I am now the Emir of Yorubaland - Oluwo

The Oluwo was crowned the Oba of Iwo town late in 2015,  but yesterday made history when he dropped the title of Oba and declared his resolve to adopt the Emir title, a title associated with traditional rulers of northern extraction, reports the Vanguard.

Speaking at the installation and turbaning ceremony of an Islamic scholar, Sheikh Yahquub Abdul-Baaqi Mohammed, as the first Waziri of Yoruba land, Akanbi said he decided to now bear “Emir of Iwoland” because he wants to emulate the attitudes of northern Emirs.

According to the Oluwo, Northern traditional rulers are better behaved than his counterparts from the Southwest, saying Yoruba Obas are full of bickering, acrimony and enmities. He said Yoruba traditional rulers lack cooperation expected of royal fathers, insisting that Yoruba Obas have been polarized owing to enmity among them.

The traditional ruler said until Yoruba Obas come together, shun enmity and backbiting, Hausas would continue to rule Nigeria.

“I have decided to officially adopt Emir title today because I want to emulate the attitudes of Northern Emirs. They don’t begrudge themselves (sic) like Yoruba Obas.

“It will surprise you to discover that for the past two years, there has not been meeting of Yoruba traditional rulers just because of enmity. There is nothing strange in adopting Emir title. I am the Emir of Yorubaland,” Oluwo says.

Meanwhile, amid tight security presence, he went on to install and turban an Islamic scholar, Sheikh Mohammed, as first Waziri of Yoruba land. The League of Imams and Alfas in Southwest Nigeria, Edo and Delta States, had warned Oluwo against installing Alhaji Mohammed as the Waziri of the Southwest. They had urged him to limit the title to Iwoland and not to the entire Yorubaland as being purported.

For more on this story, visit the Vanguard website