The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Akanbi, has clarified that the Ooni of Ife has never visited his palace, which means he could not have walked him out as claimed.
This statement comes in response to a viral video on social media where the Ooni alleged that he was treated disrespectfully during a visit to Oluwo’s residence.
In the video, the Ooni stated, “When I visited Oluwo, he chased me out like a child. Since that incident, I have always kept my distance from him. Now that you people (attendees) are suggesting I visit him again, what if he does what he likes to me?”
He further noted, “But I have to contain his excesses as an elder, although I am a young person sitting on the throne of the elders. Oluwo, I greet you.”
Speaking through his spokesperson, Alli Ibrahim, Oluwo refuted the claims, asserting, “The trending video is old, and there was never a time Ooni came to the palace. The palace will officially respond to the trending video.”
The two monarchs have been engaged in a cold war regarding seniority, with Oluwo being reported as seven years older than the Ooni. Despite this, Oluwo has not acknowledged the Ooni’s position as the head of traditional rulers in the Southwest.
