•Akanbi: Ooni Orchestrated My Suspension
*Allegations Baseless, Says Ogunwusi’s Aide
THE Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, has accused the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, of plotting his downfall after he (Oluwo) helped him (Ooni) to mount the throne, alleging the Ooni orchestrated his suspension from the Osun State Council of Obas a few years ago.
In a now viral video, Akanbi recalled that he influenced Ogunwusi’s emergence as the Ooni in 2015, lamenting that Ogunwusi had been championing his removal.
However, Ooni has dismissed Oluwo’s allegation, saying he would not react, as “it was not the first time Oba Akanbi would be making such a statement.”
Oluwo claimed that he helped Oba Ogunwusi settled a court case that would have stalled his appointment and installation as the Ooni after Ogunwusi’s ally, Akin Daodu, had linked them up, explaining that he would have supported the Ooni’s elder brother, Tunji Ogunwusi, but didn’t because the latter underrated him.
“In 2015, I got a call from Akin Daodu, a close ally of the then Prince Adeyeye Ogunwusi, now Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi. He told me Prince Adeyeye was on the phone, that he needed to talk and seek my help regarding his aspiration to the throne of Ooni of Ife.
“I knew him then, but I was closer to his brother, Tunji Ogunwusi, who was my peer. Tunji Ogunwusi, popularly called Dodo, and I were about eight years older than the Ooni.
“As a friend and peer, I had earlier called Tunji Ogunwusi to help him ascend the throne, but he underrated me and refused to take me seriously.
“We discussed and he (Prince Adeyeye Ogunwusi at the time) disclosed that almost all the stakeholders, including Governor Rauf Aregbesola, had agreed to his appointment, but there was a court case instituted by a few aggrieved individuals against him.
“He said his primary concern was the litigation. I asked him if that was all, and he said yes. I told him he was already a king.
“In his presence, I called the person in charge and told them what I wanted. The case was decided on Friday, and Adeyeye became Ooni on Saturday.
“This was before my own enthronement. I was not selfish; I secured his own before mine. And a few months later, God used the same link for me to become the Oluwo of Iwoland.”
He added: “To my surprise, the same person I helped ascend the throne has been planning evil against me. He orchestrated my suspension from the Osun State Council of Obas meeting.
“He is using a few kings in Iwoland to destabilise my territory. He attacked me last month in the presence of the governor, saying that I am discouraging idol worship. He was part of those who used my former wife against me.
“He wants me to be removed as Oluwo by all means. Such a dream can never come true. No one can remove me as Oluwo. No one can kill me and no one can bring me down, except if I didn’t help him become the Ooni.”
But Director of Media at the Ooni’s palace, Chief Moses Olafare, dis,issed Oluwo’s statement, saying it didn’t deserve any reaction: “This is not the first time Baba Oluwo will make comments like that. We never reacted, and we won’t react. Let him say whatever he wants. That is what he is busy doing. Everybody has something they are busy with.
“That is what Baba Oluwo is busy doing. Ooni is busy with developmental projects, so he is occupied and doesn’t have time to respond to someone looking for attention. We don’t have time for that.
“Whatever Baba Oluwo likes, let him say. We are not interested.
“Oba Adeyeye has been ordained as a king from heaven, regardless of who does what. He is a king with God on his side.
“When Oluwo wanted to be the king, Ooni supported him with cash and other logistics that we can’t even mention here.
“At the last Council of Oba meeting, Ooni only jokingly told Oluwo that he should not condemn any monarch for worshipping deities, but should allow anyone to practice anything that they feel is good for them.”
