The Oluwo of Iwo land, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi who debunked claims made by Ohanaeze Ndigbo, has stated that Oduduwa who is the founding father of the Yoruba tribe was not an Igbo prince.
Recall that the Ohanaeze Ndigbo in a statement, in reaction to the claim by the Ooni of Ife Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi that Igbo people originated from Ile-Ife, had claimed that Odudunwa (last-born), later called Oduduwa was an Igbo prince who occupied Ile-Ife but the Yoruba regarded him as a god because he was very powerful and had magical powers.
However Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi who told the Igbos to research on the adventure of their own Odudunwa, described the claim as false and misleading. The Oluwo of Iwo who stated that Oduduwa was not an Igbo prince, said in a statement through his Chief Press Secretary;
“The Yoruba nation was founded by Oduduwa. He brought the first civilisation, which is the crown. Oduduwa demontrated an unequalled leadership. He was shrewd, peculiar, unparalleled, unmatched, quintessential and different. He served his people and became a rallying point for his services to humanity. He gave us the best tradition, so respectful and obedient. The Yoruba culture is rich, very beautiful and unblemished. It emanated from Oduduwa.
“History is rich, necessary and must always be objective, because it is a foundation for the future. Worldwide, Yorubaland is the source of every natural crown. Our crowns are divinely ordained and sacred. It was brought by Oduduwa. And we owe him a duty to defend everything about him”
He further added that the fact that Oduduwa means last- born in the Igbo language, does not make anyone bearing a similar name Igbo-born.
