Oluwo mess: Tension as Clerics, ruling houses disowns monarch over High Chief Ogundokun

The ongoing friction between the Osun monarch, Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi and the former Publicity Secretary of the defunct National Party of Nigeria (NPN), High Chief Abiola Ogundokun took another dimension on Wednesday, as Iwo Muslim community and all the royal families in the town unanimously disagreed with Oluwo over his decision to strip Chief Ogundokun of all his chieftaincy titles, insisting that nothing has changed in all the titles conferred on the elder statesman.

It should be recalled that Oba Akanbi had on Sunday announced the revocation of all chieftaincy titles of 82-year old Chief Ogundokun, ranging from Islamic, social and traditional titles and the High Chief fired back, describing the purported removal as a mere joke just as he vowed to see to the removal of the monarch from the throne.

Oba Akanbi in a meeting with some chiefs said, “As the ruler and custodian of all Traditional, Cultural religious and social clubs in Iwoland, I hereby relieve him of all his traditional and social titles ranging from Basorun Muslim of Iwoland, member of Iwo Board of Trustees (IBOT) , Otun Balogun of Iwoland and other proposed titles that may be accorded him from Iwo.

“A Chief is appointed to favour the town. Any Chief, either traditional or religious treasonable should be dealt with accordingly. Ogundokun is one of them. I removed him after due consultation with Chiefs, religious leaders, stakeholders and opinion leaders in the interest of Iwo.”

But in a swift reaction, Ogundokun said Oluwo lacks competence to strip him of his religious and traditional chieftaincy titles, saying that the monarch was apparently consumed by emotions when he was giving the directive.

Meanwhile, religious leaders across the three local government areas, including Olaoluwa, Ayedire and Iwo as well as all the five royal families in the ancient town of Iwo in a meeting which was held at Iwo Central mosque faulted the decision of the monarch and collectively passed vote of confidence on the high chief.

Contrary to the expectation and decision of Oba Akanbi, the religious leaders , and representatives of all the ruling families in the town submitted that Ogundokun has not done anything that contravenes neither Islamic doctrine, nor traditional norm, which necessitated the action of the king.

It was gathered that Chief Ogundokun was installed the Basorun Musulumi of Iwoland 18 and half years ago by the Chief Imam and Muslim Communities of Ayedire, Iwo and Olaoluwa Local Governments.

Also, he was installed Otun Balogun of Iwo land by late Oba S.O Abimbola, the first educated Oba in Iwoland in 1979 and Oba Akanbi also conferred on him a kingship title of Obanla of Iwoland in recognition of his contributions and supports to the palace and Iwo community at large.

At a meeting which lasted for about three hours, the Chief Imam of Iwo land, Shaik Abdulfatai Adeyemi Olododo, urged Oluwo to employ a peaceful mechanism in resolving the crisis rather than striping Ogundokun of his Islamic titles, saying he does not support the action of the monarch.

Also, Imams from the three local government areas frowned at the action of Oluwo, describing it as an error.

“We would rather appeal to Kabiesi (Monarch) to please settle this mater amicably. All these chieftaincy titles have been conferred on Chief Ogundogun for so many years and he has not done anything that could lead to his removal,” one of the Imam stressed.

The head of the royal families in the town, Prince Babatunde Arowolo, the Mogaji (Head) of Ande Ogunmakinde ruling house, said they had all agreed that Chief Ogundokun should not be stripped of his traditional titles just as Muslim leaders have agreed.

Prince Arowolo added that they have agreed and unanimously passed vote of confidence on Chief Ogundokun, adding that they would hold another meeting on Monday, May 8, 2017, where they would relay the resolution of both the royal families and Muslim communities to the Iwo chief-in-council.