A revered Yoruba king, the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi (Ilufemiloye), Telu 1, has sparked intense debate following his bold response to the Yoruba indigenous religionists popularly called “Onisese”, describing their religion as evil.
Oluwo, who said this on his Tiktok handle in response to series of denigrations to his person by the traditional religionists, said that ever since the Yoruba gods exist, they have never done any good to humanity than disaster and sucking blood.
It will be recalled that the Yoruba traditional worshippers contracted skit makers and film actors to sing in praises of idol worshipping and denigrate Christianity.
In different songs released by different skit makers on social media including Tiktok and Facebook, the singers disparaged Islam and Christianity, saying that Jesus Christ is not coming contrary to the Christian’s faith.
But in a swift reaction and speaking candidly, the monarch criticized the reliance on Yoruba charms and Ifa practices, urging his people to focus on education and technological advancements instead.
In his address, the king stressed that, contrary to popular belief, he does not consider himself subordinate to the gods. “A king is superior to the gods,” he declared.
“Some kings may claim they are second in command to the gods, but I am not a mate of any god. When a man becomes a king, he is no longer a god. It is the throne that is superior to the gods.”
The king challenged the efficacy of Yoruba charms and traditional practices, asking why they have not contributed to technological progress.
“Why is it that both the Yoruba charms and gods cannot produce a vehicle, pure water, or an airplane? These traditional religious people cannot do anything meaningful with their charms except using them for evil,” he lamented.
He went on to condemn the use of charms for harm, particularly in money rituals, and warned that those who take lives for personal gain would ultimately face the consequences of their actions.
The monarch then questioned the future of Ifa, the traditional Yoruba system of divination. “What can Ifa do for mankind? It is only used for forecasting. Ifa cannot manufacture anything, let alone perform surgery,” he argued, pointing out the limitations of the belief system.
He contrasted the achievements of Islamic and Christian communities with those of Yoruba traditionalists, praising the introduction of Arabic and Western education by Muslims and Christian missionaries.
According to the king, these forms of education have contributed significantly to the progress of society through technology and innovation. “With technology, we now have cameras and phones that allow us to make videos. The West has done many things useful for humanity,” he noted.
The king issued a strong appeal to the Yoruba people, urging them to reconsider their reliance on Ifa.
“Yoruba people must wake up from their slumber. Anyone who has gone to learn Ifa has no future apart from becoming a herbalist or fortune teller,” he stated.
He also criticized herbalists for their inability to cure diseases such as cancer or to elevate their own families to the heights of success achieved by global figures like Bill Gates or Elon Musk.
In his closing remarks, the king reaffirmed his faith in God and urged the Yoruba community to focus on practical skills and education. “Rather than learning Ifa, go to school or learn a craft. Ifa has no solution to the problems confronting humanity,” he concluded.
The king’s address has ignited widespread discussion on the relevance of traditional beliefs in contemporary society and the importance of education in fostering progress.
In another video where the king publicly addressed many people, he said, “You Babalawo and Onisegun, be careful. You are behind many of the evil being perpetuated in Yoruba Land. Talking about money ritual, a young boy will behead his girl friend for money ritual. The land of Yoruba is overwhelmed with the shedding of the innocent blood. A Muslim cleric or a pastor involving in money ritual, such is not a Muslim or Christian, but Babalawo. The idol worshippers are behind evil charms, money ritual and they are killers. These are unforgiven sins. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, governors and ministers are misgoverning because of the numerous sins in Nigeria. If anybody is caught with head or human parts, kill such.”
The king urged Nigerians to desist from evil doing and money ritual, stressing that they should be patient for God to make them successful.
