I didn’t punch Agbowu of Ogbaagba ― Oluwo

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Adewale Akanbi, on Tuesday, described the allegation that he punched Agbowu of Ogbaagba, Oba Dhikirulahi Akinropo, during a peace meeting at the office of the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Zone 11,  at Osogbo last Friday, as untrue and baseless.

He declared that “I did not punch Agbowu of Ogbaagba, Oba Dhikirulahi Akinropo at any peace meeting, I’m fighting corruption in a traditional way,” saying they only had an altercation which they were able to handle.

Addressing a press conference in Osogbo, Oba Akanbi explained that his intent in defending the helpless poor will judge him, just as he argued that most of his critics are oblivious of the hardship some monarchs in his domain were inflicting on their subjects.

According to him, some monarchs, who were antagonising him from Iwo axis, had lorded themselves over their subjects, usurping family lands and selling with impunity and imprisoning anyone who attempted to challenge them.

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Oba Akanbi stated that “the current influx of Bororo to my domain invited by these Obas selling lands to them for peanuts called for concern. Thousands of Bororo were transported to Oori, a village under Iwoland and their Baale, Olori collected money and signed a memorandum of understanding without government’s consent. Is this what you want me to harbour?

“I did not punch Agbowu of Ogbaagba, Oba Dhikirulahi Akinropo, there was an altercation. I brought them to the police to talk to them, I brought them to tell the police to talk to them on the need for them to desist from selling their future.

“I know how to develop my town because of my exposure. They are not happy because they know I’m trying to liberate my people from these kings who have been gaining pleasure in selling their future.

“I’m fighting Corruption in a traditional way. They are selling a hectare of land at the rate of N60,000 which I’m kicking against. I didn’t touch Agbowu of Ogbaagba, although he was aggressive, we almost had an altercation which was later resolved,” Oba Akanbi remarked.