THE Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers, on Friday, suspended the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, for six months.
It hinged the suspension on what it called outstanding issues of misconduct by the Oluwo against the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi; the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo; the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and the Oluwo of Iwo Oke, Oba Abdulkadir Olatule.
The council stated that it could not afford to fold its arms and watch the Oluwo drag the traditional institution in the mud with his alleged indecorous behaviours.
The meeting, which was presided over by the Ooni, Oba Ogunwusi, became tense when the Oluwo began to interject into the proceedings.
Oba Ogunwusi then ordered that the Oluwo and the Agbowu of Ogbaagba, Oba Dhikrullah Akinropo, excuse the meeting before evidence would be taken from the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 11, Osogbo, Mr Bashir Makama, on what transpired at his office last Friday between the two traditional rulers.
Defending himself over the recent alleged attack on Oba Akinropo during the meeting before his suspension, the Oluwo denied punching or slapping the Agbowu at a peace meeting held in the AIG’s office.
The AIG was said to have described what happened in his office as a mere altercation between Oluwo and Agbowu.
The AIG also reportedly claimed that there was no Close Circuit Television camera in the police conference room where the meeting with Oluwo and the other obsas was held, which ended in crisis.
Oba Ogunwusi, however, clarified that the suspension was not as a result of the Oluwo’s alleged assault against the Agbowu, saying the matter was already before the police and the state government.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, which lasted more than three hours, the Orangun of Ila, Oba Wahab Adedotun, said Oba Akanbi’s suspension was not in connection with his recent alleged assault against Oba Akinropo at the office of the AIG.
Oba Adedotun said: “We didn’t suspend the Oluwo over his issue with the Agbowu. He was suspended for six months because of his misconduct and disrespectful acts against the Alaafin of Oyo, the Alake of Egbaland, the Ooni of Ife and the Oluwo of Iwo Oke.
“These acts of gross misconduct are enough. He should go and stay at home for six months. He must respect the traditional institution. He should caution himself with the way he talks to the media on kings in Yorubaland.
“We have also set up a committee headed by me to resolve the issues the Oluwo have with some traditional rulers in Yorubaland.”
Reacting to his suspension before leaving the venue of the meeting, the Oluwo said to reporters: “I cannot be suspended by anybody. The Owa Obokun of Ijesaland didn’t come to this traditional council meeting for two years and nothing happened. I can afford not to come to this meeting forever.”
The traditional ruler’s suspension is subject to the ratification of the Osun State government.
