The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi has described the burning of the Akinrun and Aree palaces in Osun as an abomination and a taboo.
Oba Akanbi, while expressing disappointment on the silence of Yoruba monarchs on the dastardly act also threatened to go after any individual who is involved in such acts
In a statement by Alli Ibraheem, his spokesperson on Sunday, the Iwo monarch condemned the attack, adding that it was an attack on all the Yoruba monarchs.
While describing the attack as a demonstration of shame and shallow reasoning perpetrated by uncultured individuals taking laws into their hands, he called on the Nigeria Police to arrest perpetrators of the arson so as to face the wrath of the law.
He added that such arrests would serve as a deterrent and help to preserve the traditional institution since the palace is the house of God on earth.
While lamenting the development, Oba Akanbi declared that the arson on the palace was a shame as those who want to vent their anger should approach the court to seek redress.
“There have been palaces before the Church and Mosque in the time of David and Solomon. When did you see either Christian or Muslim burning the Church or Mosque while fighting over pastorship or Imam position? Pure, unadulterated palaces are the Houses of God on earth.
“It further saddened my heart that no traditional ruler is speaking against the immoral, uncultured and uncivilized attack on our sacred stools. The source, pride and heritage of every town is the palace. An attack on any stool is an attack on all stools,” he said.
He challenged Yoruba monarchs to check themselves and return to God as the pride that goes along with the traditional stool has been desecrated.
“The onus is us to lift the sacred throne above objects and reclaim our glory. Many monarchs will worship Orisha but still, hoodlums don’t fear the stool. We should return to God and clinch to Him. It is only by truly and purely representing GOD we bear His name we can be duly respected and protected.
“Shame, shame and shame on that town/city that made it possible for thugs to burn their palace. A sacrilege has been committed,” he added.
In November and early December, the palaces of the Akinrun of Ikirun and Aree of Iree went up in flames.
A section of the town’s people, who were not favourably disposed to the choice of monarch by the Adegboyega Oyetola administration, angrily set the palaces ablaze.
In Ikirun, Lukman Omoola, lost his life as a result of the violence that erupted due to the kingship tussle.
On Monday, November 28, 2022, a day after his inauguration as Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke issued an Executive Order putting a hold on the installation of the Akinrun of Ikinrun, Aree of Iree and Owa of Igbajo.
Governor Adeleke also constituted a review committee with the aim of investigating and advising the government on the way forward with regards to the three monarchs.
