The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has accused the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, of working to remove him from his position.
In a statement released in Osogbo, Osun State, Oluwo asserted that despite playing a significant role in the Ooni’s ascension, the Ooni is now attempting to undermine him.
Oluwo’s Allegations
Addressing the issue, the Oluwo dismissed any possibility of being dethroned.
“No one has the power to remove me. No one can bring me down or harm me. The same divine force that helped me support the Ooni’s rise continues to protect me,” he stated.
He expressed his disappointment, alleging that the Ooni had turned against him despite the support he once provided.
“I was instrumental in ensuring Oba Ogunwusi became the Ooni of Ife. However, he has since worked against me, orchestrating my suspension from the Osun State Council of Obas and influencing certain rulers in Iwoland to create instability,” he claimed.
Additionally, Oluwo accused the Ooni of publicly criticizing him in the presence of the state governor for his stance against deity worship. He also alleged that the Ooni was involved in efforts to use his former wife against him.
“He can keep trying to remove me, but he will not succeed. Many have attempted before and failed, and he will face the same outcome,” he added.
Oluwo’s Role in the Ooni’s Ascension
Oluwo recounted how he supported Oba Ogunwusi’s journey to the throne, revealing that he initially considered backing the Ooni’s elder brother, Tunji Ogunwusi, a close friend. However, he ultimately decided to support Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
“In 2015, I received a call from Akin Daodu, a close associate of Prince Adeyeye Ogunwusi, informing me that the prince sought my support for his aspiration to the Ooni’s throne. At that time, I was not aware of the final selection process,” he explained.
Oluwo noted that he had a stronger connection with Tunji Ogunwusi and initially reached out to him for assistance, but he felt that Tunji dismissed him.
“Since Tunji did not take me seriously, I decided to support Adeyeye instead. We met at Base Hotel in Ibadan, where he shared concerns about a court case that could hinder his candidacy. I reassured him that he was already on the path to kingship,” Oluwo recounted.
According to him, he then reached out to the necessary contacts, and by Friday, the legal matter was resolved, allowing Oba Ogunwusi to be officially declared Ooni the next day.
“I was selfless—I helped him before securing my own kingship. A few months later, the same connection helped me become the Oluwo of Iwoland. Yet, the person I supported is now trying to work against me,” he lamented.
Ooni’s Response
In response to the accusations, the Ooni of Ife’s Director of Media, Otunba Moses Olafare, dismissed the claims and urged the public to disregard them.
“Oba Adeyeye was destined to be king, regardless of who claims to have played a role. His reign is divinely ordained,” Olafare stated.
He also emphasized that the Ooni had actually supported Oluwo in his own kingship journey.
“When Oluwo was seeking to become king, Ooni provided financial assistance and other support. At the last Council of Obas meeting, Ooni merely advised him to respect other monarchs’ choices regarding traditional beliefs and not criticize those who practice deity worship,” Olafare explained.
