The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, has declared that his lingering conflict with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, can never be resolved, accusing the Ife monarch of betrayal and alleged attempts to destroy him.
Speaking on the controversy surrounding his strained relationship with the Ooni, the Oluwo alleged that despite playing a role in helping Oba Ogunwusi ascend the throne of Ife, the monarch has allegedly plotted against him.
According to Oba Akanbi, the Ooni allegedly “packaged” a woman for him, who later became his wife and lived with him for over three years before their marriage collapsed. The Oluwo claimed that during that period, the woman and the Ooni maintained suspicious communications, which included alleged recordings, pictures, and plots that endangered his life.
“She was in my house for over three years and she had a child. I am not even sure of the paternity of the child, I need to do a DNA,” the Oluwo stated, adding that the woman allegedly poisoned him twice before he sent her away.
The monarch further alleged that after the separation, the Ooni rented an apartment for the woman and her child. He also challenged the Ife ruler to explain the nature of his relationship with the woman, claiming they were once sighted together in a hotel.
“If you all were in my shoes, can you forgive such? This fight is forever,” Oba Akanbi declared.
The outburst adds another dimension to the longstanding tension between the two traditional rulers, who have often been at odds despite both being prominent Yoruba monarchs.
As of press time, the Ooni of Ife has not publicly responded to the allegations.
