19th February, 2020
Abdulrasheed Akanbi, Oluwo of Iwo in Osun state, says he is not a boxing king as he denies widespread reports that he assaulted his fellow monarch.
Oluwo of Iwo, who was reported to have assaulted Agbowu of Ogbaagba at a peace meeting put together by an assistant inspector-general of police, said what happened was a “mere altercation and not physical combat”.
While reacting at a press conference in Osogbo, the state capital, on Tuesday, he described the allegation as a desperate gang up against him.
“I did not punch Agbowu of Ogbaagba, although there was altercation that almost resulted to exchange of blows, but that didn’t happen at all.
“I brought him and other Obas to the police to talk to them on the need to stop selling land that did not belong to them.
“I am fighting corruption in a traditional way. They are selling hectares of land at the rate of N60,000, which I’m kicking against.
“I did not touch Agbowu of Ogbaagba, although he was aggressive and we almost had altercation but I did not punch him.”
The Iwo monarch added that he is a peace-loving person.
“If I am that boxing king you people are calling me, I should have done that in Iwo and not in Osogbo,” he said.
“I personally initiated the peace meeting in which I involved the AIG when those kings refused to desist from land grabbing despite my several warnings and advice.”