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9 April, 2016
The South-West Editor Wole Efunnuga | 08111813056
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When Sultan of Sokoto commissioned Oluwo’s palace Regular visits of very eminent Nigerians to Iwo, Osun State appear to have opened up the ancient town to more opportunities with the recent call of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar. TUNDE BUSARI reports
The palace
T
he Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar could not have had a more memorable hospitality hundreds of kilometers away from his caliphate. He recently saw true love in Iwo residents who trooped out in large number to catch a glimpse of the President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs. A motor ride with the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdu Rasheed Akanbi round the town saw the Sultan nodding his turbaned head in happiness and indeed satisfaction of the excited people in love with their traditional ruler. Sultan Abubakar could have ridden in a bullet proof vehicle provided for the sightseeing. He, however, settled for the Oluwo’s car to have a natural feel of the people who also did not allow the opportunity of seeing the Sultan escape their sight. From one street to another, they were waving and jumping and cheering the two monarchs who were responding with smooth smile. Though a Yoruba town, Iwo is reputed for its very strong bond with Islamic faith. Islam is almost a sole religion in the town save for the presence of Baptist Christian denomination in the town. Saturday Tribune gathered that a 15th Century Oluwo voluntarily accepted Islam and facilitated its spread to every family, hence the raising of many Islamic scholars from the town. Sultan Abubakar’s visit on March 27, 2016 followed an invitation by the Oluwo, Oba Abdul Rasheed Akanbi, (Telu I) who believed the Sultan, because of his spiritual connection to his town, deserved the honour of commissioning his newly upgraded palace. The Palace which Oba Akanbi met on ascending the throne on November 16, 2015, in the words of the Eesa of Iwoland, Chief Yinus Orobinpe, was an ‘eyesore’. It was a place inhabitable even for a commoner, let alone the traditional head of a cosmopolitan town as Iwo. The disappointing situation made the total rehabilitation of the palace not less inevitable and one of the early projects carried out by the Oluwo. Going by the background of the monarch as
a Canadian citizen not given to filthy environment, nothing is more befitting his town than a magnificent palace fitted with the state-ofthe-art facilities, which must attract the aristocratic class of the society as well as foreign investors. He explained that his vision to bring foreign investors, especially from the North America to the town would end up in mere cosmetic talks were his palace remained in its former state of squalor. The palace of a town, he maintained, gives first impression to important first time visitors, adding that the royal residence must be appealing to sight and an attraction to guests. Oba Akanbi said it was against that backdrop that he did not spare any amount required in putting the palace in its current shape. “It is a multi-million naira project. In fact, work is still ongoing because it must be a continuous thing. I also gave a special consideration to the burial site of the past Oluwo and the place is wearing a good look now within the premises. “This means when I also leave, same honour will be given to me. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola recently named the state university after the late Chief Bola Ige to honour him. This is commendable and my own reason of rehabilitating the tomb of my predecessors. “I am very happy that the Sultan honoured my invitation and I must also thank those who also assisted in making the event a success. It is a significant and memorable one in the history of the town. I was particularly delighted when the Sultan was asking about when he took me to put the palace together,” he said. Notable among the dignitaries in the entourage of the Sultan included former Vice-Chancellor of University of Ilorin, Prof Ishaq Oloyede, Former Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Lai Olorode. Prof Abubakar, Alhaji SO Babalola, Dr Kamil Oloso among others. The Sultan used a proverbial stone to kill two birds when he also commissioned the Central Mosque of Wings Schools in the town where he preached love and peace among Muslims. Wings School is owned by a son of the soil in person of Professor Olorode, who has since identified with the blueprint of the Oluwo. He also passionately appealed to the Islamic
faithful to make the religion attractive to the non -Muslims, saying doing so would ensure a Oluwo p e a c e f u l Sultan and society devoid of suspicion. “More efforts are needed to promote Islam in this part of the world. Islam should not be held responsible for Muslims’ actions. Muslims should love their neighbours, irrespective of political or religion differences,” he said. The Oluwo, who, like the large audience, listened to his guest with rapt attention, was in the same page with the Sultan, also preaching love among Muslims. Oba Akanbi went further by advising Islamic scholars to desist from actions and words that misrepresent the tenet of Islam. Telu I said contrary to certain misconception, aided by the scholars, Islamic religion abhors violence in whatever form. He, thus, urged the scholars to emphasize more on verses which preach love and peace rather those dwelling on harsh punishment.
Living up to his trademark as an outspoken monarch always hitting the nail on the head, the Oluwo admonished his fellow traditional rulers not to derail from the path laid down by their creator.
By the virtue of their calling, Oba Akanbi said, the scholars are positioned to win more converts rather than losing Muslims to other faiths. “Unfortunately, they are scaring people and even making Muslim born to embrace other religion. They should be seen more from the perspective of love than hostility because Islam itself means peace. “Have they probed into why God in his wisdom decided to make more prophets from the Jews than the Arab? Only Prophet Ismaeel and Muhammed came from Arab, other prophets were raised among the Jews. It is high time our scholars realized this and bring in more people to Islam,” he advised. Living up to his trademark as an outspoken monarch always hitting the nail on the head, the Oluwo admonished his fellow traditional rulers not to derail from the path laid down by their creator. He frowned at the practice of flirting with belief system, which, according to him, is not in consonance with God, affirming the supremacy of God as the creator of man, heaven and earth. Traditional rulers, Oba Akanbi further said, are representatives of God on earth because it is God who chooses his representatives. “Therefore, it is not right for us to be bowing down for any other god. We should not be running to any other god because the God we have is enough a source of whatever we want to become,” he said. As part of the innovation the Oluwo is bringing to the town, what is called clothing and food bank has been opened. It is designed to afford kind hearted one to drop their widow’s mite for the needy. “Whoever has food, cloth and other useful items can bring them and drop same inside the bank. I have set the ball rolling by dropping some of my personal items. The needy also deserve to enjoy certain comfort of life,” Oba Akanbi explained.