Angry residents of the ancient town of Iwo in Osun state on Saturday stormed the palace of the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Rasheed Adewale Akanbi, with a coffin in protest against the monarch’s planned appointment of a chief in the kingdom.
The protesters, who defied the Yoruba tradition that forbids a traditional ruler from sighting a corpse, attempted to pull down the gate of the palace in order to confront the monarch with the wooden coffin.
Amid chanting of solidarity songs and drumming, the protesters threatened to take the coffin before the Oba claiming that there was a corpse in it.
It was the quick intervention of combined team of security agencies in the town that prevented the protesters from gaining access into the palace with the casket.
When nolmacy was eventually returned to the palace and the coffin taken away by some policemen, the Oluwo, amid tight security, came out to address the protesters.
The monarch appealed to the residents and assured them that the chieftaincy dispute would be looked into and resolved amicably.
It was gathered that the dispute arose over the Aro chieftaincy of the Iwo kingdom.Speaking on the protest, which sparked off tension in the town for some hours, a resident who did not take part in the demonstration, told our correspondent that “Aro is one of the powerful kingmakers in Iwo kingdom.
“I learnt that the Oluwo was trying to install one Paje from Aro Bode area but those from Aro Olukotun who have been traditionally nominating Aro objected to it, claiming that Paje is not from their compound.
“Paje is an APC chieftain and getting support of politicians in the town. I learnt there has been silent war between the palace and Aro compound as regards the issue,” he explained.
