Oluwo of Iwo an Enemy of the Yoruba

FACT CHECK

Obas in Yoruba land are considered deities for the sheer weight of responsibilities and duties they undertake. Not only are they the live vectors of culture and tradition bridging the link between generations, they are the custodians of same. In Iwo land for example, preceding Oba’s have not only been custodians of Yoruba culture and tradition, they have been adjudged by their subjects and the Yoruba nation at large to have discharge themselves as becoming of an oba. It is therefore disheartening and utterly discomfiting to witness the debacle that the Oluwo of Iwo has become. It all began with the demise of the previous Oluwo of Iwo Oba Ashiru Tadese, who joined his ancestors and his death was made public on February 18, 2012 by the Osun state government to the mourning of Iwo people and the Yoruba nation at large. To everyone’s relief and joy, a new Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi, then 48-year-old Prince Akanbi, a contractor based in Canada from Gbaase Ruling House, was announced as the 16th Oluwo.

However, in a swift twist, the euphoria that heralded Akanbi’s announcement as Oluwo, on November 9, 2015, soon give way to disbelief and fear as he soon began to unravel. Among other ruinous controversies, what stood out was Oba Akanbi’s complete disdain and disregard for the Yoruba culture, tradition and history. His conduct, utterances and deeds have all pointed to one fact: that the Oluwo of Iwo is an enemy of Yoruba culture the very same pedestal that elevated that once unknown to a first class monarch in Yorubaland.

Facts of the Matter

Fact One: Did Oba Akanbi Duly Observed the Ounto?

Oluwo of Iwo an Oba who is against Yoruba Culture and Tradition

First was the report that Oba Akanbi failed to fully observe the coronation ritual during the ounto (seclusion) where it is alleged Oba Akanbi did not complete the stipulated days of ounto as dictated by tradition. When impressed upon him to observe and adhere to tradition, he insisted that he has the right to decide his days during ounto to the consternation of all. Reacting, an elder in Iwo averred “unfortunately, he failed to perform all the necessary rites in Ōunto, because he didn’t spend up to the normal days there. Any Oba that would become the Oluwo must stay there for at least three months before he could be properly crowned. I don’t know why he refused to adhere to the rules. He spent less than the period required of him by tradition” he concluded.

Fact Two:Did Oba Akanbi Ordered the Ban on Traditional Worship in Iwo land?

Oluwo of Iwo Emir AbdulRasheed Akanbi who preaches against Yoruba Culture and Tradition

As widely reported the Oluwo of Iwo, in a strongly worded order as reported by The Guardian, warned that any form of sacrifice to appease deities is forbidden in Iwo town. He also ordered traditional religion worshippers in his domain to desist from holding the yearly Oro festival. Oba Akanbi said anybody caught with sacrifice should be made to eat the materials. The monarch gave the orders in a viral video while speaking with some of his subjects. In the video, the Oluwo asked his subjects to arrest anyone indulging in Oro festival and drag such a person to his palace. He said God is the harbinger and sustenance of peace and tranquillity in the town and not gods or deities. The Punch also reports the Oluwo saying that “There should not be any Oro in Iwo. If any Oro comes out, it should be arrested. If anybody places sacrifice on the ground, ask the person to eat it. We don’t want any form of sacrifice. No sacrifice can make the town peaceful. Only God Almighty can make the town peaceful. Everything is in God’s hands. They want to dirty the ground by pouring salt and palm oil. If you see anybody that pours palm oil on the ground, tell the person to immediately clean the place. After that, arrest him and bring such a person to me. Anybody found at Odo Oba pouring something into the river should be arrested” the monarch said. Expectedly, the ban on placing sacrifices on roads in Iwo, Osun State by the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Adewale Akanbi, drew consternation, ire and disbelief among the leadership of the traditionalists in the state, who told the monarch not to act against the rights of the adherents. Reacting to Oluwo’s stand, the President of the Traditional Religion Worshippers Association, in Osun State, Dr. Oluseyi Atanda, said Oluwo was not bigger than the government and constitution and warned the royal father not to act beyond his capacity. Atanda was quoted as saying, “There is nothing we can say about it (order against the placing of sacrifices on roads) than if he has the power, himself and those supporting him, will meet the government in court. A dog that will go astray will not hear the hunter’s whistle. If he is more powerful than the government, it’s left for all of us to see.” he concluded.

