The battle line is now drawn in Osun State, between native traditionalists and Iwo community’s royalty, as the monarch on the throne, the Oluwo, does not fancy Yoruba deities and he makes no pretences about it.
The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba AbdulRasheed Akanbi, recently rejected the Yoruba deities in his palace, saying, “I can’t be a slave to lesser gods”.
Oba Akanbi is a Muslim.
But the leadership of the Traditional Religion Worshippers Association (TRWASO) in Osun State is not amused, saying it runs contrary to the spirit and letter of his position as a traditional ruler; not to do propitiation or pour libation at the respective shrines or seclusions for the deities.
The traditionalists thus gave the Oba a 21-day ultimatum to come to penitence and recant, or risk sustained agitation for his dethronement.
But the mainstream Islamic group, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has allied with Oba Akanbi, asking him to ignore the traditionalists’ threat.
However, the TRWASO, on Thursday warned the MURIC to stay off its matters with the Oluwo.
The warning came six days to the expiration of 21-day ultimatum that TRWASO gave to the monarch to apologise for the alleged derogatory comments against the deities.
They threatened that failure by the monarch to comply would result in one million-man march on Iwo by traditionalists, during which they would demand for Oluwo’s removal.
A statement by the TRWASO President, Dr Oluseyi Atanda, explained that the grouse that the traditionalists had against Oluwo was because the royal father always cast aspersions at deities, monarchs and ancestors of Yorubaland.
He said, in reaction to MURIC’s resolve to stand by Oba Akanbi: “Will you as a Muslim take kindly to anybody; be it a governor, to use abusive language on Prophet Mohammed (SAW)? What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander.
“We are not fighting Islam or Oba Oluwo because he is a Muslim king. After all, he is not the only Muslim king and he is not the only wise one, that others are not knowledgeable of their personal religion and role as Oba.
“Steer clear of the battle and do not incur the wrath of what least concerns you. Let Oluwo bear his cross alone. To all onisese (traditionalists) across the world, as the President of TRWASO, I call on you today to be involved!
“From today 25th November, let us offer a kolanut each on daily basis to our Orisa (deity) to seek their intervention by 30th November.”
But sources at the palace of the Oluwo of Iwo told FirstNews that the monarch was unfazed by the threat of the traditionalists; and according to the source, “he merely told his drummers to give him good beats and he started dancing.”