The Next Ooni of Ife

Who is Ooni Ogunwusi

Osun State Government has announced the next Ooni of Ife and he is Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi from Giesi ruling house. According to a statement by Office of the Secretary to the State Government, title, “Appointment of a new Ooni” and signed by Alhaji Moshood Olalekan Adeoti, the kingmakers of Ife had completed the required process and communicated the choice of Prince Ogunwusi to the Governor’s office for approval. Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi of the Giesi ruling house has emerged the 51st Ooni of Ile-Ife, Osun State governor Rauf Aregbesola has said in a press statement. Ogunwusi takes over from Oba Sijuade, who died on July 28, 2015 in a London hospital. Born 40 years ago into the family of John Oluropo Ogunwusi from the famous Ojaja Lineage of the Giesi ruling house of the Agbedegbede Quarters in Ile-Ife, Prince Ogunwusi’s mother, Margaret Wuraola Sidikatu Abegbe Ogunwusi, was born into the family of Soji-Opa, a prominent Cocoa merchant in Ile-Ife. Mr. Ogunwusi attended The Polytechnic, Ibadan, where he obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Accountancy. After school, he grew rapidly in business, becoming a successful real estate merchant. His bio on the website of Imperial Homes Mortgage Bank Limited (a subsidiary of GTBank) on which board he sits as non executive director, reads, “Mr. Ogunwusi is a graduate of Accountancy and a certified member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria and of the Institute of Management. “He has been involved in engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts locally and abroad for over 11 years. “He was involved in the development of the Northern Foreshore Estate, Cityscape International Limited’s Buena Vista project in Lekki, Primewaterview Limited’s projects, Westcom Limited’s projects, and the Ajaokuta Steel’s and Delta Steel’s resuscitation projects “Adeyeye (Ogunwusi) is currently the Managing Director of Howard Roark Gardens Limited which is undertaking multi-million naira Jacob Mews Estate project in Yaba and the Lakeview real estate development in Lekki.” To become Ooni, Mr. Ogunwusi defeated 20 other contenders, including his 48-year old real estate- magnate brother, Adetunji, the Group Chairman of Primewaterview Holdings (comprising of Primewaterview Limited and PWV Management Services).

