13 chiefs under the aegis of the Concerned Kingmakers of Iwoland, have petitioned Osun State Governor Adegboyeaga Oyetola, demanding the dethronment of flamboyant traditional ruler, Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, for allegedly engaging in acts unbecoming of a monarch.
The letter dated September 9, and made available on Thursday, September 24, was titled: Petition for the removal of Oba Adewale Akanbi (Oluwo of Iwo) from the throne of Iwoland”
In the letter addressed to the governor and signed by the 13 kingmakers led by Chief Olurunlampe, the chiefs said Akanbi is not fit to continue to occupy the throne as he was an ex-convict in Canada and the United States of America.
They alleged that after his coronation in 2016, he declared himself “Emperor” a title they said was unknown to Iwo history, adding that in July same year, the royal father stirred another controversy when he declared that all Yoruba men were entitled to the stool of the Ooni of Ife.
The petitioners also accused him of engaging in a fight against some notable personalities including the Agboowu of Ogbaagba at a peace meeting presided over by Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone XI.
“Oba Adewale Akanbi has penchant for fighting notable personalities within and outside Iwoland . At the moment , Oba Adewale fought Chief Abiola Ogundokun , Imran Adio , (a leading Islamic cleric ) whom he removed as Otun Ajanasi. He insulted the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi ; Ooni of Ife , Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi ; Orangun of Ila, and other prominent Obas in the state,” the petition added.
Reacting, Oba Akanbi, through his Press Secretary, Alli Ibrahim, described the petition as a conspiracy of a detractor who contested the stool with him.
“We learnt of a letter purportedly written by some kingmakers calling for the removal of Oluwo. We need not reiterating the fact that some of them were under duress stage managed by an over 40years serial contestant to the revered stool of Oluwo,” the statement reads.
“We want to state it categorically that detractors who contested the stool with His Imperial Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, are making every possible attempts to derail the compassionate Oluwo from the glory his reign has credited to the ancient stool of Iwo. “So much good things are happenings to Iwo under TELU. Why must it be him”they thought.
“It’s a conspiracy of a detractor who has been fighting so hard to become the Oluwo of Iwo.The detractors has gone beyond many times to discredit Oba Akanbi and failed serially. The recent was to divide the king makers but dead on arrival. Achievements of Oluwo endeared him to Iwo, more. You can’t run down what your children may benefit in the future.
“Oba Akanbi is a king of positive marks. He is a market detractors are trying to de-market. All he was alleged of are not without reason(s). His reign is prosperous, fruitful and virile to the advantage of all and sundry but because someone who has been a serial aspirant want to be Oluwo by all possible means is romancing few individual to detract Oba Akanbi’s reign. The deaf could hear IWO is moving,”
“In the olden days, losers who contested the stool with winner are not allowed to stay in town but thing has changed. We will keep managing him. He is my subject,”
“From all indications, Iwo is secured economically, security wise. The religious Atmosphere, traditional and political deals are peaceful under his majesty. Iwo has never had it so good like this traditionally. The loathe is natural when good things keep coming to town,”
“Traditional system is not parliamentary. Oluwo will keep serving humanity. Nothing will discourage the good work. He loves everyone. Together we can achieve better. Detractors romancing my Chiefs should continue wasting their time, Oluwo will keep lifting his subjects.”
