The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Adewale Akanbi, has described his purported suspension from Osun State Traditional Council as “audio” and Politically motivated.
The alleged suspension was announced after a meeting of Osun State Traditional Council held on Friday 21st February 2020, in Osogbo, the state capital.
Oluwo of Iwoland denying his suspension, said the point given by the council was porous, lacking logic and do not portray the revered traditional council in good light as they refused to address the allegation that he punched a monarch.
Oba Adewale Akanbi said any suspension from the Osun State traditional council meeting is subject to the approval of the state government.
The Oba in describing his suspension as “audio” stated that it is unprofessional of the respected Osun State traditional council meeting to make such pronouncement without the approval of the state government.
Reacting through a statement issued by his press secretary, Alli Ibraheem, Oba Adewale Akanbi said the argument for the suspension was out of context, saying the reason the emergency meeting was summoned by the council was not addressed.
Oluwo said he was surprised to note that his purported suspension for his conduct against certain traditional rulers is strange to the traditional institution and should not stand.
He expressed disappointment that traditional council could be turned to an avenue of playing politics.
He stated the highest level of injustice is for the council to say i was rude to the same Ooni who presided over a meeting where they said I was suspended.
“I was never suspended. The suspension reported by the media is just from the monthly Osun State Traditional Council meeting which is subject to the approval of the state government. It is sad to note that Osun State traditional council could be so political.
They said I was rude to Alake, Ooni and Alaafin. And the same Ooni presided over the same meeting that purportedly pronounced my suspension from the Osun State traditional council meeting. If this should stand, many monarchs will not be encouraged to regard the council”
“We were invited to address the allegation that I punched another Oba. The AIG and the government officials presence came to the meeting as witnesses and gave account that I didn’t beat any Oba,” Oba Adewale Akanbi said.
The reaction from Oba Adewale Akanbi came after media reported that the
Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers on Friday suspended Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi for six months.
According to the report, the traditional council said his suspension was not in connection with the alleged assault on the Agbowu of Ogbaagba, Oba Dhikirulahi Akinropo, but over what they termed Oluwo’s indecent acts to some monarchs, including the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, Alake of Egbaland and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi.
Briefing journalists at the end of the meeting which lasted for about three hours, the Orangun of Ila Orangun, Oba Wahab Adedotun was quoted to have said: “Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi has been suspended for six months.”
As Oba Adewale Akanbi clearly stated, it is only the State Government, which is the Governor that can suspend an Oba, and so, we will have to waiting to hear from the Osun State Government on this.