OLUWO of Iwoland Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi has refused to accept the six month suspension placed on him by the Osun State Traditional Council saying that the body does not have the legal authority to impose sanctions on him.
Reknown for his controversial and maverick mature, Oba Akanbi, who recently sent his Canadian wife packing, was reported to have punched his colleague, Oba Dhikrullahi Olaniran, the Agbowu of Ogbagbaa during a meeting last week. They had gone for peace talks at the zonal headquarters of the Nigeria Police Force in Osogbo the Osun State capital where the Iwo monarch lost his temper and assailed his colleague.
Oba Akanbi said he is not on friendly terms with some monarchs in Osun State, explaining that traditional rulers in Iwo, Ola-Oluwa and Ayedire local governments of the state which make up Iwoland, are inflicting hardship on their subjects. Although Oba Akanbi did not deny assaulting his colleague, he said it was in self-defence against an attempt by Oba Akinropo to stick his staff of office in his eyes.
Embarrassed by the Oluwos actions, the Osun State Traditional Council met yesterday and decided to suspend him for six months. However, Oba Akanbi has refused to accept their decision pointing out that constitutionally, only the state governor can suspend a traditional ruler.
Alli Ibraheem, Oba Akanbi’s press secretary, said the argument for the suspension was out of context, saying the reason the emergency meeting was summoned by the council was not addressed. He expressed disappointment that the traditional council could be turned to an avenue of playing politics.
Oba Akanbi added: “I was never suspended as the suspension reported by the media is just from the monthly Osun State Traditional Council meeting, which is subject to the approval of the state government. It is sad to note that the Osun State Traditional Council could be so political.
“They said I was rude to the Alake, Ooni and Alaafin and the same Ooni presided over the same meeting that purportedly pronounced my suspension. If this should stand, many monarchs will not be encouraged to regard the council.
“It is just an audio pronouncement and an insult to the state government without consultation by the council. We were invited to address the allegation that I punched another Oba and the assistant inspector general of police and the government officials came to the meeting as witnesses and gave account that I didn’t beat any Oba.
Maybe because the truth from the witnesses didn’t go with their expectation, they hatched unfounded excuses to make an audio suspension. It is pure political and there are many things attached but we keep mute to see how far this will stand.”
