Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, who is the traditional ruler of Iwo kingdom in Osun state, has denied that he was suspended for six months by the state’s traditional rulers’ council.
The Witness had reported earlier that the traditional ruler of Iwo kingdom in Osun state was suspended for claims of dragging the council’s name into disrepute.
It was gathered that the state council at its emergency meeting held at the Finance Building at the State Secretariat on Friday, February 21, banned the Oluwo from attending its meetings and also constituted a committee headed by Orangun of Ila, Oba Wahab Adedotun to further investigate the matter.
Oba Wahab Adedotun, the Orangun of Ila, in his address to reporters after the meeting, said the decision was not taken as a result of the alleged fight between the Oluwo and Agbowu but due to his conduct to other traditional rulers in Yorubaland, including the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Alake of Egbaland and the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
The Oluwo was alleged to have punched a fellow monarch, the Agbowu of Ogbaagbaa, Oba Dhikurulahi Akinropo during a peace meeting at the instance of the Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone XI, Bashir Makama at his office in the state on the dispute between the monarch and members of Iwo traditional rulers council.
Reacting to the report of his suspension, the Oluwo said it is unprofessional of the respected Osun State traditional council meeting to make such pronouncement without the approval of the state government.
Oba Akanbi said the argument for the suspension was out of context, saying the reason the emergency meeting was summoned by the council was not addressed and that he was surprised to note that his purported suspension for his conduct against certain traditional rulers is strange to the traditional institution book of history and will never stand.
The statement reads as thus; “I was never suspended. The suspension reported by the media is just from the monthly Osun State Traditional Council meeting which is subject to the approval of the state government.
“It is sad to note that Osun State traditional council could be so political. They said I was rude to Alake, Ooni and Alaafin. And the same Ooni presided over the same meeting that purportedly pronounced my suspension from the Osun State traditional council meeting.
“If this should stand, many monarchs will not be encouraged to regard the council. It is just an audio pronouncement and an insult to the state government without consultation by the council
“We were invited to address the allegation that I punched another Oba. The AIG and the government officials presence came to the meeting as witnesses and gave account that I didn’t beat any Oba.
“Maybe because the truth from the witnesses didn’t go with their expectation, they hatched unfounded excuse to make an audio suspension”
“It is pure political and there are many things attached but we keep mute to see how far this will stand,” the statement added.