The Osun State Government has cautioned the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, over public statements that could trigger religious confrontations, inter-town disputes and a breakdown of communal peace.
The Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs issued the warning in an official memo titled “Cautionary Notes on Inflammatory Rhetorics Capable of Creating Religious and Inter-Town Conflicts.”
In the November 2026 correspondence addressed to the monarch, the government expressed concern over his recent public statements, stating that it could fuel religious hostility and undermine peaceful coexistence among communities.
The ministry said the monarch’s continued remarks had reached a point where the state administration could no longer ignore the potential consequences.
It also reminded Oba Akanbi that the Nigerian Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of religion and association, stressing that his position as a traditional ruler requires him to protect those rights.
The government specifically warned him against making statements or launching repeated attacks on people of other religious beliefs, noting that such conduct could provoke religious crises.
It further cautioned the monarch against using his traditional position to encourage religious hostility or undermine the cultural values and customs of the people he leads.
According to the memo, the government also expressed concern that some of the monarch’s public comments had heightened communal tensions, encouraged religious divisions and undermined the traditional values of Yoruba society.
The ministry listed six directives for the monarch to prevent further escalation.
It ordered him to stop attacks on people of other faiths, respect their freedom of religious choice and refrain from further confrontations with fellow traditional rulers.
The government also urged him to protect the culture and traditions associated with his traditional stool and comply with the rules and standards established under Osun State’s Chieftaincy Laws and resolutions of the State Council of Obas.
The ministry further announced that it would monitor the monarch’s compliance with the directives. While subsequently directed the State Council of Obas to monitor developments in Iwo land and take appropriate action where necessary.
The memo, signed by Wale Alliyu on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, stressed that no responsible administration would tolerate reforms or activities capable of provoking community violence and conflict.
By Musekir Faisat Omolara
