Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, Telu 1, the Oluwo of Iwoland, has directed all the general public and his admirers to address him as ‘His Imperial Majesty’ instead of ‘His Royal Majesty’.
The Oluwo, who gave the directive through a signed statement posted on his Facebook page on Sunday, said it was not unconnected to the respect his stool command as the direct blood of Oduduwa, natural paramount crown from Iwo’s formation, among other things.
Akanbi noted that, unlike many other towns whose kings were promoted from being Baale (Dukes) to Oba (monarch), Iwo never had a Baale, and as such any Oluwo of Iwo should be addressed as His Imperial Majesty.
The statement reads, “The general public, most especially the admirers of The Paramount Ruler of Iwoland, are to note that Oluwo is an Imperial Majesty, not His Royal Majesty.
“The stool of Oluwo commands the respect of the direct blood of Oduduwa. The Oluwo stool is a crown from inception. Unlike many other stools in Yorubaland, Iwo stool was never upgraded from Baaleship. It is a natural Paramount crown from formation. Oluwo is a viceroy of none. Oluwo has over 30 Obas he crowned.
“As such, Oluwo should always be addressed as His Imperial Majesty, not His Royal Majesty. Any correspondence without proper address will not be honoured. No General will love to be called a sergeant likewise no Doctor will answer the name of a nurse.”
The traditional ruler therefore called the general public and Iwo sons and daughters to officially take note and address him as that (His Imperial Majesty).
The first-class Yoruba monarchs’ stools called ‘His Royal Majesty’ are Ooni of Ife, Soun of Ogbomoso, the Alaafin of Oyo, and the Awujale of Ijebuland, among others.
