Society Gists

The crisis between the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Akanbi and a prominent son of the town, Chief Abiola Ogundokun has taken a delicate dimension as the duo threaten showdown, leaving indigenes of the town apprehensive over the conflict.
The Oluwo and Ogundokun were very close friends until recently when the monarch announced that the chieftaincy title he gave Chief Ogundokun, the publisher of Conscience International Magazine, has been withdrawn.
However, the socialite said the monarch lacks power to withdraw his title.
Ogundokun had been installed as the Otun Balogun of Iwoland over two decades ago and was also made the Bashorun Musulumi of Iwoland on November 27th 1999 as a result of his contributions to Iwo and the Muslim community in the town.
When Oba Akanbi became the Oluwo last year, he elevated Ogundokun from Otun Balogun to the Obanla of Iwo which is the second in command to the monarch according to the traditional hierarchy in the town.
It was learnt that some top personalities including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola as well as prominent indigenes of the town were making frantic efforts to resolve the conflict and reconcile them.
But the reconciliatory efforts seemed to have hit the rock as the monarch installed another indigene of the town, Alhaji Jimoh Babatunde Okanlawon, as the new Otun Balogun and announced that he has replaced Ogundokun.
Meanwhile, Ogundokun said Okanlawon could not have replaced him because he had relinquished the title given to Okanlawon since he was installed as Obanla of Iwo.
Ogundokun said he remains the Obanla and that he would resist any attempt by the monarch to replace him in the traditional council.
In a statement by Oluwo’s Press Secretary, Mr Alli Ibraheem, the monarch directed that all responsibilities, roles and obligations meant for Chief Ogundokun should henceforth be ascribed and channelled to Chief Okanlawon.
According to him, “Oluwo is the prescribed, consenting and appointing authority on different categories of chiefs in Iwoland. If any other person parades himself as the Otun Balogun of Iwoland, he would be running the risk of impersonation, which is an offence punishable under the laws of the land”.
Addressing a press conference in Osogbo yesterday, Chief Ogundokun said it was the Council of Imams of Iwoland that made him the Basorun Musulumi and that the monarch has no power over the religious title.
He vowed that he would not allow the Oluwo to take any of his titles from him.