An elder statesman in Osun state, High Chief Abiola Ogundokun, has condemned what he called “incessant attacks” on the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Ogunwusi by the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi.
In a press statement by Chief Ogundokun and made available to journalists in Osogbo, Saturday, Ogundokun called on well meaning Nigerians, elders and leaders in Yoruba land, to call Oluwo to order in order to stop his “incessant attacks and disparaging the exalted seat of the highly revered monarch of the source.”
He said it was unbecoming of a traditional ruler of Oluwo’s status to disparage and launch incessant verbal attacks on the Ooni of Ife in various media including the internet, television and newspapers, saying: “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 to continue to push his energy and resources on the unity and development of Yoruba by swallowing the tirades hulled at his person and office by Oluwo.
“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 years,” he said.
Referring to the recent meeting of the National Traditional Rulers Council of Nigeria (NTRCN) held in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital, where Oluwo alleged that Ooni of Ife’s security detail pushed him (Oluwo) out of the way for Ooni Ogunwusi to give a vote of thanks at the gathering, Ogundokun advised that Oluwo should be cautioned over falsehood and attention seeking, and be made to tow the path of civility.
Ogundokun said that 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 III.
He also accused Oluwo of launching verbal attacks on Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi as well as Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji at different times in the past.
He therefore warned Oluwo to learn how to be royal and disciplined at all times. He said, Oluwo should stop disgracing and downgrading the royal stool of Iwo land before the public as Iwo people are known to be courteous and hospitable people, saying, Oluwo should not give Iwo people bad image any longer.
