Ololade Adeyanju/
The Oluwo of Iwo in Osun State, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has said his report assault on a fellow monarch in Osogbo, the state capital, on Friday, was an act of self defence.
The first class monarch, according to his media secretary, Alli Ibrahim, only prevented an attempt by the Agbowu of Ogbaagba, Oba Dhikrulahi Akinropo, to assault him with his walking stick.
Ibrahim, in a brief statement to journalists at the Iwo palace, said the assaulted monarch, “while making his speech called Oba Akanbi unprintable names, pointing his staff of office at Oluwo while an attempt to stick the staff in his eyes was defended”.
The police spokesperson, Folasade Odoro, said the state command was investigating the incident and would update the public in due course.
The alleged assault reportedly took place at the office of the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Zone 11.
The AIG, Bashir Makama, had summoned a peace meeting to settle a land protracted dispute in Iwo.
NewsmakersNG learnt that before now, Mr Akanbi had asked other monarchs in Iwo to stop selling land without his consent.
Several meetings reportedly held in Iwo to settle the matter ended in deadlock and this was what necessitated the intervention of the police.
Other monarchs at the peace meeting were Quadri Adeoye, Oluwo of Iwo-Oke; Oyebamiji Oyeleso of Oluponna, Adio Oyediran of Igegeland, Solomon Ojo of Ikonifin, Moshood Oparonke of Eesu, among others.
Giving an account of the incident in an interview with BBC Yoruba, Oba Akinropo said the matter had been on before the current AIG in Osogbo.
“Oluwo wrote petition against eight monarchs in Iwo over land issue. He alleged that we’ve been selling his land without his consent which we all denied.
“Several meetings held in Iwo last year which he scattered and that was why the AIG intervened. At the meeting, he asked the police to warn us and we also maintained our stance that we did not sell his land.
“I was the one sitting close to him. He got annoyed as he questioned why we would interrupt while he’s also talking. He said he’s the leader of all of us and he started punching me on my head.
“This happened in presence of AIG, Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Chairman Iwo Local Government and other traditional rulers.
“He stood up aggressively and attacked me. Even OC, Legal was there. I was rushed to hospital and I have since then remain there. At least, police were there and we’ve written out statement,” he told BBC.
He disclosed that he is still at the state hospital in Asubiaro receiving treatment.