There is palpable tension amongst traditional rulers in Osun State, following a report of Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi beating up another monarch during a peace meeting.
It was gathered that the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of zone 11, Bashir Makama, had called for a peace meeting amongst royal fathers from Iwo axis over land disputes.
According to the source, it was in the middle of the meeting, which had other monarchs, including some top police personnel, as well as government functionaries in attendance, that Oba Akanbi allegedly stood up from where he was sitting and descended on Oba Dhirulahi Akinropo, Agbowu of Ogbaagbaa town, inflicting injury on him.
Confirming the incident to journalists at the Osun State General Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo, where the assaulted monarch was receiving treatment, the Olu of Ile-ogbo, Oba Agbaje Habeeb Adetoyese, who spoke on behalf of other monarchs said the development came as a shock to everyone at the meeting.
He said such act was strange and alien to the tenets of the traditional institutions in Yoruba land.
He called on Governor Adegboyega Oyetola to quickly intervene and caution Oluwo to avert a break down of law and order in the area.
He accused Oluwo of threatening other monarchs at the meeting even after the unfortunate incident.
He said: “This is indeed a bestial conduct that is highly unbecoming of an ordinary individual, let alone a royal father. How could a monarch of Oluwo status descend so low to the level of physically assaulting another king in the presence of AIG; this is strange to say the least.
” He just stood up from where he was sitting without any provocation and started beating a revered monarch from Ogbaagba, it was the AIG himself that rescued the monarch from him.
According to sources present at the meeting. “Oluwo was the first to get out of the meeting in annoyance, creating scene and shouting within the AIG’s office that Agbowu called him a mad man at the meeting.
“Me, Oluwo, Agbowu is calling me a mad man. Ordinary Baales want to be challenging me. I will show you my worth and there will be war in the entire Iwoland.
“I am the only Oba in Iwoland, others are Baales that I gave land, they now want to be challenging me. Can any Baale in Ifeland do that to Ooni”, he fumed.
“We are calling on Governor Oyetola to quickly suspend Oluwo with immediate effect, keeping him on that throne portends great danger to other kings and the state at large”.
Reacting to the allegation through a phone conversation, Oluwo simply said”, there is no issue at all, I wonder why they are so sensational about the issue, we would take care of it, why are they inviting you guys over such an issue, I don’t think it is necessary.” he said