Oluwatosin Enesi
Princes from royal families in Iwo, Osun State, have publicly rejected an attempt by the town’s traditional ruler, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, to adopt the title “Alaafin of Iwo,” warning that such a move distorts historical traditions and threatens the cultural identity of the ancient town.
The royal families, under the leadership of Prince Adedoja Osunwo and supported by 41 Mogajis and representatives of three royal lineages, made their position known during a press briefing in Iwo on Sunday.
Their protest follows a recent statement by Oba Akanbi during a visit by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Owoade, to the Iwo palace on June 3, where the Oluwo declared his intention to be addressed as “Alaafin of Iwo,” with plans to officially inform the government.
“We are completely against this. The title of every Yoruba monarch carries centuries of history and meaning,” Prince Osunwo stated. “If Oba Akanbi wants to be called Alaafin, he should leave Iwo and go somewhere else. Oluwo is the rightful and historical title for Iwo’s king.”
The prince accused the monarch of repeatedly adopting controversial titles in the past, including “Emperor” and “Emir,” without consultation or consent from the ruling houses.
“What unites us in Iwo is the title ‘Oluwo.’ There are 46 ruling houses here. How can one individual change a title passed down by our ancestors?”
The princes also raised concerns about the alleged commercialization of chieftaincy titles, accusing Oba Akanbi of demanding N5 million for traditional titles meant for royal family members.
According to Prince Osunwo, repeated efforts by the families and community leaders to discuss the matter with the Oluwo were rebuffed.
“We met with him multiple times. On our fifth visit, he told us never to return to the palace. If we can’t speak to our king, where else should we go?” he lamented.
He also called on Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, to intervene and prevent a potential breakdown of tradition and unity in Iwo.
“We’ve reported this to the Muslim and Christian communities, the Iwo Board of Trustees, and the Iwo Council of Obas. If nothing changes, we won’t hesitate to take legal action.”
Prince Osunwo expressed concern that Oba Akanbi’s controversial remarks and actions have subjected the town to ridicule on social media, damaging Iwo’s reputation.
When contacted for comment, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi declined to respond to the allegations. His media aide, Alli Ibrahim, stated via telephone that the monarch had “no comment on the issues.”
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