The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has recounted an incident where he was allegedly chased out by the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, during a visit to his palace.
The Ooni made the revelation in a video that recently gained traction on TikTok.
Speaking in the video, the Ooni reflected on the encounter, saying, “When I visited the Oluwo, he chased me out like a child. Since that incident, I have kept my distance from him. Now, people are asking me to visit him again, but what if he does as he pleases? However, as an elder, I must tolerate his excesses, though I am young sitting on the throne of elders.”
Although the Ooni did not directly address any ongoing dispute between himself and the Oluwo, it has been suggested that tensions may stem from their differing views on traditional practices.
The Oluwo has been outspoken about his opposition to traditional worship, which he describes as idol worship, while the Ooni has maintained relationships with traditionalists.
In a separate video, Oba Akanbi, also known as Telu 1, urged the people of Iwo to reject traditional practices, warning that those who continue to engage in them should do so privately.
“My duty as a monarch is to stand for God and speak about Him alone,” he said. “I don’t celebrate Ogun or any idol festivals. Though I once celebrated the Egungun festival with worshippers, I will not do so again. I do not support their activities.”
Oluwo Akanbi further emphasized his stance in a Facebook post, where he detailed the history of Iwo’s transition to an Islamic community. He explained that the town ceased practicing traditional worship in the 1800s following the reign of Oba Memudu Ayinla Lamuye, who converted the people of Iwo to Islam.
Akanbi stated, “Oba Ibirinade Abioye Adekanbi (Alawusa) brought Islam to Iwo in 1600, converting places of worship for deities into mosques. Oba Memudu Ayinla Lamuye later spread Islam and ensured that every compound in Iwo has a mosque.”
This is not the first time the Ooni and Oluwo have been involved in public controversy. In 2018, Oba Akanbi alleged that Ooni Ogunwusi’s bodyguard pushed him during a meeting of traditional rulers in Port Harcourt.
Akanbi described the incident as disrespectful, stating, “The bodyguard of the Ooni pushed me during a public gathering of first-class rulers.” However, the Ooni’s palace denied the claim, calling it untrue and stating, “There was no altercation between Oluwo and anyone at the event.”
The differences in their approaches to leadership, particularly regarding traditional practices, continue to fuel discussions around the role of monarchs in contemporary Nigerian society.
