The Osun State government issued a formal warning to the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi. It cautions him over alleged inflammatory public statements.
The government accused the monarch of making pronouncements capable of provoking religious tensions, inter-town disagreements and threats to communal peace. However, the Oluwo appears unwilling to back down. The monarch has boldly challenged Governor Ademola Adeleke, declaring, “You cannot remove me!”
The development has raised fresh questions about the relationship between traditional institutions and government authorities, particularly over the limits of royal authority and public conduct. 
Osun Government Issues Formal Warning to Oluwo
The warning was contained in a letter from the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, through the Office of the Permanent Secretary.
Titled ‘Cautionary Notes on Inflammatory Rhetorics Capable of Creating Religious and Inter-Town Conflicts’, the letter expressed the government’s displeasure over recent public statements attributed to the monarch.
Addressed to Oba Akanbi at the Oluwo Palace in Iwo, the correspondence stated that the government considered the alleged remarks serious enough to warrant intervention. According to the letter, the statements could undermine peaceful coexistence, encourage religious confrontation and threaten relationships between communities. The government maintained that it could no longer ignore activities capable of destabilising communal peace.
Government Reminds Monarch of Constitutional Responsibilities
The state government acknowledged that every Nigerian enjoys constitutional rights, including freedom of religious association. However, it stressed that traditional rulers must respect these rights and protect the interests of their subjects, regardless of their religious beliefs.
It specifically warned the Oluwo against making statements or engaging in conduct that could encourage hostility towards people of other faiths.
The government also reminded the monarch that his traditional position comes with responsibilities to preserve cultural values, customs and peaceful relationships within his domain. It further argued that traditional institutions should promote unity rather than become platforms for religious or communal disagreements. According to the letter, pursuing reforms that could trigger violence or conflict was unacceptable to the state administration.
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Six Directives Osun State Government Issued to the Oluwo
To prevent further tension, the government outlined six directives for the monarch.
- It asked the Oluwo to immediately stop making attacks against people of other religious beliefs and respect their constitutional freedoms.
- The government also urged him to refrain from attacking fellow traditional rulers, warning that such exchanges could trigger inter-town confrontations.
- Other directives included preserving the cultural heritage represented by his traditional stool and complying with the behavioural standards outlined in Osun State’s chieftaincy laws.
- The ministry further announced that it would monitor the monarch’s compliance with the caution.
- It also directed the State Council of Obas to monitor developments in Iwo and take appropriate action.
Oluwo Allegedly Challenges Governor Amid Growing Controversy
Despite the government’s warning, the Oluwo has reportedly pushed back against the intervention.
In a trending video circulating online, the monarch boldly declared, “You cannot remove me!”, signalling his determination to resist any attempt to strip him of his traditional position. His response adds another dimension to the unfolding disagreement between the palace and the state government.
Meanwhile, the government insists that traditional rulers must exercise restraint and protect the peace of their communities. The controversy now places renewed attention on the relationship between elected authorities and traditional institutions in Osun State.
It also raises questions about how far government intervention can go when royal conduct is considered capable of threatening public peace.
Online Users React To Osun Government’s Memo to Oluwo of Iwo
Social media is awash with various reactions to the statement released by the Osun Statement government on the Oluwo of Iwo. Read some of the reactions below:
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