The Osun State Government has cautioned the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, over alleged inflammatory public statements capable of triggering religious tension, communal unrest and conflicts among traditional institutions in the state.
The government directed the monarch to immediately desist from making remarks or engaging in activities that could undermine religious tolerance, provoke other traditional rulers or threaten peaceful coexistence among residents of the state.
The warning was contained in an official letter issued by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Office of the Permanent Secretary, with reference number CD.17/1/VOL.VIII/377, dated November 2026. The letter was signed by Wale Alliyu on behalf of the Permanent Secretary.
A copy of the correspondence, obtained by The PUNCH in Osogbo on Wednesday, was also forwarded to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, in his capacity as Chairman of the Osun State Council of Obas.
In the letter, the state government expressed concern over what it described as recent public statements and pronouncements credited to the Oluwo, warning that such utterances could provoke religious confrontation, inter-town disagreements and a breakdown of communal peace.
According to the government, the monarch’s alleged conduct was raising communal tension, encouraging religious and social divisions, and undermining the cultural values and traditional institutions of the Yoruba people.
The administration further maintained that the situation had reached a point where it could no longer be ignored, particularly given the potential consequences for peace and security in Iwo and other parts of Osun State.
Emphasising the constitutional rights of citizens, the government reminded the Oluwo that every Nigerian has the right to freedom of religion and association, stressing that traditional rulers are expected to respect the religious choices and beliefs of their subjects.
It also reminded the monarch that the traditional institution exists primarily to preserve the cultural heritage, customs and values of the people, warning that any attempt to pursue reforms capable of generating communal violence would not be tolerated.
Among the directives issued, the government instructed Oba Akanbi to stop making statements perceived as attacks against people of other religious beliefs and to refrain from public confrontations with fellow traditional rulers.
The monarch was also urged to uphold the cultural traditions of his domain, conduct himself in accordance with the provisions of the state’s Chieftaincy Laws and abide by the resolutions of the State Council of Obas.
The letter further disclosed that the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs would monitor the monarch’s compliance with the directives, while the State Council of Obas was specifically instructed to monitor developments in Iwo land and take appropriate action where necessary.
The government stated that the measures were intended to prevent any possible outbreak of religious or inter-town conflict.
Although the letter did not identify specific statements responsible for the government’s intervention, Oba Akanbi has, on several occasions, used his social media platforms to criticise aspects of traditional religious practices and accuse some Yoruba monarchs of engaging in idolatry.
In a video shared on his Facebook page on July 1, the Oluwo reportedly criticised traditional rites and seclusion practices associated with the installation of new monarchs, describing them as practices capable of subjecting traditional rulers to idolatry.
Similarly, in another video published on October 10, the monarch questioned the concept of ancient crowns, arguing that crowns derive their significance from the authority and personalities of the monarchs who wear them.
However, the Oluwo’s camp has disputed the government’s claim that an official warning was delivered to the palace.
When contacted for his reaction, the monarch’s Press Secretary, Alli Ibraheem, said in a telephone interview that Oba Akanbi had not received any letter from the Osun State Government.
The development comes amid renewed concerns about the responsibility of traditional institutions in promoting religious tolerance, cultural preservation and peaceful coexistence in a religiously diverse society.
