Those criticising me for not covering my head in Mecca are ignorant — Oluwo
Those criticising me for not covering my head in Mecca are ignorant — Oluwo
The Paramount Ruler of Iwo, Osun State, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, speaks with BIODUN BUSARI about his disdain for idols, the expectations of traditional institutions, and his experience at Hajj, among other topic
You frequently stress your aversion to idol worship. Have any of your chiefs or kingmakers expressed displeasure with this stance?
kingship is just idol worship. It is not true. I’m a reformist. I came to reform the traditional institution.
Do you face opposition in your kingdom concerning this?
Like I said earlier, I’m the driver of the kingdom, and nobody can take the steering wheel from me. The chiefs are just like passengers in my vehicle. They have to wait until I arrive at my destination, which I believe I’m achieving. I’m moving towards greatness. The achievements are there, and that’s why my people love me. Even at night, I’m a king who can move freely without fear among my people. I have protection from God the Almighty. God is always with those who stick to Him. It’s God who created Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, and other tribes, and He protects me always. I’m an unrepentant and die-hard fan of the Almighty God. There is no weapon from the opposition that can move me. And this isn’t about me, but for all kings who stay with God.
As a first-class paramount ruler, with 35 kings under me, I know the right things and am trying to enlighten other kings. Iwo is one of the promoters of Yoruba language, the kind of Yoruba language that students can use to write WAEC examinations. I’m a custodian of culture and tradition in Yoruba land, but I’ll never promote anything outside of God. I can boldly say that all palaces in Yoruba land belong to God. Ideally, kings should be promoting God more than pastors and imams.
What legacy do you aim to leave in Iwoland?
My desired legacy is to put Olodumare in the heart of everyone. There is one God that we serve. You don’t need to reach Him through an Ekiti god, nor do you need an Agemo to reach Him. Everyone can access God directly. If you want to know about God, you can go to kings who don’t worship deities. My legacy is to introduce God to everyone I meet. Anywhere I promote God, people in that area will know me. This universe is God’s company, and He makes kings like executive officers, so they have to pay allegiance back to Him, not idols. Kings have no business worshipping idols or deities. You can’t describe Yoruba people as Christians, Muslims, or idol worshippers, but by their culture, which includes language, greetings, dress, music, and dancing.
What roles should traditional institutions play in contributing to the betterment of the country?
The traditional rulers in this country have a significant role to play, but they lack recognition. There should be no hiding place for criminals if traditional rulers are fully empowered. Crimes in any area would be known to the local monarch, whether the criminals were the monarch’s children, chiefs’ children, or strangers. However, these criminals cannot be traced or known if the government does not fund the traditional institutions. There are instruments needed to achieve this, but they are not provided. The kings do not have autonomy, so they are toothless. Traditional institutions have been degraded because politicians do not appreciate kingship. They do not like us because they do not belong to royal families. If they understood the importance of kingship, they would recognise that it is the institution that should be empowered the most. If you empower the kings, there would be no lapses in security. Even the police in the communities lack adequate patrol vehicles. Traditional rulers are not well paid. Kings are paid peanuts. I can speak for the South-West, particularly Osun State and Iwo, where kings are paid one-fifth of peanuts.
There is little a king can do with this because he needs to fund the police. How can police, without vehicles to pursue criminals, stop crimes? There are numerous problems at the grassroots level. Only the kings have power over the grassroots. The situation is in disarray because kingship is not where it should be. To be a king, you must be ready to serve the people. If you cannot do that, then you cannot be a ruler. You cannot lord it over the people. The king is a representative of God, who does not sleep day or night, so kings must also serve their people diligently. If you cannot serve your people, kingship is not for you. A king must also treat his subjects as kings, not as slaves.
Markle, visited Nigeria, you met with them. What was discussed, and how has the relationship been since then?
Regardless of current events in the United Kingdom, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle come from royal families but are also human. Therefore, when they visited Nigeria, I welcomed them in their royal capacity, and we have maintained communication since then. We discuss development agendas for our people and build networks in life. It has been a privilege to get to know them, and they are admirable individuals.
You are close to President Bola Tinubu, and Nigerians are facing hardships under his administration. Have you reached out to him about this?
When it comes to the President, he genuinely cares about the people and aims to improve the country. Despite the challenges he inherited, excuses should not overshadow efforts to enhance people’s lives. My advice is for him to persist in doing his best. Legislation that effectively addresses corruption, which harms people through inadequate infrastructure like roads and hospitals, is crucial. Laws should penalise corrupt individuals decisively, akin to practices in China, Saudi Arabia, and Singapore, rather than merely administering mild sanctions. Effective implementation is key, reminding everyone that national wealth should benefit all citizens, not just a few. Additionally, promoting food self-sufficiency is vital. While encouraging farming, open borders should allow competitive pricing of food items to ensure abundance and affordability in the country. I pray that these measures are complemented by concrete actions. Governors must also improve grassroots support, ensuring resources reach all communities, regardless of political affiliation. Constitutional recognition of kings, especially paramount rulers, by the federal government is essential, fostering respect for traditional institutions and enhancing governance.
