A fierce battle is brewing between the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, over alleged attempts to remove the Oluwo from his throne.
In a strongly worded statement on Friday, March 21st, Oluwo accused Ooni of orchestrating his downfall despite playing a major role in his ascension to the Ife throne. He claimed to have been instrumental in Oba Ogunwusi’s emergence and alleged that the Ooni was now using his influence to undermine him.
“To my surprise, the same person I helped to the throne has been planning evil against me,” Oluwo said, accusing the Ife monarch of using certain kings in Iwoland to destabilize his reign. He further alleged that Ooni played a role in his suspension from the Osun State Council of Obas and even in his past marital troubles.
However, the Ooni, through his media director, Otunba Moses Olafare, denied the accusations, stating that Oba Ogunwusi has no interest in removing Oluwo. “Ooni supported Oluwo financially and otherwise during his own ascension. He has no reason to wish him harm,” Olafare said.
The deepening feud between the two influential monarchs has raised concerns over unity among traditional rulers in Osun State.
