How Ooni-Oluwo feud triggered Osun’s warning letter
How Ooni-Oluwo feud triggered Osun’s warning letter
The rift between the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, was a major factor in the Osun State Government’s decision to caution the latter over alleged inflammatory remarks, Saturday PUNCH has gathered.
Our correspondent learnt that the government feared Oluwo’s remarks against traditional worshippers, particularly the Ooni, could provoke attacks and reprisals between indigenes of Iwo and Ile-Ife.
A special adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke, who spoke with Saturday PUNCH on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said the government took the precautionary measure to prevent a breakdown of law and order, stressing that it had nothing against the Oluwo.
Meanwhile, our correspondent gathered that some government officials and stakeholders in Iwo were making efforts to de-escalate the tension generated by the letter.
In a letter with reference number CD.17/1/VOL.VIII/377, the government accused the Oluwo of engaging in activities capable of heightening communal tension.
It stated, “Your activities are raising communal tension, sowing seeds of communal and religious discord and increasingly discrediting the traditional values of your people and Yoruba society, of which your domain is a major part. These developments constitute serious threats to the peace, unity and stability of Osun State and your immediate domain.”
Consequently, the government directed the monarch to stop attacking adherents of other faiths, refrain from attacking fellow traditional rulers and work towards preserving the culture and traditions represented by his throne.
Responding to enquiries from Saturday PUNCH, the governor’s aide said, “Oluwo has been critical of traditional worshippers, and we know that he has an issue with the Ooni of Ife. Sometimes, Oluwo’s utterances might be seen as directed at the Ooni of Ife.
“Imagine, for example, if Iwo indigenes in Ife were attacked because of Oluwo’s utterances. What do you think will happen? A retaliation by Iwo indigenes against Ife people is possible, and that will result in a communal crisis. It is getting to that level, but we will not allow it to happen. That is why the government issued the cautionary letter, trying to prevent any crisis.”
The aide also disclosed that the government had initially considered issuing a formal query to the Oluwo but later opted for a more conciliatory approach.
He added, “We have no plan to dethrone Oluwo but only cautioned him.
“If the government wanted to punish Oluwo, he would have been given a query, then he would have to defend himself, after which a panel would review his defence. If the panel rejected his defence, then he is in trouble. But what we did was to give him a cautionary letter because we believe he will heed the advice.”
The source further disclosed that some stakeholders were making efforts to reconcile the Ooni and the Oluwo.
Similarly, the National President of Jama’at Ta’awunil Muslimeen, Daood Molaasan, said the Oluwo’s opposition to idolatry had not gone down well with some traditional rulers, particularly against the backdrop of his disagreement with the Ooni.
He described the rift between the two monarchs as deep-rooted, adding that some of the issues surrounding their relationship had contributed to the current controversy.
Molaasan, however, said efforts were underway to de-escalate the tension and resolve the disagreement between the monarchs.
He also disclosed that a prominent member of Adeleke’s cabinet, who hails from Iwo, had met with his group and appealed for the withdrawal of its lawsuit against the governor and the state government over the warning letter.
An arm of the organisation, Tawunu Human Rights Initiative, had filed suit FHC/OS/CS/205/2026 at the Federal High Court in Osogbo against Adeleke and the state government over the letter.
Molaasan said the meeting was held on Monday night in Iwo after the governor reportedly contacted the cabinet member to intervene.
He said, “We were called to a meeting convened by a government official who is also an Iwo indigene. He is a prominent member of Adeleke’s cabinet. We met on Monday night in Iwo. He told us the governor called him, and he promised the governor that he would appeal to us.
Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi
“So, they requested that we should discontinue the litigation against the state government over the letter written to Oluwo. Based on that, we have advised the legal team to stay action on the suit.”
However, the Private Secretary to the Ooni, Yusuf Adetoyese, said the government did not consult the palace before issuing the letter, although the Ooni was copied in his capacity as the Permanent Chairman of the Osun State Traditional Council.
Adetoyese said, “Ooni should not be dragged into the matter. The basis for the warning is stated in the letter. The government did not consult the Ooni’s palace before writing or issuing the letter. The government took the decision unilaterally, based on its understanding that the said monarch was making statements that could cause a crisis.
“The palace was officially copied the letter in its capacity as the Permanent Chairman of the Osun State Traditional Council. We were not aware of the letter until when the palace received its copy.”
Speaking with Saturday PUNCH, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dosu Babatunde, said the government stood by the contents of the letter.
He said, “The letter speaks for itself. It is not because of any grudge against anybody. Nigeria is a secular state, and every citizen has the right to choose the religion he or she likes. So, you don’t have to be speaking against people of other religions. We stand by the content of the letter.”
The Oluwo’s Press Secretary, Ibrahim Alli, declined to comment when contacted.
Speaking on Monday at the Odun Olodumare festival in Iwo, Oba Akanbi said he was not opposed to traditional values and culture, insisting that he would continue to promote Yoruba culture.
He also urged the government to consult traditional rulers before issuing letters to them, saying such consultations would allow monarchs to clarify issues relating to culture and tradition.
He said, “I am not against traditional values and culture. I will continue to promote Yoruba culture. I want to urge the government to consult or ask monarchs before writing any letter, so I can explain what culture and tradition is.
“I am not a religious ruler, nor a cultural ruler. I am a king. I am not an enemy of the governor, and he is not against me as well. It is only some bad individuals who want to cause disaffection between us.”
Meanwhile, another member of Adeleke’s cabinet said the Oluwo was already heeding the government’s caution.
The official, who spoke with Saturday PUNCH on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to comment on the matter, said the government merely wanted the monarch to desist from making remarks against other religions.
He said the Oluwo’s composure and utterances at the Odun Olodumare festival indicated that the monarch had heeded the advice.
