Ooni: I knew my son would be king –Father.

According to New Telegraph:

·         New monarch to be crowned in 21 days

·         How Ogunwusi defeated 41 others to emerge Sijuwade’s successor

·         Saraki, Dogara, Ambode, others salute king-designate

To the father of the Ooni of Ifedesignate, Prince Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, his choice as a successor to the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade did not come as a surprise. The father, Prince Ropo Adeyeye Ogunwusi, said in Ile Ife yesterday that his son’s new status was foretold right from his childhood. The elder Ogunwusi spoke against the announcement in the wee hours of yesterday of his son as the new Ooni of Ife.

Ogunwusi, beat 42 candidates to clinch the crown, New Telegraph gathered yesterday. Ogunwusi, who was unanimously elected by the Ife kingmakers last Friday, it was learnt, might be coronated in the next 21 days. One of the kingmakers said that although Ogunwusi was supposed to be crowned in three months’ time, his coronation might be brought forward due to the Olojo Festival due to be held in December.

The Olojo Festival is the foremost cultural event in the ancient town and it cannot be held without the Ooni who plays vital roles during the occasion.

 The Ooni is the one to lead procession from the palace to Oke Mogun, where the rituals for the Olojo Festival would be performed. Ogunwusi, from the Geise Ruling House, was, in the wee hours of yesterday, named the 51st Ooni of Ife as successor to the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade, who died on July 28 in a London hospital.

The kingmaker who spoke to New Telegraph at the palace yesterday said that Ogunwusi was chosen because of his good conduct and humility. He added that during the screening, Ogunwusi outshone other contestants in his mastering of the tradition, culture and norms of Ile-Ife and the Yoruba kingdom.

According to him, Ogunwusi’s choice was unanimously endorsed by all the 14 kingmakers and his name forwarded to Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, for confirmation.

The Ooni-designate is expected to arrive Ile-Ife tomorrow while his father, Prince Ropo Adeyeye Ogunwusi, a retired official of Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC), said that his son had been ordained king since he had been in the womb.

His father said that there were prophesies and predictions that his son had been favoured by the deities to be king. He said that while he was an infant, the Oonidesignate used to be referred to as “Oba Lola” (destined to be king) by the people.

He, however, thanked God for allowing his son to emerge as the next Ooni of Ife and those who made it possible. Ogunwusi spoke just as Ile-Ife residents trooped out to celebrate the appointment of the new Ooni.

The residents, who were armed with Ogunwusi’s portraits and many banners, disrupted the flow of both vehicular and human movements. It took policemen several hours to restore normalcy on some of the major streets in the town. Also, the heavy presence of security agents, which was witnessed in every nooks and cranny of the town at the weekend, had reduced after the announcement of Ogunwusi’s appointment.

However, a combined team of both regular and riot policemen, officers of Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), traditional hunters and vigilante group, were stationed in front of the palace.
An Armoured Personnel Carrier (APC) was stationed in front of the palace too, apparently to deter troublemakers.

However, some indigenes of the town stormed the palace to express their happiness over the appointment of the new monarch. Laadin of Ife and Secretary of Traditional Kingmakers, Chief Adetoye Adewole, told reporters that the choice of Ogunwusi was ordained by the gods. He described the new Ooni as a man of dignity with impeccable character.

Also, Chairman of the kingmakers, Lowa Adimula, Oba Joseph Ijaodola, said that due process was followed before Ogunwusi emerged as the new Ooni.

Oba Ijaodola described the choice of Ogunwusi as the best, saying that he has all it takes to bring rapid transformation to the town. Former Special Adviser to Aregbesola on Youths and Special Needs, Mr. Biyi Odunlade, described Ogunwusi as an outstanding person. In his congratulatory message, one of the contenders from Giesi Ruling House and a former Commissioner for Culture, Tourism and Home Affairs, Alhaji Sikiru Adetona, welcomed the emergence of Ogunwusi as the 51st Ooni.

More congratulatory messages also came from Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Yakubu Dogara and Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode. Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser (Media and Publicity), Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu, urged Ogunwusi to concentrate on further solidifying the role of the Yoruba in national unity.

According to him, the Ooni-elect has so many things in common with his predecessor, which include, but not limited to being widely travelled, exposed, versatile, well-informed and somebody devoted to community service.

He said that the appointment of Ogunwusi could not have come at a better time “when the youthful zest, experience and knowledge of global best practices, which you possess in abundance, are needed to move the traditional institution and, most especially, the revered throne of the Ife Kingdom, to the next level.”
The Senate president urged the new Ooni not to see his ascension to the throne as a mere fulfillment of a life-long ambition, but rather, a divine opportunity to use his knowledge and wisdom to improve on the wellbeing of his people and uplifting the glory of the Yoruba race.

While also congratulating Ogunwusi, Dogara, in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Alhaji Turaki Hassan, urged the new Ooni to emulate the late Oba Sijuwade, whom he said left an indelible mark in the history of Nigeria as a peacemaker and a bridge between different peoples.

While assuring the new Ooni of the cooperation of the House, Dogara said that the legislature was open to the wise counsel and invaluable support of the new Ooni in its quest to effect change and reposition Nigeria for enduring peace, security, accelerated growth and development. He commended the Osun State government for playing the role of a good umpire by ensuring a rancour-free selection and succession process. Ambode also expressed joy at the emergence of Ogunwusi as the new Ooni.

The governor, in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, urged the new monarch to see his appointment as a call to service and to the upliftment of humanity. While charging Ogunwusi to be courageous in his decisions, Ambode urged him to see the unity of the Yoruba race as a priority.

The National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Professor Adewale Oladipo, also described Ogunwusi as a right choice, given his rich background. He told journalists in Abuja that the kingmakers did not mortgage their consciences as being speculated in some quarters prior to the pronouncement. He, however, appealed to other contestants to put the competition behind them and join hands with the new monarch for the even development of the state.

But, the Lafogido Ruling House that challenged the turn of the Giesi Ruling House to produce the next Ooni, faulted the appointment of Ogunwusi. It said that with the decision of the kingmakers to solely present a candidate for the throne of Ooni, “it is obvious that government has gone against the wish of the generality of the people of Ile-Ife.” Spokesperson of the aggrieved ruling house and former Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Adeleke Adewoyin, described the selection process as faulty and fraudulent.

He added that their ruling house would soon meet to discuss the new development. Adewoyin, however, charged people to remain calm, saying: “The blood of an Ife man does not worth being shed over the choice of an Ooni.”

Born to Prince Ropo and the late Mrs. Margaret Wuraola Ogunwusi of Ile Opa family compound, Ile Ife, the new Ooni is a Higher National Diploma graduate from The Polytechnic, Ibadan. Ogunwusi, an entrepreneur, cut his teeth in entrepreneurship as a student.

He is a member of many professional bodies, including the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and the Institute of Directors (IoD) Nigeria.

Ogunwusi is on the board of directors of Imperial Homes Mortgage Bank Limited, (formerly GTHomes) and FinaTrust Microfinance Bank Limited.

Source: New Telegraph.

(Bats)