Iwo High Chief, Abiola Ogundokun opens up to Gbenga Aderanti on the genesis of his quarrel with the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi Ilufemiloye Telu I.
A YEAR ago, it was impossible to imagine a war of attrition between Iwo High Chief, Abiola Ogundokun and the town’s monarch, Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, owing to their closeness and the part the latter played in the events leading to Oluwo’s crowning. But as it has turned out, one year is indeed a long time.
Speaking exclusively to The Nation recently, Ogundokun, a former publicity secretary of the defunct National Party of Nigeria, NPN, said he does not know what Oluwo wants from him or what he has done to warrant him destroying the foundation he has built. “While I will not allow anything to scratch his body, I will likewise not allow him destroy the foundation I have built.”
He revealed how he stood firmly behind the Oluwo right from the time he was appointed, but insisted that he will not shirk his responsibility to make the monarch tow the right path.
Ogundokun said he never knew the Oba until he became Oluwo, adding that former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, once told him to ensure that the Oba does not derail.
He claimed that he used his personal money to furnish the Oluwo’s palace, and that the monarch even acknowledged this in a letter of appreciation he wrote to him.
In that letter, made available to The Nation, Oluwo also appointed Ogundokun as Obanla and automatically made him a member of the town’s Conflict Resolution Committee, and acknowledged the chief’s “fatherly role to the throne and skill of conflict resolution of knotty issues in Iwo, Osun State…”
The monarch also lauded the High Chief’s donation of an office complex for the smooth take-off of Iwo East Local Council Development Area at Olomowewe.
Ogundokun also spoke of how he risked his life by challenging the mob that came to attack the palace. “There was a day an irate mob tried to raze down the palace. They were already burning tyres but I went there to stop them.”
Contrary to what is being bandied in some quarters, the crisis between the two may not be of personality clash after all. This is as Ogundokun revealed that his problem with the Oluwo is based on principle.
To underscore their closeness before the bad blood, Ogundokun explained that Oluwo had offered him different traditional titles, which he was reluctant to take. “He said I should be the second in command to the throne, but I said I was not from the royal family. My brother is the Eefa; traditionally he is the second in command to the throne. So, how can I be the second in command to the Oba?
“He wanted to make me the Aare of Iwo Kingdom. Aare is the president of Iwo Kingdom. Later he made me the Obanla.”
Ogundokun said he was reluctant to take the title until he found a letter in his house, stating that he had been made the Obanla. “I said kabiyesi, I don’t want this.” But the Oluwo replied, ‘I’ve given it to you.’ Up till now, I’ve not written him a letter of acceptance.”
When The Nation contacted the Oluwo, he gave an express instruction that he was not ready to discuss the crisis.
Unfortunately the crisis between the two titans is being stoked by the action and inaction of the two actors. Ogundokun maintained that if Oluwo had apologised or made a detour about his actions, the crisis would not have festered.
He said he is ready to forgive Oluwo, only if he would stop some of his inflammatory pronouncement.
“Oluwo talks too much. Once he was told to pray at a function, but rather than pray, he just went about abusing me. The Imam General of South West was there, the Imam Generals of Ekiti, Iwo, Ilorin, Oyo were there as well,” Ogundokun said.
He said his honest advice to the Oluwo would be to stop some of his incongruous attitude and illegalities.
He accused Oluwo of wanting to destroy the tradition of the people of Iwo by not only equating himself with the gods but also crowning his wife.
He also accused Oluwo of engaging in actions that could bring disrespect to the throne.
“Who is that Oba that would crown his wife? Who is that Oba that would say he is superior to the Alaafin of Oyo and the Ooni of Ife? He said every Oba in Yorubaland has the right to the throne of Ooni. He was talking anyhow and just manufacturing history.”
Unknown to many, the actual cause of the disagreement is not unconnected with the action of Oluwo, concerning Iwo Board of Trustees.
Ogundokun said he advised the Oluwo on the illegality he was perpetrating in the appointment of officers and members of the board, which did not go down well with him. “I went to meet Oluwo that there is a boy called Lanre, who said you made him the secretary of the Iwo Board of Trustees, and still went ahead to appoint another person to the same position.
“I told Oluwo that the young man (Lanre) cannot be removed as the Secretary of IBOT unless another letter is written to withdraw the initial appointment, but he got angry and said he would not withdraw the letter.
“He always gets angry when you give him genuine advice,” Ogundokun said.
The Nation learnt that the Osolo of Isolo, Lagos during a meeting with the two parties in his Isolo palace, tried to make the Oluwo see reasons why he should listen to Ogundokun, but he stuck to his gun.
Back in Iwo, Ogundokun said Oluwo invited him to his palace to discuss the IBOT issue but soiled it by trying to “record our conversation.”
He said he rebuffed an attempt by Oluwo to make it look as if he was forcing the said Lanre on him. “I never told him to make the boy secretary. I only reminded him that our agreement in Lagos was to invite the boy, but Oluwo said he was not ready to see him.
“I read out the constitution to him and told him that his actions were illegal and that the boy could go to court and sue him.”
In a separate interview with The Nation, Oluwo in response to the allegation of illegalities explained that there is nothing strange in putting the crown on his wife’s head. He said it was his recognition and respect for women, like Oduduwa did, that made him do it.
He explained that Iwo cannot continue to live in the past, saying it is improper to serve a god that does not bring development to its people.
Further attempts to get an interview with Oluwo however met a brickwall, as one of his close aides said the monarch was not willing to discuss the matter. He said it is not right for the monarch to engage in verbal war with his subject, and that he would rather act in accordance with the powers conferred on him by tradition.
Ogundokun’s removal as Otun Balogun of Iwoland may therefore not be unconnected with this stance.
But in a swift reaction, Ogundokun said he ceased being Otun Balogun the moment the monarch withdrew the title of Otun Balogun from him and made him Obanla.
Failed reconciliation efforts
According to Ogundokun, former President Obasanjo had reached out to the two, but Oluwo chose to adopt the hard stance.
“Baba Obasanjo said he would come to Iwo, but Oluwo told the ex-president not to come, saying he knows how to deal with me.”
The governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has also reportedly called on the two warring individuals to sheath their swords.
Said Ogundokun, “The governor, during a meeting told Oluwo that ‘if anybody is calling you Oluwo today, it was through the efforts of this man (Ogundokun). If there is any man behind you in Iwo today, it is this man.’ He also told him (Oluwo) that he didn’t want any trouble in Iwo.”
But rather than soft-pedal, Ogundokun said the Oluwo threatened to remove his brother as Babaloja of the town.
“We also met at a party in Ikire, where some dignitaries said I should come and sit with him; I swallowed my pride went; but he just stood up and left.” Ogundokun said.
“Many traditional rulers have also tried to mediate, but Oluwo has bluntly refused. The traditional rulers spent two nights here in Iwo, but it ended in futility.”
‘My conditions for truce’
“Oluwo should talk less. He should not call himself god. He should not abuse any traditional ruler. He should not abuse Ooni and Alaafin or any of his perceived enemies. He should not place curse on them again.”
