NICO Boss Sues For Peace In Rift Between Oluwo Of Iwo And Ooni Of Ife

The Executive Secretary/CEO of the National Institute for Cultural Orientation (NICO), Otunba Biodun Ajiboye has called for a ceasefire in the ongoing rift between the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi and the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi.

Otunba Biodun Ajiboye who also holds the title of Otunba Muwagun of Oro Kingdom in a message on Sunday, lamented the derogatory utterances made by the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi against the Ooni, saying it is unacceptable to drag the Yoruba race on the floor in such manner.

The message reads in part “Kabiesi, I am terrified that you can speak in this extremely derogatory and condescending manner about a fellow high ranking monarch. Moreso, that he is clearly sitting on the throne revered as numero uno of Yoruba Obas and a symbol of Yoruba progenitor.

“I am sending you this message in my capacity as a Yoruba man and an appointee of the Federal Government of Nigeria, bestowed with the responsibility of promoting the entire culture of Nigeria, including that of Yoruba.

“Whatever may have been the root cause of this disagreement, it is unacceptable to drag the Yoruba race on the floor in this manner. When elders quarrel, they settle behind closed doors. Once a man becomes a king, however young, he is already aged.”

While appealing in the name of Olodumare that the negative public engagement by the two monarchs, which is practically a disturbing development stops forthwith, Otunba Ajiboye also called on Yoruba elders to intervene immediately to avoid a very ugly precedence and a great ridicule of the the Yoruba race.