The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Adewale Akanbi in a press statement released on Friday just after the traditional rulers summit which took place in Port-Harcourt, Rivers State, last Tuesday, recounted an unpleasant face-off with Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeale Ogunwusi, who he accused of his Chief Securiy Officer (CSO), Olawale Kolawole, to push him out of the way during the meeting.
According to Oba Adewale Akanbi, the incident occurred just after the Ooni of Ife finished giving a vote of thanks, and was on his way back to his seat. A source told Punch that the Ooni’s CSO Olawale Kolawole had a brush with the Oluwo who was having a discussion with the Minister of Interior, Lt Gen. Abdurahman Dambazzau, but appeared to be blocking the Ooni from accessing his seat.
The statement claimed that the overzealous CSO, threatened to push the monarch if he did not give way for Ooni to pass and further ignored Oba Akanbi’s entreaties to “take it easy” and pushed him out of the way.
The visibly embarrassed Oluwo, had to step aside to pave way for Ooni to get to his seat, a source said.
Oluwo wrote:
“Dignitaries at the event were taken aback by what they considered as a desecration of the crown as the bodyguard of the Ooni pushed a first-class paramount ruler, Oluwo. The monarch excused himself in order to maintain peace. The Ooni was observing and he felt satisfied with the action of his guard”.
But the Ooni, while reacting to the allegation in a statement issued by his Director of Public Affairs, Moses Olafare, described the claims of the Oluwo as untrue.
“There was no altercation between Oluwo and anybody at that venue at all. Kabiyesi Ooni went to make his speech in his capacity as a co-chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers. On his way back to the seat right beside the representative of the President, General Dambazau (rtd.), on sighting Oluwo who had come to the high table to take pictures with some dignitaries while the programme was still ongoing, he waited for some minutes to allow Oluwo leave the way to his seat”
However the Ooni’s CSO, admitted in a telephone interview that the bitter exchange with Oba Akanbi occurred because he had a duty to secure his principal.
