The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, has prohibited Lukman Mudashiru, a member of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, from entering his palace in the town of Iwo, Osun State.
The ban, announced in an official statement on the monarch’s Facebook page, accuses the lawmaker of neglecting traditional institutions in Iwoland. Oba Akanbi asserted that the position of Oluwo—the traditional paramount ruler of Iwo—demands respect and accountability from all political representatives within the district.
“Oluwo is an entity. He is the traditional head of the town,” the statement read, emphasizing that elected officials must provide regular stewardship reports to the traditional leadership. “Either directly or indirectly, you are representing the interest of his district. Traditionally, he heads the district, so also is the stewardship account from both elective and appointed political holders.”
Mudashiru, a member of the Accord party, represents the Ayedire/Iwo/Olaoluwa Federal Constituency. The monarch’s dissatisfaction stems from the lawmaker’s alleged failure to maintain consistent engagement with the palace and community heritage structures. This tension follows earlier public criticism from Oba Akanbi regarding Mudashiru’s perceived sidelining of traditional authorities.
The timing of the prohibition is notable. Prior to the announcement, the Oluwo had publicly endorsed Ayodeji Bello, an indigene of Iwo, for the Accord party’s nomination to contest the same federal constituency seat in the 2027 general elections.
When contacted, Mudashiru dismissed the escalation as a private matter. “It is an issue between a father and his son. It will be resolved because it is a family affair,” he stated, suggesting an eventual reconciliation.
The incident underscores the complex relationship between Nigeria’s elected political officeholders and its traditional institutions, particularly in the South West. While modern governance operates within constitutional frameworks, traditional rulers like the Oluwo retain significant socio-cultural influence and often expect a formal channel of deference and communication from their constituents in public office.
The ban bars Mudashiru from accessing the palace, a symbolic and practical centre of community leadership in Iwo. The resolution likely depends on private dialogue, but it highlights an ongoing expectation that federal legislators maintain tangible ties with local traditional structures beyond electoral cycles. The situation may also influence political dynamics within the Accord party in the constituency as the 2027 election approaches.
