The Osun State Government has placed the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, under monitoring following concerns over public statements attributed to the monarch which the government says could provoke religious tension, communal discord and conflicts between neighbouring towns.
The warning was conveyed in an official letter issued by the Osun State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, through the Office of the Permanent Secretary. The letter, dated November 2026, bears reference number CD.17/1/VOL.VIII/377 and was reportedly signed by Wale Alliyu on behalf of the Permanent Secretary.
According to reports by The PUNCH and Osun Defender, the state government expressed concern that some of the monarch’s recent public pronouncements had the potential to undermine peaceful religious coexistence and create divisions within Osun State and the wider Yoruba community.
The government reportedly stated that the situation had reached a point where the administration could no longer ignore activities considered capable of disturbing public peace.
In its communication, the government reminded the Oluwo that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of religious association and that traditional rulers have a responsibility to respect the religious choices of their subjects, irrespective of their faith.
The government stressed that occupying a traditional throne does not give any monarch the authority to undermine the constitutional rights of people who practise religions different from his own.
Among the directives issued, Oba Akanbi was instructed to stop making statements or engaging in activities that could be interpreted as attacks on people of other religious beliefs. He was also advised to refrain from provocative remarks against fellow traditional rulers to prevent possible confrontations between communities.
The government further urged the monarch to preserve Yoruba cultural heritage, customs and traditions, conduct himself in accordance with the state’s Chieftaincy Laws, respect the regulations and resolutions of the Osun State Council of Obas, and comply with the cautionary measures issued by the authorities.
The Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs was reportedly directed to monitor the monarch’s compliance, while the Osun State Council of Obas was also instructed to observe developments in Iwoland and take appropriate action where necessary. A copy of the government letter was reportedly forwarded to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, in his capacity as Chairman of the Osun State Council of Obas.
Although the government did not identify every specific statement that prompted its intervention, reports indicate that the concerns relate to several public pronouncements by the Oluwo about Yoruba traditional religious practices and other traditional rulers.
On July 1, 2026, the monarch reportedly criticised certain traditional rites and seclusion practices associated with the installation of new traditional rulers. In a video published on his Facebook page, he described such practices as a means of subjecting monarchs to what he characterised as idolatry.
On October 10, 2026, he reportedly made another public statement questioning the idea of ancient crowns, arguing that crowns derive their significance from the monarchs who wear them.
The government expressed concern that statements of this nature, alongside other public utterances attributed to the monarch, could undermine traditional institutions and generate unnecessary religious and communal tensions.
In response to enquiries from The Ancestral News , the Oluwo’s Press Secretary, Alli Ibraheem, reportedly said during a telephone interview that the monarch had not received any letter from the Osun State Government.
The response introduces a point requiring further clarification, particularly regarding the reported delivery of the correspondence to the palace and its receipt by the monarch’s office. As of the publication of the reports, no detailed response from the Oluwo addressing the substance of the government’s concerns had been included.
The development has renewed attention to the responsibilities of traditional rulers in contemporary Nigerian society, particularly in a culturally diverse state such as Osun. Yoruba traditional institutions have historically played important roles in preserving indigenous customs, ancestral heritage, community identity and cultural continuity.
At the same time, contemporary traditional rulers preside over communities whose members practise different religious traditions, including Ìṣẹ̀ṣe, Christianity and Islam. This makes religious tolerance, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence important responsibilities of traditional leadership.
The government’s intervention highlights the delicate relationship between cultural preservation, freedom of religious association and the responsibility of traditional authorities to maintain peace within their communities.
For now, the Osun State Government has indicated its intention to monitor the situation and expects the Oluwo to comply with its cautionary directives. The development remains significant for Iwoland and the wider Yoruba traditional institution, as questions surrounding religious freedom, cultural identity and royal authority continue to attract public attention.
