The many battles of Oluwo — by Alli Ibraheem

I joined the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, as his Chief Press Secretary, at a time he was faced with many battles — physical and spiritual. In fact, it was the following week of my appointment as his Chief Press Secretary that a baseless and frivolous litigation was coordinated by forces that led to the issuance of a warrant of arrest against him, which was later discontinued. Following the failure of all attempts to implicate him, his adversaries resorted to using the judiciary for their heinous act. The motive was to manufacture an unfounded civil allegation and use their influence in the judiciary to capture and punish the monarch.

As the battle heated up, the civil case was altered to quasi-criminal to cage their target. On June 16, 2017, the case was discontinued after the interference of some stakeholders who saw no point in the suit.

My interest is not in the magnitude of the battles but the early experience of a newly installed, exposed, digital, and progressive monarch.

Before the coordinated attack from the judiciary, there had been another orchestrated effort to arrest Oluwo through another false accusation in 2016. The serving Commissioner of Police at the time called Oluwo, accusing him of robbery and killing two people inside the vehicle. He threatened the monarch to submit himself to the police the same evening or he would be declared wanted the next morning. He hung up the call thereafter. Surprised but without fear, the Oluwo said “Alhamdulilahi”, which means “I thank Almighty God”, because every battle has always been a ladder to further his greatness. He told no one except Olodumare (God). The next morning, when Femi Oyeleye had planned to declare Oluwo wanted, he was transferred from Osun State to Alagbon, Lagos State, where he later died in the line of duty.

Not long after that failed attempt, the enemies decided to infiltrate using his harem as a bait. Yoruba would say “Bi iku ile o pani, tode o le pani” loosely translated to mean “If internal enemies did not kill you, external cannot.” If your brother or sister is bought, by grace, you may still escape the cage. But if your wife is bought by your foes, you are gone. The enemies infiltrated the palace, and this time around, they bought the queen cheaply. I used to imagine one of my two wives working for my enemies. I asked myself the means and ways to survive such a situation, someone who cooks my food, washes my clothes, enters my room, and sleeps with me. The escape route can never be by human wisdom, understanding, or smartness but by the pure grace of Olodumare.

The cursed Chanel Chin was planted in the palace. She was perfecting every means to get rid of the Oluwo. She poisoned the king. She would stage Oluwo to hold something for her, not knowing she is recording. If not being used by the enemies, why will my wife be recording me in my bedroom? She stage-managed many things through information and conversation exchange with the enemies to either dethrone or kill Oluwo. In late 2019, Oluwo divorced her for irreconcilable differences. Imagine my wife planning with my enemies against me. Can that be forgiven?

Many kings have also schemed against him. Monarchs have held both nocturnal and clandestine meetings to plot the Oluwo’s removal. When all attempts failed, they convened an emergency meeting to declare Oluwo suspended from their council meetings. Those kings bought some chiefs and princes to achieve their aim. They failed yesterday. They are failing today, and they shall be perpetually fail.

Not long after the queen was sent packing, the kingmakers, 13 out of 14, signed for the dethronement of Oluwo. The late immediate past Chief Olosi was the only one who refused to sign. Despite the magnitude of the coordinated arrangement, they failed. Oluwo refused to be dethroned. He survived the trap again. Princes have equally made several attempts but always meet a brick wall.

Abiola Ogundokun had also battled Oluwo. In history, Baba Ogundokun had never missed his target. But on Oluwo, he missed both his fire and the goalpost.

On October 30th, 2020, the late Alaafin Adeyemi III visited Oluwo of Iwoland, HIM Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi in his palace and said his first 20 years on the throne were more controversial and turbulent than that of Oluwo.

In real life, those with easy beginnings do not always make good leaders. Oluwo marked his 10th coronation anniversary last year. He was celebrated locally, nationally, and internationally because of his qualitative leadership. Today, the battles are no longer as intense. While his enemies are getting weaker, the Oluwo is getting stronger. He has fought and won. Today, the message is clear: the strongest are those who hold on to only Olodumare and not deities. No one wins without God. He will never take credit for the victory, which is one of the reasons why he always referenced God.

Alli Ibraheem is the Chief Press Secretary to the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi