Intrigues and Politics of Ooni’s Stool
As the jostling to fill the vacant stool of the Ooni in Ile-Ife gathers momentum, Yinka Kolawole writes that besides tradition, politics and financial muscle may determine who wears the crown
As the jostling to fill the vacant stool of the Ooni in Ile-Ife gathers momentum, Yinka Kolawole writes that besides tradition, politics and financial muscle may determine who wears the crown…
As things stand today, out of the four identified ruling houses in Ile-Ife, the contest has been narrowed down to the Lafigido and the Giesi ruling houses, considering the fact that the Osinkola and Ogboru ruling houses produced the last two Ife royal fathers and as such the Giesi family is laying claim to the revered stool. The elders of Ife expect tradition and culture to take preeminence above politics or financial muscle in choosing the new Ooni because the stool represents the essence of the Yoruba race
Traditionally, there are four major ruling houses in Ile-Ife Osun State; they are Osinkola, Ogboru, Giesi and Lafiogido ruling houses. The four clans are backed by tradition to produce their candidates from which one would be selected by the Kingmakers to fill the vacant stool of Ooni of Ife. Traditionally, the choice of the oracle as conveyed by the kingmakers is supposed to be final in line with the tradition and the custom of Ile-Ife.
The elders of Ife expect the tradition and culture to take pre-eminence above politics or financial muscle in choosing the new Ooni because the stool represents the essence of the Yoruba race.
Soon after the death of Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the ruling houses have commenced the process of selecting their candidates. Some are yet to be made public but going by the body languages of the kingmakers, the governmental influence and financial capacity may influence the choice of the new Ooni although some stakeholders are insisting on tradition and the rule of law in choosing the new king.
Issues and Contentions Lafigido Ruling house
Members of Olumobi Family of Lafigido ruling house are warning against undue influence and favouritism in choosing the new Ooni but insisting that the criteria lay down by history, custom and tradition of Ile-Ife must be followed to the letter to avoid the selection of a wrong candidate.
The family also warned that neither political influence nor financial influence should be considered should be placed above the traditional rights of those described as the true princes of Ile-Ife royal dynasties. “The values of integrity, rich cultural knowledge and strong relationship and affinity with the people of the Ife and the Yoruba race in general should be given priority”
In a statement credited to a member of the family, Prince Adedimeji Dauda Adefioye, the family maintained that it deserves the right to present the new Ooni of Ife more than two centuries after the last ruler from the lineage reigned.
Adefioye said the late Olumobi who is the progenitor of the Olumobi Compound of Lafigido ruling house ruled as the 22nd Ooni of Ife after the reign of Luwoo, the only female Ooni, who was the town’s 21st monarch.
Consequently, a member of the family and Director of the Board of Lafarge Africa Plc, Wema Bank Plc, Prince Adebode Obafemi Adefioye, has signified his intention to ascend the Ooni throne.
The financial expert is said to be the grandson of the late renowned philanthropists, Prince Badru Adefioye and he promised to build on the legacies of the late Sijuwade if elected the 50th Ooni of Ife.
Adefioye who said the task of an Oba, and particularly a throne like that of Ooni is about service across community’s borders urged other contenders to do away with acrimony and campaign of calumny, saying that his brother, “Omoba Adebode Obafemi Adefioye is an energetic, passionate and successful Ile-Ife son and will be a worthy Ooni for the betterment of Ile-Ife kingdom and Nigeria at large,
“We must warn those running the race to do away with campaign of calumny and should stop distorting facts about the history of Africa’s noblest race because these traditions and histories are too sacrosanct to be altered. We have identified some groups of people and individuals that are indigenes of Ile-Ife who have clandestinely embarked on a mission to distort the history, custom and tradition of our fatherland but the custodians of our history should not be discouraged.”
He bemoaned such people parading themselves as the anointed candidate for the throne even before the official announcement of the late Ooni’s demise.
“Such people must be watched very carefully because their actions do not conform with our custom and traditions and they seem to be too ambitious to serve the Yoruba race” Adefioye advised the chiefs and the government to be fair and just throughout the selection process and to consider the future of the black race over and above the immediate gains.
Giesi Ruling House
As things stand today, out of the four identified ruling houses in Ile-Ife, the contest has been narrowed down to the Lafigido and the Giesi ruling houses, considering the fact that the Osinkola and Ogboru ruling houses produced the last two Ife royal fathers and as such the Giesi family is laying claim to the revered stool.
