One of the elements that make up a news item is Oddity but the question remain, is there anything Odd about the Oluwo ?
For some time now, there have been different news that concerns the stool of the Oluwo of Iwo kingdom, particularly Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi Ilufemiloye Telu 1.
The Iwo Kingdom is located in Osun state Nigeria, the kingdom, whose ruler is titled “Oluwo of Iwo”, was established in the 14th century.
The Iwo people, like all other people of Yoruba tribe, are said to have formerly belonged to Ile-Ife from where they migrated sometime in the 14th century.
The earliest settlement was founded by Adekola Telu, son of the 16th Ooni of Ife, a female called Luwo Gbagida.
On the 9th of November 2015, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi Ilufemiloye Telu 1 from Molaasan Royal family, a subsection of Gbaase ruling house, was installed as the 16th Oluwo of Iwoland.
Oluwo
One of the events that brought the Monarch into the limelight aside the news about his installation was the misunderstanding between him and High Chief Abiola Ogundokun In the year 2017.
Before then, Chief Ogundokun, who was instrumental to the emergence of the monarch, stood solidly by him even when Oba Akanbi began to have a series of crises within and outside his domain.
Earlier, the monarch had commended and conferred Obanla of Iwo on Chief Ogundokun, stating that his immense and invaluable contributions to the growth of Iwo warranted his promotion.
Also, in a strange but quite innovative bid to get his people to embrace Yoruba culture, he decided to wear suits made in traditional aso oke and adopted the title of emperor in place of Oba.
There was a time he was accused of changing his traditional title from Oba to Emir of Iwo land but he later debunked the news.
Another reason Oluwo was in the news was when against the wishes of all adherents, shoved aside the Chief Imam and led prayers at Iwo Eid Prayer Ground.
This action drew the irk of many indigenes, who accused him of going beyond his boundary as a traditional ruler.
But in his defence, Oluwo, declared that as a traditional ruler, he also doubles as religious leader of Iwo and made a reference to how Islam religion was brought to Iwo, he said Oba Alahusa, an Oluwo, also led prayers in the early days of Islam in Iwo.
There was a time he had a running battle with Magistrate Olusola Aluko, who was then presiding over the matter involving him and another monarch, Oba Kadiri Adeoye, Oluwo of Iwooke.
Also, the monarch in a statement posted on his Instagram page announced on December 15, 2019 anounced that he divorced his Jamaican wife Chanel Chin adding that she should be addressed as ex-queen.
The monarch added that they separated due to irreconcilable personal differences.
However, Oluwo’s series of controversies seems to have neared the peak when Monarchs under the Iwo Traditional Council demanded his immediate suspension for allegedly assaulting the Agbowu of Ogbaagbaa, Oba Dikrullahi Akinropo.
The Oluwo allegedly physically attacked Oba Akinropo during a peace meeting called by the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 11, Bashir Makama, in Osogbo to settle a land dispute in Iwo.
The monarchs that signed the communiqué caling for the suspension of oluwo are Oba Dirkrullahi Akinropo, Agbowu of Ogbaagbaa, Oba Abibu Adetoyese, Olu of Ile-Ogbo, Oba Adekunle Oyelude, Olowu of Kuta, Oba Oyeleso Oyebamiji, Olupo of Oluponna, Oba Abioye Oyewale, Olubode of Bode-Osi, Oba Ismaila Gbadamosi, Ola of Ajagunlase.
Others are; Oba Abdul Kadiri Olatunji, Oluwo of Iwo-Oke, Oba Kaseem Orioye, Onigege of Igege, Oba Sikirulahi Ogunleye, Olowu of Ilemowu, Oba Tajudeen Adewale, Oloke of Obamoro, Oba Hafeez Adigun, Onikoyi of Ikoyi, Oba Asimiyu Sodiq, Ologburo of Ogburo, Oba Oye Alajide, Oloja of Agberire, Oba Alamu Oparonke, Onisara of Feesu and Oba Solomon Oyewo, Onifin of Ikonifin.
Meanwhile, the embattled Iwo monarch has described public outcry against him as an attempt to undermine his resolve to defend peasants in Iwoland and its environs.
When will the Oluwo stop making the news for the wrong reason ?
