The Alasi of Asi, Oba Isaac Oyewale, has reportedly abandoned his palace after receiving what he called a death threat from the Speaker of the Osun State House of Assembly, Adewale Egbedun.
This follows the leak of a phone conversation between Egbedun and one of the monarch’s wives, Queen Idowu, where the Speaker was heard warning the king not to return to Asi town.
“This is Speaker Egbedun,” he said during the call in Yoruba. “If that king loves his life, he should not come to Asi. If he comes, I’ll make sure they beat him and remove his crown.”
The king, through his lawyer Barrister K.A. Ngwoke, submitted a petition to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone XI, on July 29, 2025. In the petition, Oba Oyewale said the Speaker had earlier used his office to arrange the unlawful arrest of a subject from Asi and tried to force the man to make false statements against the monarch.
“Our client has not been able to return to his palace in Asi due to the threat issued by Egbedun, who should ordinarily be a custodian of the law,” the letter read.
The Speaker, in his response, said the matter started weeks ago when his convoy was attacked by thugs at Okuku on his way back to Asi.
He said, “My convoy was attacked about three weeks ago while returning to Asia at Okuku by thugs. I was compelled to contact the Commissioner of Police and the Director of DSS, both of whom acted swiftly to apprehend one of the culprits.”
Egbedun claimed that the king called to warn him not to let the arrested suspect face trial or allow other suspects to be picked up.
He said, “I have a deep regard for traditional institutions and respect for the elderly, but that will not come at the expense of my life. I sincerely apologise to my supporters for my emotional outbursts; however, there can be no smoke without fire.”
The All Progressives Congress condemned the Speaker’s actions. In a statement by its Director of Media, Chief Kola Olabisi, the party said Egbedun’s words and actions were disrespectful and disgraceful.
But the Peoples Democratic Party pushed back, saying the APC was using the matter to play politics. The party’s state chairman, Sunday Bisi, accused the opposition of trying to turn a sensitive issue into political fuel.
