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 significant factor within the Osun State Government’s determination to warning the latter over alleged inflammatory remarks, Saturday PUNCH has gathered.

Our correspondent learnt that the federal government feared Oluwo’s remarks towards conventional worshippers, significantly the Ooni, might provoke assaults and reprisals between indigenes of Iwo and Ile-Ife.

A particular adviser to Governor Ademola Adeleke, who spoke with Saturday PUNCH on situation of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, stated the federal government took the precautionary measure to forestall a breakdown of legislation and order, stressing that it had nothing towards the Oluwo.

READ ALSO:

I Woke Up To N100m Alert After APC Campaign – Portable

Prophet Arraigned For Filming Toluwanisings’ Corpse At Morgue

Money Laundering: Court Orders Maina’s Son To Serve Seven-Year Prison Term

Nigeria Defeat Japan 2-1 To Win U-17 Women’s World Cup

Meanwhile, our correspondent gathered that some authorities officers and stakeholders in Iwo had been making efforts to de-escalate the strain generated by the letter.

In a letter with reference quantity CD.17/1/VOL.VIII/377, the federal government accused the Oluwo of partaking in actions able to heightening communal stress.

It said, “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 federal government directed the monarch to cease attacking adherents of different faiths, chorus from attacking fellow conventional rulers and work in the direction of preserving the tradition and traditions represented by his throne.

Responding to enquiries from Saturday PUNCH, the governor’s aide stated, “Oluwo has been essential of conventional worshippers, and we all know that he has a problem with the Ooni of Ife. Sometimes, Oluwo’s utterances is likely to be seen as directed on 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 additionally disclosed that the federal government had initially thought of issuing a proper question to the Oluwo however later opted for a extra conciliatory strategy.

He added, “We don’t have any plan to dethrone Oluwo however solely 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 supply additional disclosed that some stakeholders had been making efforts to reconcile the Ooni and the Oluwo.

Similarly, the National President of Jama’at Ta’awunil Muslimeen, Daood Molaasan, stated the Oluwo’s opposition to idolatry had not gone down effectively with some conventional rulers, significantly towards the backdrop of his disagreement with the Ooni.

He described the rift between the 2 monarchs as deep-rooted, including that among the points surrounding their relationship had contributed to the present controversy.

Molaasan, nonetheless, stated efforts had been underway to de-escalate the strain and resolve the disagreement between the monarchs.

He additionally disclosed {that a} outstanding member of Adeleke’s cupboard, who hails from Iwo, had met together with his group and appealed for the withdrawal of its lawsuit towards the governor and the state authorities over the warning letter.

An arm of the organisation, Tawunu Human Rights Initiative, had filed swimsuit FHC/OS/CS/205/2026 on the Federal High Court in Osogbo towards Adeleke and the state authorities over the letter.

Molaasan stated the assembly was held on Monday evening in Iwo after the governor reportedly contacted the cupboard member to intervene.

He stated, “We had been referred to as to a gathering convened by a authorities official who can also be an Iwo indigene. He is a outstanding member of Adeleke’s cupboard. We met on Monday evening in Iwo. He instructed us the governor referred to as him, and he promised the governor that he would attraction to us.

“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, stated the federal government didn’t seek the advice of the palace earlier than issuing the letter, though the Ooni was copied in his capability because the Permanent Chairman of the Osun State Traditional Council.

Adetoyese stated, “Ooni shouldn’t be dragged into the matter. The foundation for the warning is said within the letter. The authorities didn’t seek the advice of the Ooni’s palace earlier than writing or issuing the letter. The authorities took the choice unilaterally, primarily based on its understanding that the stated monarch was making statements that might trigger a disaster.

“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, stated the federal government stood by the contents of the letter.

He stated, “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 remark when contacted.

Speaking on Monday on the Odun Olodumare pageant in Iwo, Oba Akanbi stated he was not against conventional values and tradition, insisting that he would proceed to advertise Yoruba tradition.

He additionally urged the federal government to seek the advice of conventional rulers earlier than issuing letters to them, saying such consultations would permit monarchs to make clear points referring to tradition and custom.

He stated, “I’m not towards conventional values and tradition. I’ll proceed to advertise Yoruba tradition. I need to urge the federal government to seek the advice of or ask monarchs earlier than writing any letter, so I can clarify what tradition and custom 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, one other member of Adeleke’s cupboard stated the Oluwo was already heeding the federal government’s warning.

The official, who spoke with Saturday PUNCH on situation of anonymity as a result of he was not authorised to touch upon the matter, stated the federal government merely needed the monarch to desist from making remarks towards different religions.

He stated the Oluwo’s composure and utterances on the Odun Olodumare pageant indicated that the monarch had heeded the recommendation.

PUNCH