The long-running feud between two prominent Osun monarchs, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, and the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, has escalated with startling allegations of poisoning and betrayal.
In a video shared on Instagram, Oba Akanbi alleged that the Ooni colluded with his former wife, Chanel Chin, to poison him during their marriage. He claimed that the Canadian-born daughter of Jamaican reggae singer Ludlow “Bobo Zaro” Chin attempted to kill him on two occasions before he discovered the alleged plot.
“He was looking for my downfall, and they packaged a woman for me. She poisoned me twice, there were assassination attempts, and they set me up in different ways,” the Oluwo declared. “After I uncovered everything, I sent her away. But it was Ooni who accommodated her.”
The Oluwo further accused the Ooni of having an affair with his estranged wife and of plotting against his throne. “This fight will never end. Nobody can kill me, not even their gods. Only God can decide when I will die,” he said.
Responding, the Ooni’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare, dismissed the claims as baseless and childish. He said the Oluwo’s allegations had no substance and were unworthy of the dignity of the throne.
“If someone claims his life is under threat, the proper thing is to report to the police, not to make noise on social media,” Olafare said. “This is not the first time he is making such claims, but he has never gone to the authorities. That tells you the allegations are false.”
He also denied any relationship between the Ooni and the Oluwo’s ex-wife. “The matter between him and his former wife is private. She has moved on, and so has he. Bringing the Ooni into it is completely unnecessary.”
The fresh war of words marks a new chapter in the tense rivalry between the two monarchs, deepening divisions within Osun’s traditional leadership.
Leave a Reply