Oluwo Advises Yoruba Monarchs To Quit Secret Societies

The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, has urged traditional rulers in Yorubaland to renounce their membership of secret societies, which according to him is limiting their influence.

Akanbi said such societies only enslaved their members after promising them false spiritual and financial gains.

Akanbi in a statement by his Press Secretary, Alli Ibraheem on Tuesday added that monarchs’ membership of such societies had made them subservient to the desires of cult leaders who should be their subjects.

The Iwo leader said monarchs in the South-West should come together to form a council of Yoruba obas and reassert their God-given authority.

In the statement, the traditional ruler asked the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, and Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona, to lead the “revolution” against secret societies.

He said if they failed to respond, he was ready to lead the “revolution”.

He said, “Secret societies have stolen kings’ rights. The only way is a revolution to be led by a valiant and a leading Yoruba monarch. I see the Alaafin and Awujale having that courage. Baba Alaafin can lead this campaign with Awujale, as monarchs with a lot of history. I want to task the Alaafin to lead the revolution at liberating monarchs from the growing decimation of their influence occasioned by membership of secret societies.
“If Baba Alaafin refuses, I will start the revolution. I have Obas willing to follow. If the Alaafin, Awujale, and Akiolu are ready, I pledge my unalloyed support at all costs. The institution is one and must be defended at this time.

“The best way to achieve this is by launching the Central Council of Yoruba Obas (Ijo Oba). The body will be a supreme council for the discussion of Yoruba affairs and an apex decision organ in the land. It will comprise only obas and must mandate those willing to join to renounce their membership of any secret societies. I have trust in the capacity of the Alaafin, Awujale and Akiolu to live up to expectations and lead the revolutionary liberation from the subjects turning themselves to lords.”

He said, “You can be a member of any secret cult before becoming a king, but must renounce your membership the day you are proclaimed. Secret cults influence your influence, even to the distaste of your subjects and domain. They control you with false claims and alarm.

“Most of these secret groups have leaders who are ordinary subjects of kings but subject kings under them to their dictates and directives even in conduct of his community affairs. Many of our subjects have infiltrated cult groups to pulverize the image of kings.”

The Oluwo blamed the killing of Nigerians, especially students, for rituals on the activities of secret societies, adding that monarchs supporting such groups were enemies of the country.