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Ooni
of Ife goes home to join his ancestors. (Photo credit:
kwekudee-tripdownmemorylane.blogspot.com; Image source: premiumtimesng.com)
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With the burial formalities of the immediate past Ooni of
Ife, Okunade Sijuwade, now completed, a titanic succession battle has kicked
off in Ile-Ife.
An insider in the Ife ruling house expected to fill the vacant stool told
PREMIUM TIMES a selection progress was already underway and that those desirous
of the revered position have been asked to formally indicate interest. There are four ruling houses in Ile-Ife –
Lafogido, Giesi, Ogboru, and Oshikola. Oba
Sijuwade, who reigned between 1980 and 2015, is of the Ogboru royal lineage.
The next Ooni will most
likely emerge from the Giesi ruling house which last produced an occupant to
the position – Ooni Derin Ologbenla – between 1880 and 1894. The other royal houses
have also taken turns to produce Obas for the ancient town at various times. The Ogboru lineage
produced Oba Adelekan Olubuse I, who reigned between 1894 and 1910, with the
Lafogido ruling house producing his successor, Oba Ademuluyi Ajagu (1910-1930).
Oba Sijuwade’s
predecessor, Adesoji Aderemi, who reigned between 1930 and 1980, came from the
Oshikola ruling house.
PREMIUM TIMES report
continues:
Believing that it is
their right to produce the next Ooni, members of the Giesi ruling house have
begun a flurry of activities they expect would culminate in one of them
succeeding Mr. Sijuwade.
They met Saturday, August
15 at the Akodi Agbedegbede family house in Ile-Ife, a source said.
An insider told PREMIUM
TIMES the meeting, presided over by Pa Aderibigbe, a 91-year old elder in the
ruling family, was well attended by hundreds of princes, princesses and elders
of the royal lineage.
“The meeting, called only
after the formal announcements by the Ife chiefs, was in respect to the laws
and tradition of the royal families, our source said.
“Tributes were paid to
the long and happy reign of Oba Alayeluwa Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II and
prayers were said for the repose of his soul with his fore fathers.”
He said at the meeting,
the elders of the Giesi ruling house “announced and affirmed that the time is
now for the process of filling the gap created in the Kingship of Ile-Ife to
commence”.
The legal process and
content of the law that guides the selection of the Ooni was publicly presented
to all the princes and princesses present, he said.
He added, “First it was
established that Giesi ruling house is set and in-turn to produce the next Ooni
of Ile-Ife. Secondly, it was communicated as stated in the law, that 14 days
from when the vacancy occurred, the ruling house is obliged to make a
presentation of candidate(s) to the local government.
“Thereafter it was
communicated that the basis of the selection will be from male children who are
offspring of both male and female children of Giesi ruling house.
“An invitation was given
to all interested princes of Giesi ruling house to obtain and complete the
prescribed form, return the form to the family within the next couple of days
after which they will be screened. Elders then screen and select as many as
they feel comfortable with.
“Post screening, the
names will be submitted to the kingmakers within a period of 14 days from the
vacancy of the stool. The kingmakers make consultations with the oracle before
forwarding their approved list to the local government.
“The emergence of the
Ooni will depend on how quickly the oracle selects the appropriate occupier to
the throne of Ife.
“This is the correct
process and procedure and nobody is precluded.”
Our source said one of
those interested in the position is Oba Bankole Adewale Ojutalayo, the Laroka
of Wankin, and a great grandson of Ooni Derin Ologbenla.
Mr. Ojutalayo is said to
have, in the last five years, worked in Ile-Ife to maintain peace, develop
townships and was instrumental in the installation of a number of Obas within
the Ife kingdom.
He is also said to be
prominent in the council of Sookos, contributing to the progress and
development of that council.
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