I have nothing against idol worshippers but, they should not bring king under their control – Oluwo of Iwo

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

The popular Oluwo of Iwo Land, Oba Alhaji AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi, has said that he has no issues with idol worshippers in Yoruba Land, particularly those in his kingdom, but insisted that they cannot go out of their way by forcing any Oba to embrace their own beliefs as natural religion.

The Oba’s position was captured in a recent video clip by BBC Yoruba, watched by The DEFENDER.

It will be recalled that some Yoruba idol worshippers, under the aegis of Osun State Traditional Worshippers Association, had threatened to invade the ancient town with intent to demand or force the monarch to vacate the throne following his declaration of Odun Olorun Oba, although they failed to achieve the aim.

The final resolve was, however, credited to intervention of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC), who warned that allowing the idol worshippers to invade Iwo because the Oluwo identified himself with his religion of Islam will not be good for the state security as, according to MURIC, followers of Islam too will not fold their arms and watch.

The state Governor,. Alhaji Isiaka Adegboyega Oyetola, finally rose to the challenge and the rest is now history, The DEFENDER gathered.

Speaking in the interview with BBC Yoruba on the Odun Olorun Oba, the Oluwo said he has nothing against the idol worshippers but that they must not think that once anybody becomes an Oba in Yoruba Land, he automatically becomes or must be idol worshipper, “No,” he said.

The DEFENDER reports that, despite the threats of the traditionalists, the Oluwo went ahead with his plan and held the Odun Olorun Oba, which has now become an annual festival in Iwo Land. Christians and Muslims took part in the maiden edition of the festival as they danced, sang and ate with the king with songs sung mostly by Christian artists as watched and heard on the video.

Oba Akanbi said: “God is he that chooses a king. He that will be King on the earth would have been destined for it from heaven. You do not become king after you have gotten here.

“If you are not destined for being a king, you can’t get there if God does not choose you. It is God that chooses a king.

“The real king is God. It is only a Yoruba king that is greeted like God is greeted (Kaabiyesi – the unquestionable).

“The first question we should ask ourselves is, who is Kaabiyesi – the unquestionable? God is ‘The Unquestionable’.

“I have nothing against the idol worshippers but, they should not bring the king under their control.

“Sometimes they claim in their sayings that when they say Oosa (idol), they are talking about the same God. No. God is not Oosa – idol. He is not one of the Oosa – idols.

“What is called ‘Oosa is eni ori sa da’, (meaning, he that destiny has made to be specially created). So, it is human being that is called Oosa – idol.

“God, who is King not only of the heavens but also of the entire universe, the Lord who created the universe, the heavens, earths, the oceans, the lagoon, the creator of ogun, obatala and creator of sango. Only him alone we will all worship.

“If as a king I am celebrating Odun Olorun Oba – meaning, festival of God, I am celebrating the festival of my boss, the only boss that I have. I am not deputy or second-in-command to God. There is no second-in-command to God. The only one that you can have is representative – Arole.”

The Oluwo of Iwo Land, Oba Alhaji AbdulRasheed Adewale Akanbi, said these to BBC Yoruba, during the celebration of newly formed Odun Olorun Oba in Iwo kingdom on 12 November, 2021.

The Oluwo, however, found backers across Christianity and Islam.

Rev. Samson Oluwamodede said, “Since I have been moving around in life, I have never witnessed or seen an Oba in any community or settlement (of Yoruba Land), who would say he wants to set one day aside to celebrate and praise God.

“This (done by Oluwo of Iwo Land) is number one and I thank God. I also advise other Obas to leave idols and copy what is good,” the Christian leader said.

Also supporting the king, Prince Rich Adetule said:

“Oluwo on this is right. Yoruba worship only ONE GOD called ELEDUMARE or OLODUMARE. The Only GOD they said Oba ti a kikikiki ti a le ki tan.

“Orisas are not gods. They are Saints, who performed wonders and did things the community can never forget. Don’t be surprised in Years to come some people may likely add Sunday Igboho to one of Yoruba Orisas.”