The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, has revealed that he was chased out during a visit to the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, in his palace. This revelation was made in a trending video on TikTok.
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Ogunwusi said that since the incident, he has maintained his distance from the Oluwo and expressed concerns about returning to visit him again. He alluded to a need to manage the Oluwo’s behavior as an elder while recognizing his own youthfulness.
The Ooni of Ife stated, “When I visited Oluwo, he chased me out like a child. Since that incident, I have always maintained my distance from him. Now that you people (attendees) are imploring me to visit him again, what if he does what he likes to me?”
Although Ogunwusi did not directly address any ongoing feud with the Oluwo in the video, it has been reported that Oluwo is unhappy with the Ooni’s associations with traditionalists, whom he has labeled as ‘idol worshippers.’
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In a separate video, Akanbi, also known as Telu 1, was seen encouraging the people of Iwo to reject traditional practices, cautioning that those who engage in such practices should do so in their homes. He emphasized his role as a monarch to advocate for God alone and to challenge those who worship entities other than Him.
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Akanbi clarified his stance against participating in Ogun or any idol festivals, stating that while he had previously celebrated the Egungun festival with worshippers, he would no longer do so unless it is not referred to as idol worshipping. He expressed that he does not support idol worship activities, which he believes contributes to their lack of success in Iwo.
He further noted that performing sacrifices in Iwo is prohibited and warned of consequences for those who defy this directive. Akanbi stated that environmental sanitation measures have been implemented in Iwo to discourage such practices and that true success comes from challenging idols and their worshippers.
In a Facebook post, Oluwo clarified the historical significance of Islam in Iwo, explaining that the town used to be ruled by traditional monarchs until the emergence of Oba Memudu Ayinla Lamuye in 1800, who spread Islam among the people. He provided historical context regarding the introduction of Islam to Iwo, highlighting the contributions of Oba Ibirinade Abioye Adekanbi, who brought Islam in 1600 and transformed a place of idol worship into the Oluwo Central Mosque.
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Oluwo noted that due to the spread of Islam, every compound in Iwo now has a mosque, and nearly all Iwo indigenes have Muslim names, including recent converts from missionary efforts. He discussed the hospitality of Oba Ibirinade Adekanbi towards the Malian settlers and how the tradition of enthronement changed after 1600.
In 2018, Akanbi alleged that Ogunwusi had ordered his bodyguard to push him aside during a meeting of traditional rulers in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. This incident reportedly took place at Hotel Presidential when the Ooni was called to the podium to give a vote of thanks. Akanbi stated that the actions of the Ooni’s bodyguard were seen as a disrespectful act toward a paramount ruler.
The Ooni’s office responded to these allegations, with his director of public affairs, Moses Olafare, issuing a statement that denied any altercation between the Ooni and the Oluwo at the event.
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