The Government of State of Osun has condemned in strong terms the royal fisticuff between the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdul-Rasheed Adewale Akanbi and the Agbowu of Ogbaagbaa, Oba Dhikrulahi Akinropo describing it as  unfortunate and avoidable.

The face-off occurred  during a peace meeting at the office of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police in charge of Zone 11, Bashir Makama, last Friday..

In a statement yesterday by the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs. Funke Egbemode, the government noted that situations where royal fathers engage in public display of temperament “do not edify the revered stools of our forebears.”

“We believe in the dignity of traditional stools and sacredness of royalty. We will continue to preach peace among all our citizens and harmonious relationship among our traditional rulers.

“The government is aware that the State Council of Traditional Rulers has stepped into the matter and we are confident that the council will take appropriate steps to preserve peaceful coexistence among monarchs. We do not want any crisis in any part of the state,” the government added.

No fewer than 15 traditional rulers in Ola-Oluwa and Ayedire local governments have petitioned the government over an alleged attack on the Agbowu of Ogbaagbaa by the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Akanbi.

The Office of Assistant Inspector General Zone 11, state Director of the State Security Service, Speaker, Osun State House of Assembly, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the Ooni of Ife as the permanent President of the state Council of Traditional Rulers, were copied in the petition directed to the state government.

In the petition, they called on Governor Gboyega Oyetola to suspend Oba Akanbi from office as the Oluwo of Iwo and Chairman Iwo Traditional Council for engaging in physical assault in public place, more so against a fellow Oba, an act unbecoming of the exalted office of an Oba.

The also demanded that the police should be encouraged to conclude their investigation and arraign Oba Akanbi in the appropriate court immediately.