The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has revealed plans to form a new group of traditional rulers that will not engage in idol worship in collaboration with some royals in the South-West region.
He also said that the king who worshipped idols was a herbalist and should abdicate from the throne.
King Akanbi made this known in Iwo Jima at a reception organised for him by the Iwo Jima community at their palace, saying some monarchs in the Southwestern states have indicated their readiness to join the new group.
According to a statement by Oluwo’s Chief Press Secretary, Ali Ibrahim, obtained in Osogbo on Monday, the royal father also noted that monarchs who join the association will be those who have faith in God Almighty alone.
He warned idol worshippers to stay away from Yoruba culture and traditions just as Muslims and Christians would never lump their religion with Yoruba culture.
He said: “We are here today to right the wrongs of the past, rewrite history, challenge lies and lay a solid foundation for the truth to pursue. One of the aims of any meaningful existence is to right the wrongs of the past. It may take time but the truth is infallible. The glory of Yorubaland will shine once again. We will cleanse the throne for the prosperity of our beloved land.”
“We have started a cultural revolt against impure monarchy. Idol-worshipping kings are herbalists. They should step down from the throne. We want to purify the throne, the head. If the head is healthy, the body will also be healthy. God-worship is not a culture but a religion.
“Idolaters should stop conflating good with evil. Our culture is one of the finest in the world. Today it is being polluted and violated by theism. Now is the time for a concerted step to right this evil. We will pursue it to its logical conclusion.”
The statement further added that interested monarchs drawn from the South-West states have declared their readiness and will form an Association of Yoruba Monarchs that will have sole faith in Olodumare.
“We want to redirect the throne to God, something that Oduduwa, the founder of the throne, started through a concerted cultural rebellion against the chaotic monarchy.”
“All violations of Yoruba traditional institutions will be checked and corrected. A prosperous Yorubaland will rise to a status that other nations will envy. We will cleanse the institutions and restore the glory of the institutions,” Oluwo said.