The Octogenarian Prince of Giessi ruling House, Peter Adetola Ogunleye, believes that the Ooni stool cannot be occupied by any individual who is not from a royal family saying that it is now the turn of Giesi to produce the next Ooni.
Speaking with THISDAY on how the new Ooni would emerge, the 83 year old lawyer believed that the stool of Ooni, cannot be occupied by just any individual who have no right to royalty by birth or lineage and that historically, the next Ooni ought to emerge from Giesi.
According to the prince, who contested against late Oba Sijuwade for the throne in 1980 following the demise of Oba Adesoji Aderemi, his family which was denied the right to produce the Ooni of Ife since 1894 when the representative of his ruling house reigned in Ile-Ife is now prepare to ensure that the family’s candidate occupy the stool.
Ogunleye recalled that his family had signified its intention to occupy the stool of Ooni in 1930 but was denied, saying that similar situation repeated itself in 1980 when he attempted to be made the Ooni of Ife, but lost to Oba Sijuwade despite the legal battle.
“There are four ruling houses in Ile-Ife and the four houses are Giesi, Lafogido, Osinkola and Ogboru, adding that the last time an Ooni from the Giesi ruling house reigned was in 1894 and the Ooni then was Oba Derin Ologbehunla.
“My own great grandfather known as Ooni Kunbusi reigned between 1849 and 1878. In other words, the last time we occupied the throne of Ooni was in 1894. However, the order of ascendancy remains the same. After Ogboru ruling house where Oba Sijuwade hailed from it is the turn of Giesi ruling house. So, it is the turn of my family to produce the next Ooni of Ife,” the octogenarian argued.
Still buttressing the claims of the Giesi ruling house to the throne, another prince and secretary of the family, Prince Aderopo Ogunwusi, said“The normal rotation to the succession to the throne of Ooni which is in vogue in Ile-Ife presently, has ascertained that it is now the turn of Giesi ruling house Moore, Ile-Ife to produce the next Ooni of Ife by the special grace of God.”
Ogunwusi, who insisted that it is on record that his family is legitimately supposed to produce the next Ife monarch drew inference from a government declaration captioned: ‘The Ooni of Ife Chieftaincy Declaration’ reference NO CB141/7/1/540 dated 22nd August, 1977
addressed to the then Executive Secretary of Oranmiyan local government, Ile-Ife from the office of military governor of Oyo State and duly signed by then Secretary to the Military Government and Head of Service”.
According to him, “Paragraph ‘A’ in the letter states that the order of rotation among the ruling houses should be as follows: (1) Osinkola, (2) Ogboru (3) Giesi and (4) Lafogido in that order of rotation.”
Affirming his claims further, Ogunwusi stressed that, “We like to refer to another memorandum released by the Executive Council of Oyo State of Nigeria reference OYSGM (80) 107 dated 16th September 1980 captioned ‘Appointment of a new Ooni of Ife Memorandum by the Governor.’ Paragraph one of the memorandum states that ‘The Ooni of Ife is a Category 1 ruling house Chieftaincy in Oranmiyan local government area (which now comprises of Ife Central, Ife East, Ife North, and Ife South local government areas of the state, to which part 11 of the Chiefs’ Law, cap. 19 has been applied.”
He made it clear that the Osinkola ruling house produced Oba Adesoji Aderemi that ruled for 50 years and was succeeded by Oba Okunade Sijuwade that just passed away and that it is therefore the turn of Giesi ruling house to produce the next Ooni of Ife.
The family urged the state government and all stakeholders to put the machinery in motion to expedite action on their request as the House has many competent, reputable children that would occupy the stool.
As things stand today, out of the four identified ruling houses in Ile-Ife, the contest has been narrowed down to the Lafigido and the Giesi ruling houses, considering the fact that the Osinkola and Ogboru ruling houses produced the last two Ife royal fathers and as such the Giesi family is laying claim to the revered stool.
The Quest Continues
Following arguments by the two ruling houses; Giesi and Lafogido, that they are the ruling houses that are most qualified to occupy the throne, princes from the two houses have signified their interests to ascend the throne but they are not alone in the race as other ruling houses have also joined the race.
