Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has launched a salvo against the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi as he claimed Ogunwusi has been making several attempts to remove him as Oluwo, despite being helpful to him in 2015 to become the Ooni of Ife.
According to Oluwo, Tunji Adeyeye, the elder brother of the Ooni, could have been on the throne.
Oluwo, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, Ibrahim Alli, on Friday said:
“I acknowledged my affinity with the family because we stayed around the same place at Akobo, Ibadan, before I traveled. I know him (Ooni) then but I’m closer to his brother, Tunji Ogunwusi, who was my peer then. Both myself and Tunji Ogunwusi, popularly called Dodo were about eight years older than him.
“As a friend and peer, I’ve earlier called Tunji Ogunwusi but he underrated me. Maybe because I’ve sought his help before I got an authentic link, he refused to take me seriously.”
He confidently revealed that despite the negative moves to ouster him by Ooni, it will fail.
“Such is a dream that can never come through. No one can remove me as Oluwo. No one can kill me and no one can bring me down,” he said.
Stating the role he played in the installation of Oba Ogunwusi, and also expressing his dissatisfaction, Oluwo alleged that the same person he helped was allegedly working against him.
“God used me to play a vital role in the installation of Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi as the Ooni of Ife but, to my surprise, the same person I helped to the throne has been planning evil against me.
“He orchestrated my suspension from the Osun State Council of Obas meeting against the AIG who was a star witness at what transpired. He is using a few kings in Iwoland to destabilize my territory.
“He attacked me last month in the presence of the state Governor that I’m discouraging deity worshipping. He was part of those who used my former wife against me.
“He should keep trying to remove me. He will be the one to live to regret, his cohorts that have tried it in the past failed,” Oba Abdulrosheed added.
However, in a counter statement, Director of Media to the Ooni of Ife, Otunba Moses Olafare told members of the public to disregard the allegations.
“Oba Adeyeye has been ordained as a king from heaven, regardless of who does what. He is a king with God on his side.
“When Oluwo wanted to be the king, Ooni supported him with cash and other logistics that we can’t even mention here.
“At the last Council of Oba meeting, Ooni only jokingly told Oluwo that he should not condemn any monarch for worshipping deities but should allow anyone to practice anything that they feel is good for them,” Olafare said.
