Entertainment & SocietyOluwo of Iwo, Former OAU VC on War Path

Oluwo of Iwo, Former OAU VC on War Path

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Oba Abulrasheed Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwo, popularly known as Emperor Telu and a former Vice Chancellor of Obafemi Awolowo University, Professor Wande Abimbola, have engaged in a war of words over Yoruba tradition. It started after the Professor granted an interview where he lashed out at the traditional ruler for his nonchalant attitude towards Yoruba culture, tradition, and worship of some deity. The Oluwo had led a campaign against some of the Yoruba gods after his coronation in 2015, calling them powerless and retrogressive gods while condemning their festive celebration and worship.

Abimbola lamented the enthronement of certain Yoruba traditional rulers who desecrate traditional stools. He also stated that some riffraff has turned the highly revered position into comedy. He also argued that there are no checks and balances to curtail the excesses of traditional rulers.

Stating further, he revealed that more than a million people in the United State worship Yoruba gods and practice Yoruba culture and tradition, hence, people who don’t want to have anything to do with Yoruba gods should not aspire to be kings. He also stated that if the worship of the Yoruba deity is taken seriously, the country would rake in millions of naira from it.

As Americans rake in millions of dollars annually through the celebration of Yoruba Culture and tradition, he said that if the owners of the culture would organize monthly festivals in celebration of their gods, tourists would spend dollars to watch the cultural display.

Reacting to Abimbola’s postulations and accusation, the Oluwo described him as an elder who lacks understanding. He accused the scholar of attacking him based on what he read on social media about him and jumping to conclusions. He wondered if Abimbola had a king in his hometown because kings are recognised by the Nigerian Constitution and should not be abused. The traditional ruler also stated that Yoruba Kings are higher than the gods and insisted that Yoruba gods should not be worshipped.

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