The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, declared that with the way he is running the kingship system in Iwoland, “if a referendum is conducted, people of the town will vote for a monarchy against the democratic system of government”.
The Oluwo, who stated this during an interview with The Punch, added that “If other kings run their communities the same way as I do, I tell you that people would call for a referendum and entrench a monarchy”.
Oba Akanbi, however, accused many kings of still perpetrating atrocities within their domains, noting that “we still have kings who are land grabbers”.
He lamented that, “It is sad that some kings engage in land grabbing to buy tokunbo vehicles, to buy shoes, marry wives and drink. They sell the inheritance of their towns for frivolities. On the other hand, when the democratically elected government experiences paucity of funds, instead of making life miserable for the citizens they would take loans. Kings are supposed to attract investors to the land.
“As a king, you don’t sell your land for peanuts. You make a deal with the land. What some kings engage in is another slavery but we need to serve the people and not milk them. When we do this, our people will have respect for us and we would gain more relevance”.
He listed his achievements: “I am the first king in history that rehabilitated a road in his domain. The Iwo-Osogbo Road is a 44-kilometre road. The road was not fixed for over 13 years. It is a major road. I fixed it with concrete and cement using my resources. When others saw me doing it, they joined me. I empower my people with interest-free loans in the three local government areas in Iwo anytime I have money. I gave them N100,000 loans; I facilitated over N1bn worth of medical equipment from the Nigerian Association of Youths of Canada.
“I fixed the High Court in Iwo. I facilitated the siting of the National Open University in Iwo. I went to the neighbourhood and gave the people money and food before the COVID-19 pandemic began. We were able to trace and write our history. I built a modern Arch of Triumph and put our logo on it. I facilitated Children’s Day here, against the initial practice where students go to Osogbo. I facilitated the establishment of the Federal College of Education in Iwo and this is just a tip of the iceberg”.
Oba Akanbi also used the opportunity to appeal to Yoruba people to support Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, saying that the former Lagos state governor is a leading light for the race.
He said, “Check Yoruba land. There is no person that can fight for us than Bola Tinubu. Let’s support him. Don’t let us treat him like we treated the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. He is a clear leader and we should be proud of him. People betrayed Awolowo.
“There is no voice that is respected as Tinubu’s. Don’t let us wait until he dies. You won’t hear the northerners speak ill of their leaders. Why do we do this to ourselves? We should give him a voice but they are trying to shut him out”.
The traditional ruler also explained further why he divorced his wife, “I want an olori that will love my people and serve them like I am serving my people and share my ideology as a queen”.
“I pray that those who criticised me because of her should have a wife like her. I have rejected that one and I have kicked her out of my life. May God give them or their children that kind of wife. Or, if they are kings, may God give them wives like her” he insisted.