A coalition of Mogajis and noble princes of Iwo, Osun State, have issued a strong rebuttal against a group of individuals they described as “disgruntled elements” parading themselves as representatives of the royal family.
The princes accused the group of spreading falsehoods against the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi.
This was revealed in a press conference held on Monday at the Oluwo Palace Square in Iwo, the princes, led by Prince Wasiu Hammed Modunle, Mogaji of Modunle ruling house, described the allegations as baseless and malicious. They stated that the claims about the desecration of ancestral royal graves were entirely false and aimed at undermining the reign of Oba Akanbi.
The statement reads "Mogajis, High and Noble Princes of Iwo rose from their monthly meeting at Oluwo Palace Square, Iwo, Osun State and held as follows:
" That we are not unaware of few youth parading themselves to be speaking on behalf of the princes of Iwo.
"We write to State unequivocally that they have no right to speak on behalf of the princes/ true blue blood of Iwo. Equally, we want to state it clearly that the allegations are baseless, frivolous and deliberate attempt to blackmail Oba Akanbi.
"As the duly appointed Mogajis and recognized true blue blood, we condemn in totality their conduct and urge the public to disregard their utterances. On the baseless allegations of throwing away the bone remains of the past kings, there was nothing of such. Oluwo, after his enthronement, invited the princes and asked them to identify the graveyards of the respective past king. The most recent kings graveyards were covered with cracking and leaking old mud houses, all occupied with fetish objects such as calabash and others. Tadese grave, the most recent immediate, was the only one demarcated with old block. Oba Akanbi renovated all the identified graveyards with tiles. The other graveyards identified at the back of the old palace have turned to a dumping site. In the presence of the princes, Oluwo contracted its enclosure. There was never a time in history when the remains of the past Oluwo were relocated. It is on this note that will give Adedoja Sarafa Osunwo 48hours to provide evidence or else, a charge will be pressed against him.
"There was no traces of where the kings were buried when Oluwo of Iwoland Oba Adewale Akanbi Telu1 got to the palace when he was chosen by God Almighty Olodumare to rule as the Oluwo. He met no trace of any grave behind the old Palace and he summoned the Princes and Chiefs to show him where other kings were buried apart from the four by the new Palace which was left in an unpleasant situation. Ore ni Oluwo se lati demarcate this place that was abandoned by Princes and previous kings.
" The peddlers of these disgruntled elements have constituted themselves as a nuisance for three reasons:
"They are agents of those who contested the stool of Oluwo with our substantial and progressive Paramount Ruler of Iwoland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba (Dr.) Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, Alase Lori Orisha, Arole Olodumare,TELU I.
"They are mostly ravenous individuals with no verifiable source of income and had to survive through any available means.
"We have among them who belong to a secret society and hatching the plans of their members to blackmail Oluwo with frivolous allegations.
" They are unrepentant conservative individuals who want all things to be done the way of the 14th century in the 21st century.
4- These individuals have tried their utmost to cow Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi and subject his reign to their command just like that have done to many of the past Oluwos. They want a conservative king who they will dictate for, a king they will command and take full charge of his authority to commit atrocities such as lording, land grabbing in the name of Oba Lonile (King owns the land). The style of Kingship being a position of service is new to them. And it's either they adapt or they stay apart.
5. On their frivolous allegations, these irascible subjects were alive before the enthronement of Oba Akanbi as the Oluwo of Iwoland and could not refurbish their father's grave in the palace. The past Oluwo graves were like refuse sites (Akitan). Those intimate with the palace before will know that even the palace structure was not befitting of the status of Oluwo. Oba Akanbi reconstructed the palace and modernized the graveyards of the past Oluwos with tiles and other ornaments. The disgruntled noisemakers should show us otherwise. The pressmen have come to take pictures of those beautiful graveyards. They should show us theirs.
7- On Alaafin Title, their translation has further portrayed their ignorance of simple arithmetic. Just like we have in school, many students ran from science to art class because they are lacking in arithmetic. Olodumare (God) is the Alaafin (Someone who owns the palace). It's a general title for all appointed by God in every town to sit on His throne. The pronouncement is to entrench kingship as an institution of God. It was the title adopted and used by Oduduwa and many occupant of Ife stool.
6- For the attention of the pressmen, henceforth, any information requested from Iwo Prince should be directed to real blue blood and not those they handpicked in the street. Reliable and authentic information about Iwo kingship and princes are sought from the palace. The palace will tell you original princes. An outsider cannot come to your family and pick a member who didn't pass DNA test to speak on behalf of the family. We original princes know ourselves. We have amongst those granting interview who their generation have never and will never be even the head of their compound let alone contesting for the stool because they are not blue blood. Our fathers, out of their magnanimity hosted them. If Iwo princes will have to address the press, not in a road side tatered, dilapidated building. The press needs to value their lives and stop attending press conferences under such a fragile and nearly collapsed structure.
7- On a final note, these rabble-rousers are perpetual failures. They are usual agents of evil. They have failed several times. And they have begged several times, promising to repent. We have the evidence. Many of them know they can't see another Oluwo. It's late. If they want an Oluwo they will subject his kingship to their command, maybe that will be hereafter. They can continue to pursue shadow while Oluwo is reigning. Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi will reign for long.
We want to tender our apology to the Paramount Ruler of Iwoland,His Imperial Majesty, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, for this briefing because he has prevailed on us not to dignify the scavengers who were paid to discredit his reign. We used the advantage of his trip to Abuja to State our position and defend our collective heritage. "