The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, has revealed the reasons behind his long-standing rift with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, alleging betrayal, blackmail, and attempts on his life.
Speaking in a message directed at Nigerians, particularly the Yoruba people, Oba Akanbi claimed that he once played a crucial role in Ooni Ogunwusi’s emergence as a monarch but was repaid with plots to ruin him.
“This message is for Nigerians, especially the Yoruba. When I got on the throne, you heard me talking about Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi. What you don’t know, I will tell you today. I helped Ooni to become a king, but because he is committed to idols and God has made me superior to the idols, he became afraid I might reveal some secrets,” Oluwo stated.
According to him, the strained relationship escalated when Ooni allegedly orchestrated a setup involving a woman who infiltrated his home and secretly recorded private conversations for over three years.
“She was in my house, asking me questions and recording me secretly. She even has a child for me, but I am not sure if the child is mine. I will confirm that through a DNA test. She poisoned me twice, and there was even an assassination attempt. All these failed,” Oba Akanbi alleged.
The monarch further claimed that after discovering the woman’s alleged betrayal and sending her away, Ooni Ogunwusi rented an apartment for her and maintained contact with her.
“Ask Ooni Ogunwusi what he was doing with the woman in the hotel. You now say I speak against him. If it were you, what would you do?” he asked.
Oba Akanbi dismissed speculations that he had been suspended by Ooni Ogunwusi, insisting that they are equals and neither holds authority over the other.
“There is a rumour that Ooni suspended me. Can he suspend me? Is he superior to me? No. We are both paramount rulers,” he declared, vowing never to reconcile with the Ooni.
“I can never reconcile with Oba Ogunwusi. We will continue fighting. Nobody can kill me. The idols can’t kill me,” he added defiantly.
As of press time, the Ooni of Ife has not publicly responded to the allegations. The feud between the two prominent Yoruba monarchs has long been a source of controversy in traditional and cultural circles across the Southwest.
