Oluwo clashes with traditional worshippers for speaking against deities

Oluwo of Iwo Land Oba Abdul-Rasheed Akanbi

The Oluwo of Iwo Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi has clashed with traditional worshippers over his statements about their deities.

At a press conference in Osun on Tuesday, president of the Traditional Religious Worshippers Association Oluseyi Atanda called on the state government to caution the Oluwo.

The traditional worshippers demanded a public apology from the monarch.

Atanda said the association would embark on a protest on November 31 for the removal of the traditional ruler if he refused to apologise.

“Our association is known to respect, honour and work closely with the traditional rulers, more than any other group of people in the society. But, we have no other choice than to come out publicly to call for the orderly manner of the Oluwo because of his actions,” the statement read.

“His installation as Oba ought to be advantageous to Iwo and the entire Yorubaland. We, therefore, requested that Oba Akandi tender public apology for his unguarded utterances against our ‘Orisa’ and desist from causing religious crisis in the state.”

In reaction, the Oluwo’s chief press secretary Alli Ibrahim said the allegation of the association was new to the monarch.

“It is very new to me, but I think there is only one God and in the process of promoting that God, I don’t see any crime, mistake or discussion in promoting one God.

“If anyone feel offended, I think they can go ahead with whatever they want to do,” he said.