The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, shared that he was asked to leave during a visit to the palace of the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi.
This revelation was shared in a viral video on TikTok on Sunday.
In his remarks, the Ooni of Ife stated, “During my visit to Oluwo, he treated me like a child and sent me away. Since that incident, I have kept my distance from him. Now that you (the attendees) are urging me to pay him another visit, what if he decides to act against me?”
He continued, “However, I must manage his behavior as an elder, despite being a young king among elders. Oluwo, I salute you.”
While Ogunwusi did not elaborate on any conflict with the Oluwo of Iwo in the video, it is known that Oluwo has expressed dissatisfaction with Ooni’s connections and activities with traditionalists, whom he refers to as ‘idol worshippers.’
In another clip, Akanbi, also known as Telu 1, urged the people of Iwo to reject traditional practices, cautioning that anyone participating in such practices should confine them to their homes.
“My role as a monarch is to advocate for God and spread His message alone, challenging those who worship anything other than Him. I don’t partake in Ogun or any idol festival. While I have previously celebrated the Egungun festival with worshippers, I will not do so again unless it is not termed idol worshipping. I do not endorse their practices, which is why such activities do not flourish here,” he stated.
He added, “Performing sacrifices in Iwo is prohibited. Anyone caught doing so will face consequences. It’s better to keep such practices within your household. We have implemented measures for environmental sanitation to eliminate such activities. What one needs for success is to confront idols and their followers. This alone will make you a soldier of God.”
Additionally, Oluwo clarified in a Facebook post on Monday that Iwo was once ruled by a traditional monarch, but that changed with the rise of Oba Memudu Ayinla Lamuye in 1800, who spread Islam throughout the town and converted its inhabitants.
He wrote, “Oba Ibirinade Abioye Adekanbi (Alawusa) introduced Islam in 1600. He removed idols and transformed a place of idol worship into the Oluwo Central Mosque, establishing the first mosque in Southwestern Nigeria. Later, in the late 1800s, another Oluwo, Oba Memudu Ayinla Lamuye, further promoted Islam, converting the entire Iwo population. Today, every household has a mosque, and every Iwo native carries a Muslim name, including recent converts from the missionary era.
“Oba Ibirinade Adekanbi was known as Alawusa due to his hospitality; he welcomed Malians, often referred to as Hausas, who settled in Iwo. The new Oluwo was traditionally enthroned with a beaded crown before 1600, but after that, the turbanning ceremony occurred first. Oba Muhammad Ayinla Lamuye ruled for 90 years, and exactly 100 years later, the current Oluwo was enthroned to continue the legacy of past rulers.”
It’s worth noting that in 2018, Akanbi alleged that Ogunwusi instructed his bodyguard to push him aside during a meeting of traditional rulers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Akanbi claimed the incident occurred at Hotel Presidential just as the Ooni was called to the podium to express his gratitude.
“The bodyguard of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, seemingly on an errand, pushed Oluwo during a public gathering of first-class paramount rulers at the Presidential Hotel in Port Harcourt,” Akanbi stated.
“Attendees were shocked by what they perceived as a disrespectful act towards a first-class paramount ruler.”
However, the Ooni refuted the accusation in a statement released by his director of public affairs, Moses Olafare, asserting that, “There was no altercation between Oluwo and anyone at that event whatsoever.”
