The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has accused the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, of plotting against him despite his role in helping him ascend the throne. The revelation was made by Oluwo during a public address on Friday, where he detailed how he facilitated Ooni’s kingship through a vital connection that could have been used for another contender.
According to Oluwo, he initially planned to support Ooni’s elder brother, Tunji Adeyeye, whom he had a close friendship with during their youth in Ibadan. However, due to Tunji’s underestimation of his influence at the time, the connection was eventually used to support Adeyeye Ogunwusi’s aspiration to the throne.
“In 2015, I got a call from Akin Daodu, a close ally of the then Prince Adeyeye Ogunwusi—now Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi. He told me that Prince Adeyeye was on the phone, seeking my help with his aspiration to the throne of Ooni of Ife,” Oluwo recalled.
He further explained that he traveled to Ibadan to meet the future Ooni after advising against a trip to Osogbo due to security concerns at the peak of his ambition. During their meeting, Ogunwusi disclosed that most stakeholders, including the governor, supported his bid, except for a few litigations in court.
Oluwo claimed that he immediately called the person in charge of the legal proceedings and resolved the case. “The case was decided on Friday, and Adeyeye became Ooni on Saturday—this was before my own enthronement. I was not selfish; I facilitated his installation before mine,” he stated.
However, Oluwo expressed disappointment that the same Ooni he assisted was now allegedly working against him. “To my surprise, the same person I helped ascend the throne has been plotting evil against me. He orchestrated my suspension from the Osun State Council of Obas and is using some kings in Iwoland to destabilize my territory.”
The monarch also alleged that Ooni played a role in using his former wife against him and accused him of attempting to have him removed from his position as Oluwo. “He attacked me last month in the presence of the governor, accusing me of discouraging deity worship. He wants me removed as Oluwo by all means. But such a dream will never come to fruition.”
Reaffirming his confidence, Oluwo declared, “No one can remove me as Oluwo, no one can kill me, and no one can bring me down. As the saying goes, ‘Adabi ti ki baase emi ni Mo ran e lowo tofi di Ooni’.” He further stated that those who had attempted to bring him down in the past had all failed.
In response to Oluwo’s claims, the Director of Media and Public Affairs for the House of Oodua, Moses Olafare, dismissed the accusations, stating that Ooni’s ascension was divinely ordained. “God has ordained the Ooni to be the monarch, and he will never seek the downfall of anyone because he is the father of all,” he said.
