Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi, the monarch of Iwo in Osun State, expressed his disapproval of idol worship. He emphasized that Yoruba kings should not venerate Sango because his name lacks Yoruba origins. According to him, Sango's father was Yoruba, but his mother hailed from Nupe, attributing the non-Yoruba nature of Sango's name to her influence. The king also addressed other deities such as Ogun and Oya. He underscored that kings are not meant to worship idols but rather to serve as representatives of God.
Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi stressed that Yoruba kings dishonor their heritage by worshiping Sango, whose name lacks Yoruba roots due to his Nupe ancestry. He pointed out that Ogun, despite originating from Ekiti, had no historical connection to Iwo, questioning the rationale behind worshipping him there.( Photo credit : The Punch Newspaper Verified Facebook Page )
During an interview with The Punch, he remarked, "It’s even an insult for Yoruba kings to worship Sango because his name is not linked to Yoruba origin. Sango’s father was Yoruba, but his mother was from Ibariba in Nupe. It was his mother who gave him the name ‘Sango’. It is not a Yoruba name. Even Ogun was from Ekiti. He didn’t visit Iwo Land, so does it make sense for the people of Iwo to say they want to worship Ogun? Even Oya was from Ira in Kwara State. Kings are not meant to worship idols. They are the representatives of the Almighty God. Even alfas and pastors, who are servants of God, know how to speak about God better than kings, who are His representatives."