An elder statesman and Obanla of Iwoland, High Chief Abiola Ogundokun, has condemned incessant attacks on Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi, by the Oluwo of Iwo kingdom, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi.
In a press statement he personally signed and made available to journalists in Osogbo on Saturday, Ogundokun called on well meaning Nigerians, elders and leaders in Yorubaland to call Oluwo Akanbi to order to stop his incessant attacks and disparaging the exalted seat of the highly revered monarch of The Source.
He said it is unbecoming of a traditional ruler of Oluwo’s status to be disparaging and launching incessant verbal attacks on the Ooni of Ife in various medium like internet, television and newspapers, adding that this is not in concert with Yoruba tradition and customs.
Ogundokun pleaded with Oba Ogunwusi, whom he described as an humble king with good family background and has been using his intellect, energy and resources on the unity and development of Yorubaland and Nigeria in general, to please swallow all the tirades hulled at his person and office by the Oluwo, which he described as mere ranting.
He said: “I plead with Kabiyesi, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, as a father and senior King to Oluwo to swallow all the falsehood and attacks being made against him by Oluwo on the social media, television and newspapers in the past one and a half year.”
Referring to the recent meeting of the National Traditional Rulers Council of Nigeria held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital, where the Oluwo alleged that Ooni of Ife security detail pushed him (Oluwo) out of the way for Ooni Ogunwusi to do vote of thanks for the gathering, Ogundokun advised that Oluwo should be cautioned for falsehood, attention seeking and made to tow the path of civility.
Ogundokun said Oluwo has for a long time developed the penchant for unwarranted attacks on Ooni of Ife.
He cited the instance of the crowning ceremony of Onikoyi of Ikoyi wherein Oluwo Akanbi accused Oba Ogunwusi of historical distortion and alleged that he has superior claims to the stool and crown to Ooni of Ife because he is a direct son of Luwo before he was scolded and stopped by Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111.
He added that Oluwo also have penchant for attacks on other traditional rulers too.
He said that it was this that made him (Oluwo) and his body guards intoxicated into destroying the properties of Oluwo Oke in Iwo, which led to litigation that would have sent him to imprisonment, but for his (Ogundoku) and other well meaning Nigerians intervention.
He also accused the Oluwo of launching verbal attacks on Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, as well as Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, at different times in the past.
He therefore warned Oluwo to learn how to be royal and disciplined at all times.
He said Oluwo should stop disgracing and downgrading the royal stool of Iwoland before the public as Iwo people are known to be courteous and hospitable people, saying: “Oluwo should not give Iwo people bad image any longer.”
