Princes from three royal families in Iwo, Osun State, have appealed to the state government and the Osun Traditional Council to regulate use of social media platforms by monarchs in the state.
The princes, who decried incessant fighting among traditional rulers in Yorubaland on social media, demanded an end to the menace before it causes more disunity within the race.
They disclosed this while reacting to the supremacy battle between Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, and the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji, over who occupies the fourth position in the hierarchy of monarchs in the state at a press conference held in Iwo.
Addressing journalists in Iwo on Wednesday, the spokesperson for the royal families, Prince Adedoja Osunwo, said the feud between the two monarchs could have been averted if necessary internal mechanisms were in place for conflict resolution among traditional rulers.
Osunwo noted that the use of social media by the two traditional rulers to defend their position was not necessary since a gazette existed that states the status of various stools.
Speaking in the Yoruba language, Osunwo said, “We want to urge the state government, the state traditional council and other relevant stakeholders in the state to put necessary machinery in motion to regulate social media conduct of our traditional rulers.
“Our mission here today is not to condemn or find fault with any of the royal fathers on the ongoing verbal attack between the Oluwo of Iwo and the Ataoja of Osogbo. The records are there. It has been gazetted for quite a long time that Oluwo of Iwo, when it comes to traditional rulers ranking in Osun State, occupies number four.
“The verbal attack we are witnessing today between the two monarchs is unnecessary if necessary internal mechanisms have been put in place for conflict resolution. If what is going on on social media regarding Oluwo and Ataoja is not curtailed, it will have a bad effect on the unity of the Yorubas. Yoruba unity is of greater importance, particularly at this time when a Yoruba is at the helm of affairs.”
He added, “The manner in which some of our traditional rulers go on social media is not something that should be welcomed. The outburst we have been hearing through social media is not something that we should be happy about.
“The idea of using social media for defence by the two royal fathers in this dispute is unnecessary. We want to appreciate the role played so far by the Governor of Osun State, Ademola Adeleke, in his attempt to douse the tension. We also commend the Iwo Board of Trustees for their effort and urged them to find a truce. The need for an internal mechanism for conflict resolution should be embraced by the Osun State traditional council under the leadership of Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi.”
Commenting further, he blamed the disagreement on distortion of historical facts, adding that Oluwo’s throne emanated from Ile-Ife and Oluwo was never a lesser chief.
“We want to place it on record that the throne of Oluwo emanated from Ile-Ife, and there is no contention about that. It has never been in history that Oluwo was ever a community chief ‘Baale’ and has such recognition, due to the throne of Oluwo, which should be given to whoever is occupying that throne.
“The ongoing issue was occasioned by the distortion of historical facts through logical thinking, which we believe should be discouraged. Relying on folktales to justify the position being taken by any traditional ruler on issues should be discarded,” Osunwo added.
Ataoja, during a recent lecture at Osun State University to mark his 15th coronation anniversary, revisited the long-standing controversy over who occupies the 4th position between him and Oluwo.
He insisted that his stool historically occupies the fourth position in the Council—a status he alleged was wrongly ceded to the Oluwo during the reign of his predecessor, Oba Iyiola Oyewale.
Oba Oyetunji narrated how the confusion began, stressing that he was not fighting any monarch but merely asserting the historical rights of his stool.
But Oluwo fired back through his Chief Press Secretary, Alli Ibraheem, accusing Oba Oyetunji of attempting to distort history.
He urged Ataoja to seek accurate historical knowledge from respected elders of Osogbo rather than distort the hierarchy of Yoruba traditional stools.
The PUNCH
