Osun Govt Warns Oluwo Against Religious, Inter-Community Tensions

The Osun State Government has cautioned the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, against alleged inflammatory public statements capable of triggering religious tensions and conflicts between communities in the state.

The government also directed the monarch to desist from making statements or engaging in conduct that could be interpreted as attacks on people of other faiths and fellow traditional rulers.

The warning was contained in a letter dated November 2026, with reference number CD.17/1/VOL.VIII/377, signed by Wale Alliyu on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs.

The letter, a copy of which was reportedly received by the monarch’s secretary on November 3, expressed concern over recent public statements attributed to the traditional ruler.

According to the government, the statements and activities attributed to the monarch could heighten communal tensions, deepen religious divisions and undermine the traditional institution’s role in promoting peace and unity.

“The administration wants to put it on record that within the context of the Nigerian Constitution, every citizen has a right to freedom of religious association,” the letter stated.

The government stressed that the Oluwo, like every other traditional ruler, was expected to respect the constitutional rights of residents to practise their respective religions without intimidation or discrimination.

“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 warned.

It further cautioned against using the traditional institution to promote religious hostility, noting that any reform initiative capable of provoking violence within communities would be unacceptable.

The government said it was concerned about what it described as several public utterances credited to the monarch, adding that the alleged pattern of conduct could no longer be ignored.

To prevent a possible escalation of tensions, the state government outlined six cautionary directives to the Oluwo.

Among other things, the monarch was directed to stop further attacks on people of other faiths, refrain from statements or actions that could provoke confrontation with fellow traditional rulers, and uphold the cultural values and traditions represented by his stool.

The government also urged the monarch to comply with the provisions of the state’s chieftaincy laws and resolutions of the State Council of Obas.

“It also urged him to be guided by norms and regulations as spelt out in the Chieftaincy Laws and resolutions of the State Council of Obas,” the report stated.

The Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs said it would monitor the monarch’s compliance with the directives.

It added that the State Council of Obas had also been directed to monitor developments in Iwoland and take appropriate steps in response to the situation.

The government said the measures were intended to prevent a possible breakdown of religious harmony and avert disputes between communities in the state.

The caution comes amid concerns over the potential impact of public statements by traditional and community leaders on peaceful coexistence among people of different religious beliefs and cultural backgrounds.