The Osun State Government has placed Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwoland, under official watch. In a strongly worded letter, officials accused the monarch of making remarks that could trigger religious and inter-town conflicts. Consequently, the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs will now monitor his conduct.
The letter carries the reference number CD.17/1/VOL.VIII/377. It bears the title “Cautionary Notes on Inflammatory Rhetorics Capable of Creating Religious and Inter-Town Conflicts.” Wale Alliyu signed it on behalf of the Permanent Secretary. The palace received the letter on Tuesday. Furthermore, the government sent a copy to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who chairs the State Council of Obas.
The government began with a stern assessment. It said it had observed “with worries and anxieties” several well-publicised statements from the monarch. Moreover, it said the persistence of such conduct has reached a level the administration cannot ignore any longer.
The letter also leaned heavily on the Constitution. It reminded Oba Akanbi that every citizen enjoys the right to freedom of religious association. In addition, it said a traditional ruler must respect the beliefs of his constituents. The government therefore warned him against “serial attacks on people of other faiths.” It insisted that he must not foment religious crisis.
Furthermore, officials linked the warning to the monarch’s cultural duty. They said the traditional stool should not incite religious war. Likewise, they said its occupants should not erode the values of the society they lead. The letter added that pursuing a reform with the potential to spark violence is something “no responsible administration will tolerate.”
The government then listed six directives. First, Oba Akanbi must stop any further attacks on people of other faiths forthwith. Second, he must refrain from attacking fellow traditional rulers. Third, he must work to preserve the culture and tradition his stool represents. Fourth, he must follow the Chieftaincy Laws and the resolutions of the State Council of Obas. Finally, the ministry will monitor his compliance, and the Council of Obas must watch and act on recent developments in Iwoland.
The letter did not name the statements that prompted the warning. However, the monarch has courted attention before. On July 1, he shared a video in which he described traditional rites and seclusion for new monarchs as a path to idolatry. Then, in October, he questioned the significance that people attach to Yoruba crowns. Over the years, he has also urged kings to move deities out of their palaces and into shrines or museums.
The palace has not yet answered the charges in detail. Alli Ibraheem, the Oluwo’s spokesman, confirmed on Thursday that the monarch had received the letter. He added that the monarch would respond.
The episode now tests the balance between religious freedom and the preservation of tradition. Meanwhile, observers will watch how the Ooni and the Council of Obas react. Ultimately, the next steps from both the palace and the government will show whether this warning calms tensions or deepens them.
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