The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has claimed that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, is scheming to undermine him, despite the support he provided during the Ooni’s ascension to the throne.
In a video observed by journalists, Oluwo asserted that he played a significant role in ensuring Oba Ogunwusi became the Ooni during the contest for the position in 2015.
Nevertheless, Oba Akanbi alleged that the Ooni has been working to dethrone him, pointing to Oba Adeyeye’s supposed involvement in his suspension from the Osun State Council of Obas several years ago.
The Ooni, however, refuted these accusations, stating that he would not dignify them with a response, as Oba Akanbi has made similar remarks in the past.
In the video, authenticated by Oluwo’s Press Secretary, Ibrahim Alli, as originating from a Ramadan lecture held in Iwo on Wednesday, Oluwo maintained that he assisted Oba Ogunwusi in resolving a legal dispute that could have obstructed his selection and enthronement 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.”
(Punch)
Leave a Reply