The Osun State Government has placed the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, under close watch over alleged inflammatory comments capable of sparking religious crises and clashes between communities.
The government also ordered the monarch to stop making statements attacking people of other religious beliefs and fellow traditional rulers, warning that his conduct could threaten peace and unity in the state.
The warning was contained in a letter issued by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, dated November 2026 and signed by Wale Alliyu on behalf of the Permanent Secretary.
A copy was also forwarded to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who chairs the Osun State Council of Obas.
In the letter, the government accused the Oluwo of making public pronouncements that could fuel religious hostility, communal divisions and confrontation between traditional institutions.
It said the situation had become too serious to ignore, warning that the monarch’s alleged activities were creating tension, promoting religious discord and bringing Yoruba traditional values into disrepute.
The government reminded Oba Akanbi that every Nigerian has a constitutional right to practise a religion of their choice, stressing that his position as a traditional ruler demands respect for the rights and beliefs of all members of his community.
It further warned that the traditional institution should be used to protect the cultural heritage of the people, not pursue reforms capable of triggering violence and division.
Among the directives issued, the government told the Oluwo to immediately stop attacks on people of other faiths and refrain from making provocative statements against fellow monarchs.
It also directed him to respect the provisions of the state’s chieftaincy laws and resolutions of the Council of Obas.
In what appeared to be a move to ensure compliance, the ministry said it would monitor the monarch’s activities, while the State Council of Obas was also instructed to keep a close watch on developments in Iwoland.
Although the government did not identify the specific statements that triggered its intervention, Oba Akanbi has repeatedly criticised some Yoruba traditional practices and accused other monarchs of engaging in idolatry.
In a video shared on his Facebook page on July 1, the Oluwo condemned traditional rites and seclusion ceremonies performed for newly installed monarchs, describing them as practices capable of subjecting royal fathers to enslavement and drawing them into idolatry.
He also stirred controversy on October 10 when he questioned the idea of ancient crowns, arguing that crowns derived their significance from the monarchs who wore them.
The latest warning places the Oluwo under government scrutiny amid growing concerns over the potential fallout of his public comments on religious tolerance and relations among traditional rulers in Osun State.
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