Oluwo: Cleric faults Osun caution letter, warns of backlash

The leader of Tawu’un Movement, Iwo, Osun State, Sheikh Dawood Imran, has called for caution over a recent letter from the Osun State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs written to the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, saying that over 30 million Muslims are behind the monarch.

Imran, who is an ally of Oba Akanbi, made the remarks in a video that has gone viral on social media.

The Public Relations Officer of Tawu’un Movement, Lookman Adeboje, when contacted on Sunday for more clarification on the video, said it was an extract from last Friday’s Jummat sermon, delivered by Imran.

Speaking further, the religious leader also said his intervention prevented a riot over the caution letter, saying he was contacted by some people who were planning to take to the streets in protest against the government’s letter to the monarch.

Identifying flaws in the letter, Imran said the issue involved was religious in nature; hence, a letter regarding it should not have been written by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

He also said the letter was merely written to please those who made a case against Oluwo at the ministry, noting that if such a letter had been written before the August 15 governorship poll, it would have made the Iwo electorate vote against Governor Ademola Adeleke.

“We are not here to insult them, but the person who wrote the letter should go and rewrite it. The person who wrote that letter made six mistakes, and those who are happy with the letter are also promoting those mistakes. They should go and rewrite that letter. Those of you who are rejoicing that the Oluwo has been dethroned are deceiving yourselves.

“It is a lie. It is difficult to dethrone the Oluwo. Those promoting that letter are foolish. The person who wrote the letter is not stupid, but he needs clarification on some things, because you cannot call that letter one written by the Osun State Government. Had that letter been written before the August 15 election, it might have affected the governor’s votes. If it had not affected him in any other places, it would have affected him in Iwo, because we will not allow someone who wants to remove our monarch to remain as governor.

“The letter you wrote stemmed from what the other side told you. It is not that the Oluwo was against any constitution in your ministry. Your office is about chieftaincy matters and not religious matters. The issue between the Oluwo and those who came to report him to you is about religion, so those who wrote the letter should be careful. Those of us who are behind the Oluwo will curse you.

“When some people asked me if there should be a riot across Yorubaland after Jummat today (Friday) in solidarity with the Oluwo, I told them not to. The letter written was an attempt to appease those who are angry on the other side. The issue on the ground is a religious one, and it has nothing to do with the work the ministry is saddled with. The ministry may be sued for that letter,” Imran, who spoke in Yoruba, said.

He warned those plotting to use the opportunity of the caution letter to plot Oba Akanbi’s removal to learn from history, saying a previous attempt to remove an Oluwo during the military regime of late Gen Sani Abacha had fallen through.

“Even monarchs who are not up to the Oluwo in rank; if someone controversially removes them, such a person, even if he is the president, will have problems.

“There was a late Oluwo they attempted to dethrone back then. Those planning to remove him went to Sani Abacha, and he also supported them. However, he could not remove him until he (Abacha) died.

“It is difficult to remove a monarch, not to talk of this present Oluwo, who is special. It is either those who wrote the letter withdraw it and write another one, or they should write the same to the other side,” he added.

According to him, Oba Akanbi usually speaks about his religion, and those who believe him have been listening, describing those displeased with Oluwo’s remarks as unbelievers.

He further stated, “You wrote a letter saying that the Oluwo should not say anything again. Do you think you can use a letter to stop us from speaking about our own religion?

“What the Oluwo is propagating is the belief of more than 30 million Muslims. So it does not concern the Ministry of Chieftaincy Matters. So, you are biased if you only send such a letter to the Oluwo. You have to write to the Ooni and other monarchs who are also opposed to the Oluwo’s beliefs.

“Those practising idolatry and their monarchs are promoting their practice, while the Oluwo is promoting his Islam, and we Muslims believe in him. So, if you are writing a letter on behalf of the other side, it means you are biased. If it is about the issue escalating to cause unrest, you are not the right agency to talk about that,” he said.

He noted that the caution for Oba Akanbi should have come directly from either the police, the Department of State Services or the governor once they were convinced that what the monarch was saying could lead to unrest.

He said, “Maybe you do not know what is going on in the street. Over 30 million Muslims are behind the Oluwo because he is our own monarch. The person who wrote the letter needs to understand some things so that he can go back and rewrite it because you cannot call that a letter from the state government.”

He also said despite the caution letter, it was clear that Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke and the government were not at loggerheads with the Oluwo.

“There is no animosity between them. In fact, they are all working together for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu,” he added.

The PUNCH earlier reported that Imran, who was appointed the Grand Mufti of Yorubaland by Oluwo of Iwo, announced the formation of a new League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland, Edo, and Delta states and launched the group in Iwo, with a promise to work with Muslims in the North for the propagation of Islam.

A statement signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the Grand Mufti, Lookman Adeboje, stated that Imams and Alfas from Ogbomoso, as well as Imams from Lagos, Oyo, and Ogun states, among others, were in attendance at the inauguration.

The convener of the new group, the Grand Mufti of Yorubaland, Sheikh Dawood Imran, said the motive behind its formation was to chart a united and strategic path for the advancement of Islam in the South-West and other regions.

Imran added that the group, which includes prominent Imams and Islamic scholars, is “designed to strengthen the Muslim Ummah economically, politically, and educationally, while safeguarding the dignity, security, and collective interests of Yoruba Muslims.”