Fact Three: Did the Oluwo of Iwo Asserted that the Ifa Oracle is Useless?

Oluwo of Iwo Oba Akanbi who doesnt believe in Yoruba Culture and Tradition

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, also ridiculed an established Yoruba tradition publicly by asserting that Ifa has no role to play in the selection of the new Alaafin of Oyo and Soun of Ogbomoso as against traditional rites. According to him as reported by Daily Post, “God installs, not Ifa. When a vacant stool is to be filled, contestants will patronize the government, not Ifa. Those who patronize Ifa will have to wait endlessly. Why has Ifa not picked the new Alaafin of Oyo and Soun of Ogbomoso? Or did Ifa travel so we could seek his return to give those towns new kings?” He asked mockingly. Expressing his scepticism towards the reliance on Ifa, the Iwo monarch stated that, “Only princes who are far from reality or watching too many Nollywood movies will rely on Ifa to announce him. “God will speak through the government. We are not far from reality, referring to the government as the Ifa.” This unexpected utterance raised questions among the people of Oyo, Ogbomoso and Yorubaland in general, because traditionally, all relied on Ifa oracle’s guidance in selecting their monarchs. It is also observed as a surprise twist to the age-old tradition of Ifa oracle in choosing the new rulers of Oyo and Ogbomoso kingdoms that a Yoruba monaarch will question the Ifa oracle and ridicule it publicly.

Fact Four: Did the Oluwo of Iwo asserted that the Oluwo used to Appoint the Olubadan?

The Oluwo of Iwo who thinks he is above Yoruba Culture and Trdition

In an interview published in The PUNCH of January 1, 2017, Oba Akanbi claimed that the Oluwo used to appoint baale for Ibadan. He said, “We used to appoint Olubadan from here in Iwo. It was not that we would ask them to nominate a candidate but we would appoint somebody from here and send him to Ibadan to be the Olubadan. The first Baale in Ibadan, Baale Olugbode, was sent from Iwo to be baale in Ibadan. “Orowusi, Oderinlo were sent to rule in Ibadan. It was so because Ibadan people believed that Iwo people were very powerful. Bashorun Ogunmola went from Feesu here in Iwo to Ibadan. Balogun Ali Iwo also went from Iwo to be king in Ibadan.” But in a swift reaction, the President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Chief Wole Akinwande, dismissed Oba Akanbi’s claim, describing it as a demonstration of the monarch’s ignorance of history. Akinwande said, “Nobody ever appointed Baale or Olubadan in Ibadan from outside. Oluwo claimed that the first Baale in Ibadan was sent from Iwo to rule in Ibadan. That is a wrong foot of ignorance. “Lagelu and his children were the founders of the first and second Ibadan and as a result of the Yoruba Civil War of the 19th century, Maye Okunade from Ile Ife became the first Baale of Ibadan and not Baale Olugbode as claimed by the Oluwo. “He must have been taught the wrong history of Ibadan either by oral historians or quack historians.” the learned student of Yoruba history countered.

Fact Five: Did the Oluwo of Iwo Crowned His Wife the Olori Against Established Yoruba Tradition?

Before the crisis that ruined his marriage with Chanel Chin, Oba Akanbi had crowned her as the olori thus becoming the first king in present day Yorubaland to allow his wife to wear a crown. Though many well regarded royal fathers openly opposed the idea, Oba Akanbi dismissed their criticisms with a wave of the hand. “I crowned my wife because Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yoruba race gave a crown to his wife, Olokun,” he said. He said he was able to establish the fact that Oduduwa crowned his wife after he closely observed the effigies of both Oduduwa and Olokun. His marriage to Chanel, which produced one child he named Oduduwa, later crashed in December 2019 following irreconcilable differences.

