The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, has banned Hennessy and other alcoholic drinks from his palace, citing health concerns and warning that such beverages should no longer be presented to him or other elders.
The traditional ruler announced the decision in a video shared on his Facebook page on Tuesday, where he stated that anyone bringing alcoholic drinks to the palace intended to “eliminate the king.”
According to the monarch, gin, schnapps and imported spirits commonly offered to elders are harmful to health and can lead to serious medical complications.
“The so-called alcohol usually presented or reserved for the elders is detrimental to their health—it leads to death,” he said.
He added:
“Anyone who brings hot drinks to the king’s palace wants to eliminate the king. Gin, schnapps reserved for the elderly should not be brought to my palace because what they call alcohol for the elderly is made by the Western people to kill and destroy internal organs. It will render the kidneys useless.”
The Oluwo revealed that he recently learned some visitors had brought Hennessy to the palace and warned against repeating such actions.
“I heard you brought Hennessy; don’t bring it here. You want to kill me. Anyone who brings Hennessy or other dangerous alcoholic drinks has the intention to kill me. So, I should drink an entire bottle; what will I use to pray?”
He further argued that alcohol was not part of Yoruba ancestral tradition.
The monarch also criticised certain traditional practices, particularly the use of masquerades to flog members of the public during festivals, describing the practice as violent and unacceptable.
“Are Yoruba cows? How can I be a king and people are being macheted in the streets? Are we butchers?” he asked.
He urged adherents of traditional religion to abandon violent customs if they wished to gain wider public acceptance.
The Oluwo also condemned restrictions on movement during the Oro festival, describing them as unconstitutional and questioning why women should be prevented from moving freely during traditional festivals.
“We restrict people’s movement; even the president cannot do that. It is unconstitutional. It is illegal.”
Since ascending the throne in 2016, the Oluwo of Iwo has consistently spoken against several traditional and cultural practices in Yorubaland and has been involved in a number of public disagreements with both traditional and religious leaders….See More