The Oluwo of Iwoland in Osun State, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has levelled allegation of plotting his downfall against Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
Oluwo threw this accusation in a viral video of him in which he claimed he helped Ogunwusi to become Ooni, saying the latter is now repaying his good deeds with evil.
In the video, Oba Akanbi narrated that the elder brother of Ogunwusi, Tunji Adeyeye, who was his friend at Akobo, Ibadan at a tender age, would have gained his support and emerged as the king, but he underrated him.
He went on to say that the deal to make Ogunwusi king was perfected at a hotel in Ibadan following Ogunwusi’s friend, Akin Famodun’s intervention.
“In 2015, I got a call from Akin Daodu, a close ally to 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 on his aspiration to the throne of Ooni of Ife.
“I told Akin Daodu that I was not aware they have chosen an Ooni-designate. I acknowledged my affinity with the family because we stayed around the same place at Akobo, Ibadan before I travelled. I know him then but I’m closer to his brother, Tunji Ogunwusi, who was my peer then. Both Tunji Ogunwusi, popularly called Dodo and myself were about eight years older than him.
“As a friend and peer, I’ve earlier called Tunji Ogunwusi, but he underrated me (O fi oju ana wo mi). Maybe because I sought his help before I got an authentic link, he refused to take me seriously.
“When he was on the phone, he begged to see me face to face for in-depth discussion. I said he couldn’t travel to Osogbo where I stayed then because of the fragile security. I travelled to Base I hotel, Ibadan to meet him. We discussed and he disclosed that almost all the stakeholders, including the governor, had agreed, but there was litigation in court instituted by a few aggrieved people. He said his primary concern was the court litigation. I asked him if that is all, he said yes. I told him he is already a king.
“In his presence, I called the person in charge and I told the person 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 did his own before my own. And a few months later, God used the same link for me to become Oluwo of Iwoland,” Oluwo said.
He, however, expressed surprise that Ooni had been plotting to remove him, inciting some traditional rulers against him.
He said: “To my surprise, the same person I helped to 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, that I’m discouraging deity worshipping. He was part of those who used my former wife against me. He wants me to be removed as Oluwo by all means. Such is a dream that can never come through. No one can remove me as Oluwo. No one can kill me and no one can bring me down, unless I’m not involved in the process that helped your emergence as Ooni (Adabi ti ki baase emi ni mo ran e lowo to fi di Ooni).
“He should keep trying. He will be the one to live to regret. His cohorts that have tried it in the past failed,” Oluwo said.
But the spokesperson to the Ooni, Moses Olafare, described the claim of Oluwo as reckless and unguarded, saying that Ooni has been prophesised to become king from the womb of his mother.
He explained that Oluwo had an issue with a fellow king that necessitated his suspension from the council of Obas and he should not blame Ooni for his woes.
