Ooni of Ife: How Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi was picked by kingmakers as the new Ooni

Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi

IFE kingmakers yesterday defended their choice of Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi as Ooni, saying they followed due process in picking him.
The Laadin of Ife Traditional Council, Chief Adetoye Olatunde Odewole, said there was no rancour during the process.
He debunked the claims of a ruling house that the process was......
“faulty and fraudulent”

Sooko Adeleke Adewoyin of the Lafogido ruling house had described Ogunwusi’s selection as “faulty and fraudulent”, saying the family would soon come out with its position on the exercise.
But Odewole told reporters at the outer hall of the Ooni’s palace: “We followed due process by using the 1980 Ife Chieftaincy Declaration to pick a candidate from the Giesi Ruling House, which by that declaration is in line to produce the Ooni  after the passing to glory of Oba Okunade Sijuwade. We also consulted Ifa oracle before all of us.
The 14 kingmakers unanimously voted for the candidacy of Prince Ogunwusi”.
Installation rites for the Ooni begin tomorrow in the ancient town.
Ogunwusi, 40, was named the 51st Ooni early yesterday by the Osun State government following the kingmakers’ recommendation.
He is expected in the town tomorrow following which he will move to Ilofi, for the start of the 21-day ritual that will terminate in his installation.
Ogunwusi was billed to arrive today but it was shift till tomorrow in order to put the Ilofi in shape for him, sources said.
The town erupted in jubilation following news that Prince Ogunwusi had been pciked from among the array of contestants from the Giesi royal family.
A jubilant crowd, carrying a large portrait of the prince, marched to his father’s residence on NTA Road, Mukoro area of the town, to share in the family’s joy.
His father, Prince Ropo Ogunwusi, said it was revealed to the family before the birth of the incoming Ooni, that he would become king.
According to him, Prince Adeyeye’s grand father always referred to him as “Ooni Adeyeye” during his life time.
He said out of his seven children, Adeyeye had always demonstrated special attributes that stood him out.
The Ooni’s father said his son would live his for the town, adding that the monarch would work for the peace, unity and progress of the people.

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