By Tunde Olamilekan
The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has reacted to the claim that he is occupying the position of the Ataoja of Osogbo in the hierarchy of traditional rulers in Osun State.
It would be recalled that the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji in a video, claimed that the number four position currently occupied by the Oluwo was for him.
Oba Oyetunji in the video said, “Late Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Iyiola Oyewale, during his reign went abroad, and before he came back, his position was given to the Oluwo of Iwoland. That was how Oluwo became the number four in the hierarchy. That position is for Ataoja.
“When I spoke about it some time ago, people twisted words, and that was the reason why I was silent on that matter. However, I’m working underground. I’m not fighting any monarch but Ataoja’s stool is number four in Osun State.”
But the Oluwo while reacting through his Chief Press Secretary, Alli Ibraheem, on Wednesday, said Ataoja’s argument was historically inaccurate.
According to Oba Akanbi, “Ataoja should note that the claim to seniority is not by chair. Oluwo is a Natural Paramount Ruler with no history of Coronet.
“Ataoja is strongly advised to seek extension unadulterated history from great men and women of Osogbo well versed in the history of Osogbo and Yoruba by extension.”
The statement added that Oluwo’s crown derived directly from Oduduwa, adding: “As far as we know, Ataoja was a Baale until 1948.”
“While I agree we are in era where even thew newest Baale can challenge the oldest crowns with little consequences, yet I still feel hurt by what we deliberately surrendered in the last generation (25 years).
“The conquest of Yorubaland from the invasion of the Fulanis in Osogbo was not without the front war leadership of Iwo warriors such as Balogun Ali-Iwo, Basorun Ogunmola, Balogun Oderinlo, Orowusi, who are Iwo indigenes (Omo Bibi Ilu Iwo) before they left for Ibadan.
“The statement made by Ataoja was an overreach and cannot cause friction between the good people of Iwoland and Osogbo. The inference is like the Olu of Ikeja to Akiolu of Lagos,” he concluded.
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