“Idol-free palaces are purer than mosques, churches” — Oluwo

Warns against idol worship in palaces

The Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has said that kings and palaces represent God physically, describing an idol-free palace as a “pure stool of God on earth.”

In a statement released through his Press Secretary, Alli Ibraheem, on Wednesday, Oba Akanbi described unadulterated (idol-free) palaces as divine places with authority greater than mosques, churches and shrines. He condemned kings who, according to him, promote idols in their palaces, saying such rulers are ignorant of the true purpose of kingship.

Oba Akanbi stressed that kingship should be holistic, adding that the “glory of Kingship” must be restored by correcting what he described as mistakes made by forefathers who, in his view, shared the “exclusive right of God to deity.”

He also said he was enthroned to teach Yoruba kings how the stool (palace authority) should be conducted.

He said palaces “without idols” are greater than houses of worship because the palace is where the divine commandment is given.

The monarch argued that there should be a choice between serving Olodumare (God) and deities in palace settings, saying, “Take deities to shrine, not palace.”

He said that when people bow to a king, the king should return glory to God because the king is not the true king.

The Oluwo described palace officials as guardians and defenders of Olodumare’s throne, saying the palace should not be turned into a place where deities are kept.

He said deities and idols may be preserved in shrines or as part of history, including in a museum, but keeping them in the royal palace is, in his words, “a desecration of the crown.”

Oba Akanbi said the message was not delivered by his forefathers and that Olodumare “sent” him with the paraphernalia of office to “weather any storm” as he delivers the message to kings.