The monarch of Osun State and paramount ruler of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Akanbi, has criticized a media report for inaccuracies regarding the only female Alaafin of Ife, Iya Luwo Gbagida. The palace’s Chief Press Secretary, Alli Ibraheem, issued a statement accusing the media outlet of distorting Yoruba history. The report misnamed Luwo Gbagida as Luwo Gbagidi and wrongly claimed she bore the title of Ooni instead of Alaafin. The palace clarified that Oduduwa used the Alaafin title after conquering Ife, while the Ooni title was adopted later by Obamakin Osangangan. Historical claims about Iwo’s rulers were also disputed by the palace, correcting that Adekola Telu was not the first Oluwo and explaining the lineage’s origins. The palace rejected the characterization of Luwo Gbagida’s name as “Oruko buruku” and demanded an apology for the misrepresentation of Iwo’s heritage. They emphasized Luwo Gbagida’s importance in history and urged the media outlet to conduct proper research. The palace concluded by demanding a public apology and warning against further distortion of historical facts.
Oluwo faults report on Luwo Gbagida, says it distorts history
