Osun Government Places Oluwo Under Watch Over Inflammatory Remarks

The Osun State Government has placed the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, under monitoring over alleged inflammatory public remarks capable of triggering religious confrontations and inter-town conflicts.

The warning was contained in a letter issued by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, signed by Wale Alliyu on behalf of the Permanent Secretary and dated November 2026.

The letter, referenced CD.17/1/VOL.VIII/377, was addressed to the monarch, with a copy forwarded to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, in his capacity as Chairman of the Osun State Council of Obas.

The government said it had observed several public statements attributed to the Oluwo, which it described as capable of creating religious tension, disrupting communal harmony and undermining traditional values.

It warned that the monarch's conduct was raising communal tensions and threatening the peace, unity and stability of Osun State and the wider Iwo community.

The administration stressed that every Nigerian had a constitutional right to freedom of religious association and that traditional rulers were expected to respect the religious beliefs of their subjects.

It consequently directed the Oluwo to stop making statements attacking people of other faiths and refrain from public confrontations with fellow traditional rulers that could provoke inter-town disputes.

The government also urged him to uphold the cultural values and traditions represented by his traditional institution and comply with the provisions of the state's chieftaincy laws and resolutions of the State Council of Obas.

It further disclosed that the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs would monitor the monarch's compliance with the directives.

The State Council of Obas was also instructed to monitor developments in Iwo land and take appropriate action where necessary.

Although the letter did not identify specific statements that prompted the government's intervention, the monarch has previously used his social media platforms to criticise traditional religious practices and other Yoruba monarchs.

In a video published on his Facebook page on July 1, the Oluwo described traditional rites and seclusion ceremonies for newly installed monarchs as practices that could expose them to idolatry.

In another video shared on October 10, he questioned the significance of ancient crowns, arguing that crowns were created by the monarchs who wore them.

However, the monarch's Press Secretary, Alli Ibraheem, said in a telephone interview that Oba Akanbi had not received any letter from the state government.

The development comes amid renewed attention to the role of traditional institutions in preserving religious tolerance, cultural heritage and peaceful coexistence in Osun State. Punch Newspapers +1