Iwo Prince flays monarch, says Emir, Waziri, alien to Iwoland

A Prince in Iwo, Osun State, Alhaji Oladimeji Semiu Fanta, has described the recent title adopted by the controversial monarch of the town, Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdurRasheed Adewale Akanbi, as “alien” to the town.
He attributed the attitudes of Oba Akanbi to his refusal to observe the 90 days seclusion and traditional wearing of crown.
Speaking with newsmen in Iwo on Thursday, Fanta, who is the Secretary of Adagunodo ruling house, said the intervention of government in the selection of monarchs is causing problem, insisting that the problem would persist until government allow people to choose their monarch in line with their tradition.
He threatened to sue Oba Akanbi if he refuse to change his behaviour and start behaving like a Yoruba monarch.
“Iwo was not founded with religion. If a town should adopt a religious name, it should be Kuta and Ile-Ogbo that have accepted Islam before us.
“It is not in the history of Iwo to wear crown for princess. Whoever wants to become monarch in Iwo must have lived in the town for 10 years to enable him acquaint with the tradition. A monarch must spend 90 days in ipebi (seclusion) before wearing crown.
“The present monarch lacks all these. He spent 16 days in seclusion. He didn’t follow due process in wearing cap. Agoro should put crown on the monarch after he had prostrated for the people three times in the public, but Oba Akanbi did not allow these.
He noted that Alaafin of Oyo has the right to install and remove monarch in Iwo as it happened during the reign of Oba Shittu Kate.
He said Oba Kate became monarch in Iwo without the approval of Alaafin and he was ordered to remove his mat and leave the throne. “Alaafin later installed another person”.
Speaking on the Islamic-head gears (lawani) being used by Oluwo, Fanta said the head gears was to cover the head of monarch after cutting his hairs before proceeding to Alaafin to collect crown, saying “this is because nobody must see the head of the monarch again.
He described Oba Akanbi as someone who doesn’t listen to people’s advice, noting “I met him for three hours on the issue between him and Oluwo-Oke and Chief Abiola Ogundokun. I advised him not to confront people with his personality. He should allow us to handle it, but he refused.
“I have now written to the elders three times, to caution him that he should stop internal threatening of people, he should drop all the alien titles, he should present the stool in a rightful manner.
“Waziri is not a traditional title and monarch should not interfere in the affairs of leagues of Imams and Alfas. The installation of Waziri is alien to Iwoland.
“If he fail to change, I would sue him and I won’t listen to anybody immediately I file the suit. Oba is superior to Emir. Iwo has no right to bear the title ‘Emir’. We are not Emir in Iwo.
He warned religious leaders, both Muslims and Christians, to stop misleading Oba Akanbi, advising them to caution him from “misbehaving”.

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