- Says Ministry Overstepped Its Bounds
- Claims Letter Would Have Cost Adeleke Votes If Written Before Poll
The Leader of Ta’awunu Human Rights Initiative (THURIST), Sheikh Daood Imran Molaasan, has demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Osun State Government’s caution letter to the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, accusing the government of bias, overreach and taking sides in a religious dispute.
OSUN DEFENDER reports that the state government, in a letter dated November 2026, with reference number CD.17/1/VOL.VIII/377 and signed by Wale Alliyu on behalf of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, cautioned the Oluwo over alleged inflammatory statements capable of igniting religious confrontation and inter-town conflicts.
The letter, a copy of which was received by the monarch’s secretary on November 3, said the monarch’s activities are raising communal tension, sowing seeds of communal and religious discord and discrediting traditional values.
The government said the persistence of such crisis-inciting activities had reached a level it could no longer ignore.
“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 government stated.
It added that as a traditional ruler, the Oluwo is bound by the Constitution to respect the rights of his constituents to hold religious beliefs.
“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.
The government directed the Oluwo to stop any further attacks on people of other faiths, refrain from further attacks on fellow traditional rulers to forestall inter-town confrontation, and work to preserve the culture and tradition of the people which the stool symbolises.
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 Ministry said it will be monitoring compliance, while the State Council of Obas has equally been directed to watch and act on recent developments within Iwo land.
But addressing the congregation on Friday in Iwo, Molaasan, in a circulating video, said the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs has no business dabbling in religious matters, warned that the ministry could be sued over the letter, and declared that over 30 million Muslims are behind the Oluwo.
The Islamic leader also said the letter, if it had been written before the August 15 election, could have affected Governor Ademola Adeleke’s votes, particularly in Iwo.
“They should go and rewrite that letter. Those of you who are rejoicing that the Oluwo has been dethroned are deceiving yourselves. It is a lie. It is difficult to dethrone the Oluwo.
“Those promoting that letter are foolish. The person who wrote the letter is not stupid, but he needs clarification on some things, because you cannot call that letter one written by the Osun State Government.
“Had that letter been written before the August 15 election, it might have affected the governor’s votes. If it would not have affected him in any other place, it would have in Iwo, because we will not allow someone who wants to remove our monarch to remain as governor,” he said.
Molaasan, however, maintained that Governor Adeleke and the Osun State Government are not against the Oluwo, adding that there is no animosity between them.
“Governor Ademola Adeleke and the Osun State Government are not against the Oluwo. There is no animosity between them. In fact, they are all working together for the re-election of President Bola Tinubu,” Molaasan said.
He warned that removing a monarch, especially one of Oluwo’s status, is never easy, recalling a past attempt to dethrone a late Oluwo.
According to him, “There was a late Oluwo they attempted to dethrone back then. Those planning to remove him went to Sani Abacha, and he also supported them. However, he could not remove him until he (Abacha) died.
“It is difficult to remove a monarch, not to talk of this present Oluwo, who is special.”
Molaasan said the letter should either be withdrawn and rewritten, or a similar letter should be written to the other side in the dispute.
“It is either those who wrote the letter withdraw it and write another one, or they should write the same to the other side.
“The letter you wrote stemmed from what the other side told you. It is not that the Oluwo was against any constitution in your ministry. Your office is about chieftaincy matters and not religious matters,” he stated.
The Islamic cleric said the dispute between the Oluwo and those who reported him was a religious matter, not a chieftaincy matter.
“The issue between the Oluwo and those who came to report him to you is about religion, so those who wrote the letter should be careful. Those of us who are behind the Oluwo will curse you,” he said.
Molaasan disclosed that he discouraged plans for a riot across Yorubaland after Jummat on Friday in solidarity with the Oluwo.
He maintained that the letter was as an attempt to appease those who are angry on the other side, warning that the ministry could be sued for it.
“When some people asked me if there should be a riot across Yorubaland after Jummat today (Friday) in solidarity with the Oluwo, I told them not to.
“The letter written was an attempt to appease those who are angry on the other side. The issue on ground is a religious one, and it has nothing to do with the work the ministry is saddled with. The ministry may be sued for that letter.
“The Oluwo is speaking about his religion. Those who believe him are listening, while the unbelievers are angry, and you wrote a letter saying that the Oluwo should not say anything again. Do you think you can use a letter to stop us from speaking about our own religion?”
“What the Oluwo is propagating is the belief of more than 30 million Muslims. So it does not concern the Ministry of Chieftaincy Matters,” he stated.
Molaasan accused the government of bias for writing only to the Oluwo, while other monarchs who are also attacking his beliefs were left out.
“So, you are being biased if you only send such a letter to the Oluwo. You have to write to the Ooni and other monarchs who are also tackling the Oluwo’s beliefs.
“Those practising idolatry and their monarchs are promoting their practice, while the Oluwo is promoting his Islam, and we Muslims believe in him.
“So, if you are writing a letter on behalf of the other side, it means you are biased. If it is about the issue escalating to cause unrest, you are not the right agency to talk about that.
“It is for the security agencies — the Police or DSS — or the Governor himself to settle, if they feel the issue may lead to unrest, not the Ministry of Chieftaincy Matters.
“Maybe you do not know what is going on in the street. Over 30 million Muslims are behind the Oluwo because he is our own monarch,” he added.