Controversy The emergence of Mr. Ogunwusi as Ooni was not without controversy. No sooner had the search for the successor to Oba Sijuwade began than some ruling houses in the town started bickering over whose turn it was to produce the next king for the ancient city. Although it appeared settled that the Giesi house would produce the next Ooni, being next to the Ogboru ruling house in the succession order established by government declaration on the Ooni chieftaincy title of 1977, the Ogboru rand Lafogido ruling houses challenged the decision of the kingmakers to restrict the search to Giesi . The Ogboru family contended that the Giesi ruling lineage should blame itself for conceding its turn to produce an Ooni to the late Oba Sijuwade, saying the concession to the late king was to him as an individual and not to the Ogboru clan as a whole. Two members of the Lafogido Ruling House also sued Governor Aregbesola, the Obalufe of Ile-Ife, the late Oba Solomon Omisakin and Lowa of Ife, Joseph Ijaodola at an Osun State High Court over the decision to allow only the Giesi Ruling House present candidates for the stool. They asked the court to nullify the 1980 Ife Chieftaincy Declaration, saying it was “lopsided, unjust, unconstitutional and unfair.” The court dismissed the suit, paving the way for the selection of Mr. Ogunwusi as Ooni. 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. Before Mr. Ogunwusi’s appointment, Monday, the last descendant of the Giesi ruling house that occupied the position was Ooni Derin Ologbenla and that was 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. However, there have been various comments from Yoruba personalities over the choice of the Ife king and what is required of him. In his views Mr. Lawrence Omidiora, General Manager, Ikeja Golf Club, wrote from Lagos that there is no doubt that all past Oonis specifically from the time of Oranmiyan, 6th Ooni of Ife have been men of means, glamour and commanding personality. Oranmiyan was a warrior and reputed to be a great administrator with tremendous influence across Yorubaland. Oranmiyan strengthened the Benin Kingdom traditional institution and is still being honoured in that kingdom till date. He established the traditional institution in Oyo Kingdom and his descendants still rule the kingdom to date. In appreciation of the role of Oranmiyan in the founding and establishment of the Kingship of Oko Land (modern day Osile Oke-Ona , Egba) the incumbent King, Alayeluwa Oba Adedapo Tejuoso bears the appellation ORANMIYAN. I once asked him why the appellation, Oba Tejuoso elucidated on the type of person Oranmiyan was and why he should be emulated. He was described as a fearless, upright and inimitable leader with tremendous wisdom which enabled him to rule with fairness and earned the respect and love of his people. Since the time of the Olubuse the first in the early 20th century, the leadership position of the Ooni of Ife among traditional rulers in Yorubaland is indubitable. In fact, all other Yoruba Obas were said to have stayed outside their various palaces when, for the first time, the first Ooni Olubuse travelled outside his domain to Lagos to meet the colonial Governor General at that time. Oba Adesoji Tadenikawo Aderemi who became 49th Ooni in 1930 was a king to be reckoned with. He commanded respect and was seen as the leader of all Yoruba Obas. He was the permanent Chairman of the Western Region’s House of Chiefs until the creation of three states from the old western Region. In the old Oyo State, he was the first Chairman House of Chiefs and remained so without any objection from other Yoruba Obas until his transition in 1980. I witnessed the coronation of late Oba Okunade as a form 3 pupil in Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife sent among several others to represent the school during the coronation. We were to line the routes to the coronation venue in our school uniforms. It was the first time I would witness a coronation and be part of the crowd that witnessed the installation. It was a memorable occasion as for the first time as well, I saw the then Oyo State governor, Late Chief Bola Ige, my idol, Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the array of personalities that stormed Ile-Ife for the coronation. The reputation of Late Oba Okunade as a wealthy and influential person was proven on that date and I prayed that I would one day be as rich and reputable like him. Six years on the throne, I became a regular visitor to the palace and through my mentor, Mr. Funmiloila Olorunnisola, the Press Manager then and my active and rewarding involvement in the affairs of the town, I became very close to Oba Sijuade. He was indeed an Oba of Obas, wealthy, gracious, sartorial, and resplendent. He was golden in appearance, carriage and personality. The palace became a mecca of sort to Yoruba leaders and was in fact the Headquarter of the Yoruba nation. Every Ife indigene was proud to be an Ife. He lifted Ife and projected the image of the town to the extent that Yorubas, wherever they may be, saw Ile-Ife as their own. This is a position where we need a man to fill. Will he just be a man? He must be an original man imbued with the leadership trait of Oranmiyan, possess the charisma and wisdom of Oba Aderemi and have acquired the panache, sagacity and wealth of Oba Sijuade. The process to select that original man started immediately the transition of the late Oba was announced. All manners of people from all over the world who have a link with the royal houses in Ife returned home. Some solicited for funds from their friends and associates in their locations to be in Ife and contest for the Ooni of the Source. Many have forgotten that Ile-Ife is the cradle of the Yorubas and thought that becoming the Ooni is a childsplay. Emerging configuration have started to show that the stool is for the well bred, matured, God fearing and influential personality who must stand out from the crowd to be seen and recognised not just as an Oba but as the Ooni in Yorubaland. Several names have been posted and I wish to state as a stakeholder, that Ife and the position of its kingship is owned by the entire Yoruba people as they would always look up to the occupier of that throne as the father and leader. Far beyond the confine of Ile-Ife is the authority of the Ooni. Therefore, the throne requires a decent, charismatic, receptive personality with tremendous wisdom and quality sense of judgement. The selectors of the occupier of the throne must realise the importance of the stool as traditional kingmakers. They must not succumb to pettiness and should be fair and objective. They must realise that they are writing history and should be conscious that their tomorrow is bigger than today. It is also pertinent for them to know that the contemporary demands regarding their assignment is for them to be all ears and show responsibility attached to their call. They must give us the Ooni the people deserve. The Kingmakers should not be self-serving and be seen as incorruptible representatives of the people. They must be aware that the entire Yoruba race have greater expectations from them. As the world expects the next Ooni to sit on the throne of his forefathers, nobody is interested in the royal house that will produce him as that is the issue limited to Ife, the original man being awaited is expected to start from where Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse ii stopped.