Oluwo of Iwo Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi was seen exercising in Iwo after Osun Government warned him over alleged inflammatory remarks

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, carried out his regular weekly exercise in Iwo, Osun State, on Thursday morning, November 5, 2026, following a warning from the state government over public statements it said could inflame religious and inter-town tensions.

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The monarch was reportedly seen undertaking his usual exercise routine hours after the Osun State Government cautioned him against comments it described as capable of threatening communal peace and peaceful coexistence.

The government’s warning, issued through the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, directed Oba Akanbi to refrain from making statements or engaging in conduct that could provoke religious confrontation or disputes with fellow traditional rulers.

In its letter, the government said the monarch’s alleged public utterances had raised concerns about communal tension and religious discord.

“You cannot, and you must not, conduct yourself in any way that can foment religious crisis through serial attacks on people of other faiths,” the letter stated.

The administration also urged the Oluwo to respect the constitutional rights of residents to freedom of religion, preserve the cultural values represented by his traditional stool and comply with the state’s chieftaincy laws.

It said the ministry would monitor his compliance, while the Osun State Council of Obas had also been directed to watch developments in Iwo.

The government’s caution followed public comments attributed to Oba Akanbi concerning Yoruba traditional religious practices and other monarchs. However, the letter did not specify every statement that prompted the warning.

The monarch has previously criticised certain traditional rites associated with the installation of Yoruba kings, describing them as practices that could lead to idolatry.

He also questioned the significance attached to ancient crowns in a video shared online in October.

The Oluwo’s spokesperson, Alli Ibraheem, told Premium Times that the monarch had received the government’s letter and would respond appropriately.

Thursday’s exercise, described as part of the monarch’s regular weekly routine, was not accompanied by a reported public response to the government’s warning.

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The development places the monarch’s ordinary public activity against the backdrop of an ongoing debate over the responsibilities of traditional rulers, freedom of religious expression and the role of royal institutions in maintaining peace across communities.