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The leader of Iwo kingmakers and Osa of Iwo, Chief Yekeen Bello, has insisted that the Oluwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi must be dethroned, adding that the petition written to Osun State governor, Adegboyega Oyetola was because of the monarch’s behaviour and attitude.
In an interview with The Punch, Bello, who is the second in command to Oba Akanbi, sais you can always see that on social media and comments by the public about him are usually very bad. He said the monarch’s behaviour is negatively affecting Iwo, Osun State, and Nigeria in general.
“If an Oba conducts himself properly, nobody will say no to that. If a king does not respect us, his chiefs and elders in the community, what do you think will happen?”Bello asked
The Osa said the kingmakers have tried to condone “those things, but we cannot continue like this,” adding “he is a disgrace to the community.”
He added: “Many times, we have sat down and talked about it. We have advised him, but still he would not listen. The kingmakers concluded that since that is the case, something had to be done about it. For instance, Iwoland comprises Olaoluwa and Ayedire, but where are the other local government areas today? Is it good to suspend an Oba from the Council of Obas like it happened to Oluwo?”
Bello further stated that he has not seen Ova Akanbi personally but he has heard that the matter is already in the news.
” I’m sorry for Alli Ibrahim, Press Secretary to Oluwo, who said we received a large amount of money from somebody or people to remove Oluwo. That is a blatant lie. If we had taken that route, everything would have been over by now. We are also seeking help,” the Osa said.
Speaking on the kingmakers relationship with Oluwo, Bello said: “Our relationship is not cordial. If it had been cordial, you wouldn’t have seen the petition. He called for us last Sunday; we went and told him we could not be bribed. Unfortunately, he told us to find jobs that we would be doing. He said the allocation coming from the government is meant for the Oba alone and not the chiefs. I just laughed. He thought we did not know anything. If you investigate, you will know the allocation is for the Oba, chiefs and baales (community heads). He thought we were uncivilised. We are fighting for our rights. He will have to give us our rights. For a chief to be going home with about N4,000 or N3,000 per month is ridiculous. I am sorry to say this. You know, I am second in command to him.”