Attack On Ooni Of Ife: Iwo Chief Tackles Oluwo
The Obanla of Iwoland, High Chief Abiola Ogundokun, has condemned incessant attacks on Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi by the Oluwo of Iwo kingdom, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi.
In a statement, he made available to journalists in Osogbo, Ogundokun called on notable elders and leaders in Yorubaland to call the Oluwo to order to stop his incessant attacks and disparaging the exalted seat of the highly-revered Ife monarch.
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 the various media, adding that this is not in concert with Yoruba tradition and customs.
Ogundokun pleaded with Oba Ogunwusi, whom he described as a 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 has penchant for attacks on other traditional rulers too.
