Satguru Maharaj Ji, founder of the One Love Family, has urged Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State to swiftly dethrone Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, the Oluwo of Iwo, citing numerous reported infractions.
In a statement released to journalists on Sunday, Maharaj Ji accused the monarch of unethical conduct unbecoming of a Yoruba traditional ruler.
He alleged that Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi has misused his authority to misrepresent the interests of Iwo land.
“The Oluwo of Iwo land, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi has been conducting himself in manners which are antithetical to that of a monarch in any clime and very unbecoming of a Yoruba Oba,” he said.
“Oba Akanbi’s character did not befit a person of his status and calibre as he always moved around with armed thugs, miscreants and hoodlums to harass, intimidate, molest and attack persons whom he perceives as enemies. He should be removed from office.
“It is therefore disheartening that the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, a Yoruba king who is supposed to be the custodian of Iwo culture and values has been misrepresenting the interest of Iwoland and this is becoming rather shameful.
“The Oluwo of Iwoland, Akanbi holds nothing traditionally in esteem hence his determined resolve to drag the great Iwo tradition to the mud or gutter by all means possible.
“Earlier this year Oba Akanbi showed his dexterity in boxing by physically attacking another monarch, Agbowu of Ogbaagbaa, Oba Dhirulahi Akinropo, over a land dispute! The embarrassing incident led to his suspension for six months by the Osun State Council of Traditional rulers.
“While we do not know how the traditional process that produced Akanbi as the Oluwo of Iwoland worked leading to his emergence onto the venerated throne his subjects seem to have had and heard enough of his misconducts.
“Whether he came in through the right means or not he ought to have been dethroned long ago following his monarchical malfeasance. No morally upright monarch should have anything to do with controversy or scandal.
“Oba Akanbi who has found himself occupying a throne that ought to be reserved for great men of Royal Descent with unblemished record, must be shown the way out sooner or later.
“The Governor who approved his Kingship should as a matter of urgency dethrone him as the Oluwo of Iwoland.
“We are not against him but when it comes to the occupant of the throne of Oba in Yoruba land, such a person must be a replication of outright honesty, care, love, and decency and must possess all Divine attributes of a Royal Father.
“By his abominable comportment, he has effortlessly demonstrated that he is unfit to be called ‘His Majesty’. He manifests daily how not to be an Oba. Therefore, the viable option in our reckoning is dethronement”, the statement reads.
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