“Don’t force Yorùbá kings to worship idols, they have freedom of religion.”
The Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, has stated that Yoruba kingship is not tied to any single religion, stressing that monarchs have the right to freely practice the faith of their choice.
Oba Akanbi made the remarks during a visit to his palace in Iwo, where he addressed the relationship between Yoruba tradition and religion. He maintained that kingship is a divine institution, not subject to religious imposition.
The monarch criticized idol worshippers for what he described as attempts to compel Yoruba rulers to embrace the Isese religion. “Kingship is not about idols. It is pure and inspired by God. Monarchs should worship Olódùmarè, the Almighty, not idols,” he declared.
According to him, Yoruba culture and leadership will thrive better when aligned with the worship of God rather than the enforcement of traditional rituals. He urged tolerance and respect for the spiritual freedom of all kings.