An ally of the Oluwo of Iwo, Sheikh Dawud Imran, has warned the Osun State Government that the monarch’s supporters will make the state ungovernable if it writes another letter to Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi.
Imran, the Grand Mufti of Yorubaland and leader of the Tawu’un Movement, said the supporters would occupy Osogbo until a state of emergency is declared.
He made the remarks in a video shared on a Facebook page, Grand Mufti of Yorubaland.
The Public Relations Officer of the Tawu’un Movement, Lookman Adeboje, confirmed on Sunday that the video contained a sermon delivered by Imran during the previous Friday’s Jumu’ah service.
Imran, who is the Grand Mufti of Yorubaland and leader of the Islamic organisation headquartered in Iwo, spoke in Yoruba during the sermon.
He acknowledged that the government had the authority to remove a monarch but argued that citizens also had the power to remove a government through the electoral process.
Imran said the state government could continue monitoring the Oluwo, but insisted that the monarch would not stop speaking against idolatry.
He said, “The person who wrote the caution letter said the government would monitor what the Oluwo says going forward. The government can continue to monitor him, but the Oluwo will not stop speaking against idolatry.
“If you dare write another letter, we will come out in full and ensure that no vehicle moves in Osogbo. We will occupy Osogbo until a state of emergency is declared, even if it takes us a year.
“All Muslims will come out. It is our right to say that we will not be involved in idolatry and to speak against it. The Osun State Government, led by the governor, is not bigger than the people of Osun. You are our servant and you are serving us.
“Both the Federal and state governments are not bigger than their citizens. It is true that the governor has the power to remove the Oluwo, but we also have the power to remove him. We can vote to show that we no longer want him to remain in office.”
Imran said the government could remove the Oluwo because it appointed him, adding that the monarch had not denied this.
He, however, said Oba Akanbi believed that his appointment was ordained by God, arguing that the current administration was not in power when the monarch was installed.
“The government has the power to remove him if God wants it, but God will not allow that and we will also not allow that,” he said.
Imran further said the monarch’s supporters were prepared to approach the courts to stop any attempt to depose him.
He said the legal battle could continue until the end of the current administration’s tenure.
“The least you can do is remove him and we will go to court for a stay of execution. The case will not be determined before you finish your tenure,” he said.
“After the High Court, we will go to the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. After that, we will vote for a governor who will withdraw the matter.”
The PUNCH had earlier reported that the disagreement between the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Oluwo of Iwo was a major factor in the Osun State Government’s decision to caution Oba Akanbi over alleged inflammatory remarks.
The government was said to be concerned that the Oluwo’s comments about traditional worshippers, particularly the Ooni, could provoke attacks and reprisals between people from Iwo and Ile Ife.
In a letter with reference number CD.17/1/VOL.VIII/377, the government accused the Oluwo of engaging in activities capable of heightening communal tension.
It stated, “Your activities are raising communal tension, sowing seeds of communal and religious discord and increasingly discrediting the traditional values of your people and Yoruba society, of which your domain is a major part.
These developments constitute serious threats to the peace, unity and stability of Osun State and your immediate domain.”
The government consequently directed the monarch to stop attacking adherents of other faiths, refrain from attacking fellow traditional rulers and work towards preserving the culture and traditions represented by his throne.
Leave a Reply