Kehinde Fajobi
The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Akanbi, has refuted claims that he walked the Ooni of Ife out of his palace, stating that the Ooni has never visited him.
This clarification comes in response to a viral video in which the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, allegedly said he was chased out of Oluwo’s palace “like a child.”
In the video, the Ooni remarked, “When I visited Oluwo, he chased me out like a child. Since then, I have been cautious about going near him. Now, you people are asking me to visit him again, but what if he does something like that again?”
He added, “I have to tolerate his excesses as an elder, even though I’m young but sitting on the throne of the elders. Oluwo, I greet you.”
However, speaking through his spokesperson, Alli Ibrahim, Oluwo dismissed the claims, saying the video was old and misleading.
He said, “The video is old, and there was never a time when the Ooni came to Oluwo’s palace. The palace will officially respond to the viral video.”
The two monarchs have been at odds over matters of age and seniority. While the Oluwo is reportedly seven years older than the Ooni, the latter holds the higher status as the head of traditional rulers in the South-West.