The Osun State Government has placed the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, under watch over alleged inflammatory remarks capable of triggering religious and inter-town conflicts.

The government also directed the monarch to stop making statements against people of other faiths and fellow traditional rulers, warning that such conduct could undermine communal peace and stability.

The warning was contained in a letter issued by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Office of the Permanent Secretary, with reference number CD.17/1/VOL.VIII/377, dated November 2026.

The letter was signed by Wale Alliyu on behalf of the Permanent Secretary and copied to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, in his capacity as Chairman of the Osun State Council of Obas.

A copy of the letter, obtained in Osogbo on Wednesday, indicated that it was received by the Oluwo’s secretary on Tuesday.

The government said it had observed recent widely publicised statements and pronouncements attributed to the monarch, which it considered capable of igniting religious confrontation, inter-town conflicts and disruption of communal peace.

It accused the monarch’s activities of raising communal tension, sowing religious discord and discrediting the traditional values of his people and the Yoruba race.

The letter stated that the persistence of what it described as crisis-inciting activities and disruptive conduct capable of breaching public peace had reached a level the administration could no longer ignore.

It reminded the monarch that every citizen had a constitutional right to freedom of religious association and that, as a traditional ruler, he was expected to respect the religious beliefs of his subjects.

The government further stated that the traditional institution was primarily responsible for preserving the cultural values and traditions of the people, warning that reforms capable of generating violence and conflict would not be tolerated.

The letter read, “You cannot, and you must not, conduct yourself in any way that can foment religious crisis through serial attacks on people of other faiths. Your Royal Majesty is also invited to note that just as the traditional stool should not be used to incite religious war, its occupants should also be mindful not to erode the traditional values, culture and tradition of the society over which they preside.

“The government notes with shock and disbelief several statements and public utterances credited to Your Royal Majesty without denial.

“Your activities are raising communal tension, sowing seeds of communal and religious discord and increasingly discrediting the traditional values of your people and Yoruba society, of which your domain is a major part.

“These developments constitute serious threats to the peace, unity and stability of Osun State and your immediate domain.”

Among the directives issued, the government asked the Oluwo to immediately stop attacks on people of other faiths and refrain from making statements against fellow traditional rulers to prevent possible inter-town confrontation.

It also directed him to preserve the culture and traditions represented by his throne and abide by the behavioural standards outlined in the Chieftaincy Laws and resolutions of the State Council of Obas.

The ministry said it would monitor the monarch’s compliance with the directives, while the State Council of Obas was also instructed to monitor and respond to developments in Iwo land.

Although the letter did not identify the specific statements or activities that prompted the government’s intervention, Oba Akanbi has, through his social media pages, repeatedly accused other Yoruba monarchs of engaging in idolatry.

In a video shared on Facebook on July 1, the monarch criticised traditional rites and seclusion ceremonies for newly installed royal fathers, describing them as practices that could enslave monarchs and lure them into idolatry.

In another video posted on October 10, he described the idea of an ancient crown as a ruse, arguing that crowns were made by the monarchs who wore them.

However, when contacted for a reaction, the monarch’s Press Secretary, Alli Ibraheem, said in a telephone interview that Oba Akanbi had not received any letter from the state government.