The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, has urged caution after businessman Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu was alleged to have called the Yoruba “political rascals.” In a statement released on Monday, the paramount ruler praised the Ohanaeze Ndigbo for clarifying the remark. Iwuanyanwu’s comment, made during the one‑year anniversary of Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s inauguration, sparked mixed reactions and calls for a retraction.
Akanbi said he had closely examined the video of Iwuanyanwu and the subsequent clarification by Ohanaeze Ndigbo. He noted that the businessman was actually speaking about a substantial Igbo investment in Nigeria and affirming that the Igbo would never leave the country. Iwuanyanwu also emphasized that the Yoruba and Igbo are “one.” While the monarch commended the intent of the statement, he condemned its weak execution.
The monarch called on Nigerians to “exercise caution at this delicate time of power transition,” warning that grievances should not be allowed to divide the nation. He stressed that the Yoruba and Igbo are united and must live together in harmony. “At this fragile moment, as a new president prepares to take office, Nigerians should conduct themselves to ensure a peaceful transition,” he said. Acknowledging the wounds of civil war and the ongoing incarceration of Nnamdi Kanu, he urged lasting solutions for the Igbo’s challenges, noting that such efforts would benefit the entire country.
Describing the Yoruba as open, hospitable, and friendly to all Nigerians, the Oluwo appealed to every stakeholder to evaluate public statements carefully. “Nigeria is our collective property and far greater than any individual,” he concluded. “Let us promote her unity and greatness.”
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