Assistant Editor (South West), MUYIWA OLALEYE, writes on the intrigues and politics leading to the selection of Enitan Ogunwusi as the new Ooni of Ife.
Ife is one of the prominent traditional settings that an average Yoruba does not joke with, especially on account of its rich cultural values. This informs why before the selection of the new Ooni of Ife, Enitan Ogunwusi, a lot of processes were observed among the Ogboni and the traditional rulers in the land before arriving at a conclusion. These involved consultation with various deities in the land.
There are 401 deities in Ile-Ife. Ooni, according to Ife chiefs, is the only living deity among the lot. Two hundred of the deities, they said, had been given out to other parts of Yoruba land while 201 reside in Ile-Ife.
The late Ooni, Okunade Sijuwade, who passed on, July 28, in a London hospital, was said to have kept faith with this culture. He was also seen as a very influential monarch who commanded the respect of many, including other traditional rulers within and outside the shores of the country.
Even at his death, aged 85, circumstances behind his passage caught many unawares. The uncertain situation reflected on the gloomy faces of chiefs, palace guards and other workers at Ile-Oodua, the traditional name of Ooni’s palace in Ile-Ife, while the confusion surrounding his exit lasted.
What particularly jolted the chiefs and the dependents of the late Ooni was that the news of his death was broken by those who tradition did not saddle with the responsibility. The news travelled wide on the social media almost immediately the revered monarch joined his ancestors.
Despite the initial outrage on the manner the information concerning the death was handled, there was outpouring of emotions on his exit. For example, those who benefited immensely from the generosity of the late Kabiyesi (king) described him as irreplaceable. Although the actual number of people Oba Sijuwade fed on a daily basis could not be stated, sources around the palace claimed that the figure ranged from 500 to about 1,000.
In fact, in the heat of the confusion over his death, a palace guard had lamented: “Where will I start my life from again?” He was asking nobody in particular, but it was apparent that the passage of the influential monarch dealt a big blow on him that he could not conceal. Others that were similarly hit by Sijuwade’s exit were not left out in lamenting his passage.
Apart from those who directly benefitted from the late Ooni, there was agreement by many that he impacted on the throne in significant ways.
Making of a new Oba
Sijuwade’s personal carriage added a lot to the glamour surrounding the stool, hence the chiefs were not ready for anyone to lower it, while searching for his successor. In what almost appeared an obstacle to the search, the head of the kingmakers, the Obalufe of Iremo quarters, passed on before the selection process was completed.
But Ife people and the entire Yoruba rose to the occasion in searching for who would step into the big shoes left behind by Sijuwade.
Many princes stepped out and indicated interest in the stool. TheNiche gathered that while they showed interest in the throne, they spent money in the exercise. Although the amount spent differed depending on the capacity of the aspirants, all spent money one way or another.
The glamour and influence attached to the office made the competition quite stiff. There were even unsubstantiated rumours that some aspirants bought vehicles for the kingmakers aside other financial inducements to curry their favour.
Some had hilariously referred the period of the search as a harvest time for those concerned. At a time, in fact, the late Obalufe had jocularly remarked that he would not mind a gift of a helicopter from any of the aspirants, stressing however that he and his colleagues would do the right thing.
While enumerating the basic qualities expected of any contestant, the late Obalufe had stated categorically that Ife people would not settle for an illiterate, a pauper or a dishonest person.
His words: “We have so many things we will put into consideration. But among them is education. We cannot elect an illiterate as the next Ooni. We will put somebody who will be able to maintain Ife financially. We will look at the past records of the contestants before we choose any of them. If Oba Sijuwade was able to feed 1,000 people, we want somebody who will be able to feed 10,000 people. We don’t want to go back. We want to go forward.”
Ogunwusi scales the hurdle
To prove that the new Ooni-elect is far from being a pauper, he donated about 50 transformers worth about N250 million to various communities in Ile-Ife to boost electricity supply. The gesture, incidentally, took place during the selection process when it was not certain who the oracle would pick. As it turned out, his Giesi Ruling House was favoured.