One of them is Dr. Rahmon Adegoke Adedoyin, a prince from Ile-Ife (Agbedegbede/Oshinkola) Akui ruling house, who claimed that the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Sijuwade, nominated him as the next Ooni.
The proprietor of Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu has contributed significantly to the development of the ancient town which he said was what prompted the late Ooni to honour him with the chieftaincy title of the Maye of Ife.
Adedoyin, who also owns a University in the United States and two polytechnics in Nigeria among other investments, speaks on how history and tradition favour him to emerge as the next Ooni of Ife.
But another leading contender from the Giesi ruling family is an international real estate consultant, Prince Adetunji Ogunwusi, who is said to be favoured by the fact that his family house is the authentic heir apparent to the stool. He also enjoys the backing of a larger majority in the family.
Ogunwusi, who warned his family against acts that may fritter away its chances to produce the next Ooni is described as an advocate of internal peace among members of his ruling house. To him, the ultimate goal is that someone with developmental pedigree and milk of human kindness should emerge as the next Ooni in the overall interest of Ile-Ife and Nigeria in general.
Also from Giesi ruling house, the current Director-General, Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, Prince Adesoji Fadehan, is also in the contest. He said he has made adequate consultation within the family before coming out to declare his intention.
Fadehan promised to restore peace and unity in the area of development of the ancient city.
Also in the race is a United Kingdom based consultant in the oil and gas sector, Prince Adeagbo Adekemi Adefarakan of the Adefarakan dynasty, Ogboru Olubuse royal family house. The 47 years old prince is the great grandson of Ooni Olubuse I. His late grandfather, Omoba Matthew Adeboye Adefarakan was the prince royal before his demise during the time of Ooni Adesoji Aderemi. He also served as a Senator during the Tafawa Balewa’s regime and the first secretary of the Egbe Omo Odua.
Prince Adefarakan who has since notified the kingmakers of his intention to vie for the exalted stool said he is convinced that the Ogboru ruling house would produce the next Ooni based on equity, stressing that of the four ruling houses in Ile –Ife, the Ogboru family has produced the least number of Ooni.
According to him, since the crystallization of the ruling houses into four, the Ogboru family has produced only four Oonis, while the other three ruling houses: Lafogido; Giesi and Oshinkola have produced eight, seven and five Oonis respectively.
However, as the ruling houses in Ile- Ife are scrambling to occupy the vacant stool of the Ooni of Ife, the Osinkola ruling house has signified that six candidates are likely to emerge from the five male branches from the ruling house.
Stating the position of the Osinkola ruling house the spokesman of the house, Prince Olakunle Aderemi, stated that deciding on the choice of Ooni needed to be fast-tracked and not be toyed with by all stakeholders.
Aderemi, who assured the people that the Osinkola ruling house would produce the next Ooni noted that the stool of Ooni should not be for sale to the highest bidder. He also noted that some aspirants who are parading themselves are not members of the ruling house.
He contended that there is no provision for rotational system among the ruling houses, that it is the conviction of the entire Osinkola house to produce next Ooni and that his ruling house has worthy and credible sons who can occupy the vacant stool and bring the desire peace and rapid development to Ile-Ife.
“Before 1930, there was no chieftaincy declaration guiding selection of Ooni. In 1957, the first chieftaincy declaration came into being. In 1977 there was alteration and some variations were provided. Those variations were relied upon to pave way for the emergence of Ooni Sijuade in 1980.
“What we seek is that the variations that were considered then should once again be activated for us Osinkola to be considered to fill the stool” He maintained that the Osinkola’s reign as Ooni, Ile Ife usually witness peace and development in all spheres, stressing that the facts to support his position were evident during the reign of Oba Adesoji Aderemi.
Though one of the late Aderemi’s son is in the race to the throne but some stakeholders are insisting that due traditional process must be followed and that anything besides this would not be acceptable by the people, warning kingmakers also to be guided by culture and avoid falling into the hands of influential people who are bent on derailing the process.
There are four major ruling houses in IleIfe Osun State; they are Osinkola, Ogboru, Giesi and Lafiogido ruling houses. The four clans are backed by tradition to produce their candidates from which one would be selected by the Kingmakers to fill the vacant stool of Ooni of Ife. Traditionally, the choice of the oracle as conveyed by the kingmakers is supposed to be final in line with the tradition and the custom of IleIfe