FRESH: Osun Directs Council Of Obas To Monitor Oluwo Over Inflammatory Rhetoric Capable Of Causing Religious Crisis
The Osun State Government has directed the State Council of Obas to monitor the activities of the Oluwo of Iwo Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi over public statements it said could cause religious conflicts and disputes between communities.
The directive was contained in a letter issued by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and signed by Wale Alliyu on behalf of the permanent secretary.
A copy of the letter was forwarded to the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who chairs the State Council of Obas.
The government accused Oba Akanbi of making statements capable of causing disagreements among religious groups and traditional rulers.
“You cannot, and you must not, conduct yourself in any way that can foment religious crisis through serial attacks on people of other faiths,” the letter stated.
It reminded the monarch that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and that traditional rulers must respect the beliefs of people within their communities.
Shop African Art
The government also warned him against making comments that could provoke disputes with other monarchs.
It directed him to comply with the state’s chieftaincy laws and resolutions of the Council of Obas.
The ministry said it would monitor his compliance with the directives, while the council was instructed to watch developments in Iwo and take necessary action.
Although the letter did not identify the statements that prompted the warning, Oba Akanbi has previously criticised Yoruba traditional religious practices.
In July, he questioned traditional rites associated with the installation of monarchs, describing them as practices that encouraged idolatry.
He also challenged the significance attached to Yoruba crowns in a video shared in October.
The Oluwo’s spokesman Alli Ibrahim confirmed to Premium Times on Thursday that the monarch had received the letter and would respond.