Fact Six: Did the Oluwo of Iwo Declared Himself an Emperor of Iwo Empire?

Self-styled Emperor Telu I of Iwo Empire

In early in 2016, Oba Akanbi declared himself an emperor, and his town, Iwo, an empire to the ridicule of Iwo and Yoruba land. He subsequently placed a number plate with the large inscription ‘EMPEROR’ on some of his vehicles. Oba Akanbi, who remained unfazed by criticism that followed the declaration, however told whoever cared to listen that declaring Iwo an “Empire” and himself, an “EMPEROR” was just a strategy to package and rebrand the ancient town with a view to placing it in global reckoning. He was of the opinion that not packaging Iwo to reflect the enthronement of a new king that had taste and in touch with modern realities would be tantamount to the continuation of the old order. “Emperor Telu” offered perhaps, the most insightful explanation into the new Iwo Empire emperor designation while speaking at an award ceremony organised by the Reality Television on April 21, 2016. Oba Akanbi argued that proper rebranding of Iwo was a necessity to assist him realise his developmental vision for the town. .

Fact Seven: Did the Oluwo of Iwo asserted that he and all other Yoruba men that have ancestral links to Ile Ife can become the Ooni of Ife

in July 2016, Oba Akanbi and a large retinue of chiefs and prominent indigenes, embarked on a trip to Okerewe, Ile Ife said to be home of Luwo Gbagida, the 16th and the only female Ooni of Ife, whose son, Adekola Telu, founded Iwo town. During the visit, Oba Akanbi curried another controversy when he declared that every Yoruba man that had ancestral link to Ile Ife could become Ooni. Oba Akanbi, who was received at the Owodo Royal Compound, Okerewe, Ile Ife by the elders of the royal house, said he was happy to trace his origin to Ile Ife. Not done, he added that it had been established that indigenes of Iwo could come to Ife and aspire to be the Ooni. Ife princes, he said, could also go to Iwo and aspire to ascend the throne of Oluwo. Asked why, Oba Akanbi explained that Oranmiyan, one of the sons of Oduduwa, did a similar thing about 1,500 years ago when he traced his origin to Ile Ife. This declaration did not go down well with many Ife indigenes. Though the palace of Ooni did not officially respond to Oluwo’s statement, many people however linked the statement to an incident that happened earlier on the day of the visit. Oluwo and his entourage were denied access to the Ooni’s palace during the visit because Oba Ogunwusi was said to be unaware of the visit.

Fact Eight: did the Oluwo of Iwo Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi Declare himself an Emir

Before the dust raised by the spat he had with Oba Adeoye settled, Oluwo at a function in his palace, declared himself an emir. He based his decision on the lack of unity among Yoruba traditional rulers unlike what existed among monarchs in the North. The monarch adopted emir title and dressed like a northern monarch on the day he installed Yakub Abdul-Baqi Mohammed as the Waziri of Yorubaland in March 2018. Speaking on the occasion, Oba Akanbi said, “I have decided to officially adopt the emir title today because I want to emulate the northern emirs. They don’t begrudge themselves like Yoruba obas. “It will surprise you to discover that for the past two years, there has not been a meeting of Yoruba traditional rulers just because of enmity. There is nothing strange in adopting the emir title. I am the emir of Yorubaland.” But following barrage of condemnation that trailed his decision a day after the event, Oluwo, in a statement signed by his media aide, Alli Ibrahim, made a U-turn. He said, “Oluwo has never adopted the emir title; he only said he could also be called an emir by the Hausa and ardent Muslims. Oba Akanbi is an oba for the nation, with special attachment to the Yoruba. He promotes Yoruba culture to the admiration of many youths.”

Verdict: From the foregoing and from all indications, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi (Telu 1) harbours a deep disdain and have nor regard for Yoruba culture, tradition and history, a position unbecoming of any Yoruba son or daughter let alone a first class monarch for that matter.