iwo Princes Forum (IPF), have asked the Agbowu of Ogbaagbaa, Oba Sikiru Akinropo to explain the reason why he wanted to kill the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, with his staff of office at a peaceful meeting held in Osogbo last week.
They held that staff of office is a sacred object that a cultured and traditionally brought up Yoruba breeds will never take for granted, adding that it could serve positive and negative purposes depending on the mood and situation.
The princes said the situation at which the Ogbaagbaa monarch pointed the staff at Oluwo was questionable, stating that Agbowu should pray nothing happens to Oluwo or else, he would be held responsible.
Addressing newsmen on Monday after a meeting, they noted that Oluwo is a responsible father who cares for his subjects with his physical and mental resources, stressing that many condemning Oluwo were ignorant of the rate at which some Iwoland Obas sell land to the Fulanis and harbour them without the consent of the government.
They further revealed just last week, one Baale at Oori village in Iwoland hosted thousands of the Fulanis and signed memorandum of understanding. They tasked whoever in doubt to come over and see.
The princes lamented the incessant illegal grabbing and selling of lands by the affected Obas without the approval of the original family owing the land. They revealed the complaints gotten by Oluwo everyday is alarming and it was in the process of settling it that a king stood to stick his staff of office on Oluwo’s eyes.
“We, the princes of Iwo under the umbrella of Iwo Princes Forum(IPF) want to heavily tasked the Agbowu of Ogbaagbaa, Oba Sikirulahi Akinropo to justify the reason for pointing his staff of office at Oluwo or ready to be held responsible should anything happen to Oba Akanbi. As a custodian of culture and tradition, we expect Agbowu to know the strength of what he carries as he claimed to be over 10years on the throne. The staff is a sacred object that should not be pointed to human while angry. It is a taboo, abomination and sacrilegious”
” At this juncture, we are giving the Agbowu of Ogbaagbaa five days to explain the rationale behind his action and why he intended to turn us to orphan ( by killing Oluwo with his staff of office). If he was sent, he should let know the actors. We urge the government and the traditionally inclined to come to our rescue before these group of land grabbers we called monarchs regroup to kill Oluwo”
“Equally, since Oluwo was enthroned, he has never sell a single plot of land. He has called these monarchs in a row on monthly basis for more than a year. He appealed to halt land sales to protect the future of their children. He gives them money from his own personal pocket voluntarily and at request. But may be because the money was not enough with their salary, they resort to forcefully acquiring of family land and sell for peanut as low as #60,000 per acre. They went to the point of sending those questions their authority to prison because those people couldn’t afford the cost of litigation. They recruit thugs to chase original land owners and protect the right to ownership of the buyers”
“In Iwo, we love our monarch, he is doing well for us and equally to none. He fixes our roads, frequently donates to our hospital, built the first ” Apoti Aseyori ” of Africa in Iwo, feeds the poor, orphans, less privileged, children with special needs, widows and equally protect our lands against intruders such as suspicious Fulani herdsmen and land speculators ”
The princes demand the immediate prosecution of the reason for the action of Agbowu for the interest of the land.
Representing the princes to address the press were: The head of the princes, Prince Abolusodun Najeem, Prince Semiu Fanta Oladimeji, Prince Taofiq Tadese (Sooko Paarin), Prince Akeem Osunwo.
