Yoruba monarch, Oluwo condemns idol worship among obas, calls for its abolishment

One of the foremost monarchs in Yoruba land, the Oluwo of Iwoland,  Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, on Monday, called for the abolishment if idol worship in the land.

According to Oluwo, Yoruba traditional rulers in the Yorubaland should stop worshipping idols because they are, strange to kingship.

Speaking in a statement in Osogbo, Isun State capital, he said all crowns belong to God but warned that monarchs should not allow infiltration of idolatry to subdue the sacred symbol of God on earth.

The Oluwo insisted that the foundation of every crown is God and maintained that, his position is pure monarchy,

Oluwo described kings as representatives of God on earth whose conducts should model pure monarchy of no secondary means to communicate with God.

He described deity’s incursion into kingship as insulting and an affront on God.

He appealed to traditional rulers to respect God whose Representatives they are on the throne by resigning to His authority alone.

The monarch said: “God is the king, which means the palace where the king lives should be the house of God. The only odium and rival of God in that palace is the deities or idols. “Oba Kiipe Meji Laafin” meaning” There cannot be two kings in a palace.

“Idols must not be in a king’s palace. Go and tell the kings. You married a wife and she brought another man to the house, how would it be? That is what the kings in the Yorubaland are doing to God. Yet, they are looking for God’s blessing.

“Any of our fathers that were monarchs and worshipped deities were wrong. I take a bold step to apologize for their mistakes. The damage deity worshipping by monarchs has caused us is monumental.

“I will lead the path to right the past mistakes in the Yoruba traditional system. We can celebrate our exceptional fathers, we must not worship them unless we want our children to worship us too.

“Idol worshipping is a strange religion to kingship. Yoruba even said it “Ori laba bo, abafi Orisha sile. This is not about Christianity or Islam. It is a pure dictate of Olodumare, the Creator after creation. Kings as representatives of God, we owe that God prime responsibility of promoting His oneness from worshipping His rivals. Only monarchs bear the same name with God. And the same monarchs are promoting God’s rivals,” he said.

Waxing historical, Oba Akanbi spoke further, stating that there is no other king but God.

“My royalty is synonymous with the one brought by the founding father of Yoruba crown (Oduduwa). Only God is the king. Oduduwa fought deity and won Obatala. The greatest of God’s name is ‘King’. No one else bears that name with him except monarchs. As such, we are just earthly representatives.

“Expectedly, we must respect His likeness and eschew HIS don’ts. By doing so, we have direct access to HIM and have unquestionable commandments. But because some kings promote HIS rivals (deities), thus, spiritually castrated by resigning themselves to static gods. I’m sent to enlighten all the monarchs in Yoruba land that they are greater than deities.

“Oduduwa preceded most of these deities. When Oduduwa was alive, Ogun and Sango were never born. The only one Oduduwa knew was Obatala. Oduduwa won him and he prostrated. How could he bowed for them?” Oluwo queried. I challenge all Professors of Yorubas and kings to tell me a deity Oduduwa worshipped.

“Yoruba culture and tradition is the best in the world. The best monarchs can do to make it attractive is to denounce idol-worshipping.

“I’m committed to promoting unsullied Kingship enticing to people of all faiths. Today in Iwo, Alfas and Pastors are jostling to take Chieftaincy titles. In my domain, I will ensure Yoruba tradition and culture is clearly distinguished from traditional religion. I look up to a day when young ones, Pastors and Alfas will love to wear Ofi and use beads without any spiritual reasoning/attachment.

“Yoruba tradition is the amplest, respected and prosperous but littered with infiltration of inhumane treatments mostly killing of human for rituals.”

He urged fellow monarchs to join in the bid to correct errors of the past and shun abominable conducts.

“Monarchs are shadows of God. We must see the need to correct the false mistake of associating God’s rival with our sacred, revered stool. I’m sent to Kings. The subjects can worship whatever they prefer.

“That is none of my business. I symbolise an upright monarch. I hear God’s voice and listen to His directives. Only Him is God. We are just His symbolic representation. We must respect His dictates and abstain from His abomination,” he posited.