The Paramount Ruler of Iwo, Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has declared that he played major role towards ascension of Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, using his connections to facilitate the installation.
Penpushing reports that Oluwo made this known in a statement, emphasizing he did not stop at that, but equally went as far as intervening in a court case that threatened to derail Oguwusi aspirations
The monarch added that he received a call from Akin Daodu, an ally of the Ogunwusi, seeking his help towards getting him to the exalted throne, stressing that he had a prior connection with the Ogunwusi family, having lived near them in Akobo, Ibadan.
Penpushing also reports that the known flamboyant traditional ruler in the statement acknowledged a closer relationship with Ogunwusi’s brother, Tunji Ogunwusi.
“As a friend and peer, I’ve earlier called Tunji Ogunwusi, but he underrated me (O fi oju ana wo mi). Maybe because I’d sought his help before I got an authentic link, he refused to take me seriously’, Oluwo stated.
“We discussed, and he disclosed, almost all the stakeholders, including the Governor, have agreed, but there is litigation in court instituted by a few aggrieved people. He said his primary concern is court litigation. I asked him if that was all, and he said yes. I told him he was already a king’, he added.
“In his presence, I called the person in charge, and I told the person what I wanted. The case was decided on Friday, and Adeyeye became Ooni on Saturday. This was before my own enthronement. I was not selfish. I did his own before my own. And a few months later, God used the same link for me to become Oluwo of Iwoland’, he stated.
Penpushing reports that he claimed that he selflessly prioritised the Ooni’s interests but was met with betrayal and conspiracy, alleging that the Ooni was behind efforts to undermine his authority, including orchestrating his suspension from the Osun State Council of Obas and using other traditional rulers to destabilise his territory.
The Paramount ruler of Iwo in addition accused the Ooni of attacking him in the Governor’s presence, falsely alleging that he opposes deity worship, and equally claimed that Ooni played a role in using his former wife against him.
“The same person I helped to the throne has been planning evil against me. He wants me to be removed as Oluwo by all means. Such is a dream that can never come true. No one can remove me as Oluwo. No one can kill me, and no one can bring me down. He should keep trying. He will be the one to live to regret. His cohorts that have tried it in the past failed,” he said.
Penpushing further reports that Ooni while reacting dismissed Oluwo’s claim that he played a role in his enthronement, explaining that selecting an Ooni involves 16 kingmakers, oracle consultations, and government approval, making it impossible for any individual to determine the outcome.
The Ooni in a statement by his media aide Moses Olafare, however, challenged the Oluwo to identify who he contacted or what role he played, emphasising that the Ooni was destined for the throne long before his selection.
“Who was this ‘person in charge’? To become an Ooni, 16 kingmakers must sit down in their council. They will invite the head of the Ifa cult, who will come and consult the oracle for them’, he stated.
‘The same 16 lawmakers will forward whoever they have chosen to the governor, and the governor will announce the Ooni. So, which of these three did he consult?’, the statement emphasized
Penpushing also reports that Olafare declared that Oluwo’s action appeared to be a mere publicity stunt stressing that there was no obvious reason for the attack, just as Oluwo’s additional allegation of Ooni using other monarchs to destabilise his territory was dismissed.
The Ooni palace on Oluwo’s suspension from the Council of Traditional Rulers in Osun State, explained that it was because of his misconduct, specifically physically attacking another traditional ruler.
Penpushing reports that Olafare stated the incident was captured on video, investigated by the council, and led to a justified suspension, adding that Ooni holds no grudge against Oluwo and has not engaged in conflict with him.
The palace spokesperson added that the duo were recently seen together at an event with the Governor, stating that Ooni remained focused on his traditional responsibility and businessman leaving no room for distractions or unnecessary confrontations.
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