Lot falls on Giesi Ruling House
Giesi Ruling House, which last produced the Ooni about 120 years ago, was favoured to succeed Sijuwade who came from Ogboru Ruling House. The 1980 Ife Chieftaincy Declaration supported its cause and the kingmakers stood by this document. According to the document, which recognises rotation order of ascendancy to the throne, Osinkola, Ogboru, Giesi and Lafogido ruling houses are recognised in that order.
The kingmakers announced that they had narrowed down the selection process to Giesi only and barred contestants from the remaining ruling houses. Notwithstanding the initial agreement on the succession, the selection sparked litigations.
The dismissal of the case filed by Lafogido Ruling House by an Osun State High Court was all the governor needed to approve the selection of Prince Ogunwusi from Ojaja Royal Family which is a branch of Giesi to become the 51st Ooni of Ife.
Shortly before Ogunwusi was announced, the battle became fiercer as the contestants employed various strategies to outdo others.
A petition was, for example, submitted to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Ogunwusi, accusing him of forgery and scam. The Ooni-elect, however, denied the allegations, describing them as calculated attempts by his opponents to discredit him, especially at a time they were aware that he was coasting home to victory.
Although the Akui branch of Osinkola Ruling House has vowed to continue with its case before the court, some lawyers are of the opinion that the case, at the end of the day, may turn out as an exercise in futility.
However, the head of Lafogido, Prince Adeleke Adewoyin, who was Deputy Governor of Osun State, said he had advised his people not to file an appeal against the dismissal of their lawsuit by Justice Adepele Ojo, who is the Chief Judge of the state.
Adewoyin had, during the race, maintained that the contest was not a do-or-die affair for the family. He actually walked the talk as he appeared at the Agbedegbede compound of the Ogunwusis, penultimate Wednesday, to witness the installation of the Ooni-elect as the Sooko of his ruling house which was part of the coronation rites.
Ogunwusi’s triumphal entry into Ife
The arrival of the new monarch at the ancient city of Ile-Ife, which is regarded as the cradle of Yoruba race, saw the town erupting in wild ecstasy.
His return to the town, where he is expected to rule and spend the rest of his life, was celebrated by all segments of the people of Ile-Ife. Dressed in various colourful attires, many trooped out as early as eight o’clock in the morning to catch a glimpse of the 40-year-old real estate developer who is coming to sit on the throne of his fathers.
Ogunwusi stopped at the Ife end of the Ibadan-Ife Expressway and was received by Ife chiefs led by the Lowa Adimula of Ife, Oba Jospeh Ijaodola. The chiefs and thousands of residents trooped out and lined both sides of the road cheering and waving to the Ooni-elect on his entry into the ancient city.
Agenda for Ooni
The new Ooni has been advised by many, including those who contested against him, to pursue peace without which development will be impossible. The advice, it has been stressed, is not unfounded, especially given a recent history of Ife and its Modakeke neighbours.
Ife and Modakeke fought a bitter war some years back, which led to loss of human and materials resources. However, Ogunwusi’s arrival at his ancestral home signalled a new dawn as youths of Modakeke were seen among the sea of heads hailing and welcoming the new monarch into Ile-Ife.
On arrival, the Ooni-elect had entered into Ilofi, an enclave in the city, where he would spend at least 21 days to continue with the rites which he started upon his arrival. At Ilofi, which is located around Iremo quarters of Ile-Ife, Ogunwusi would also be taught how to conduct himself as the Ooni deity which he would soon become.
Though the new Ooni is young, many believe he is endowed with unusual wisdom. In fact, his father, Prince Oluropo Ogunwusi, a retired broadcaster, shortly after his selection, told journalists that the new monarch was ordained by God to sit on the throne of his fathers.
The elated father, who quoted copiously from the Holy Bible, said his son’s greatness was predicted by a man of God before he was born. He added that the new monarch, who is stepping into the big shoes of Oduduwa, would lead the town and the entire Yoruba race well, and his reign would usher in a new dawn for the town.
