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Since the reported death of Ooni Of Ife Oba Okunade Sijuwade yesterday there have being divergent voices speaking on the development. While inside family source maintained the colourful Monarch have gone on a journey of no return, Ile-Ife tittled Chiefs tagged the Royal Traditional Council yesterday denied the reported demise of Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II, the Ooni of Ife, saying that the paramount ruler is alive and well. However the situation of things, eminent Nigerians have being visiting the family in London to register their condolences. Nigeria’s High Commission to UK Dalhatu Tafida was reported to have visited the family to condole with them likewise the Senate President Bukola Saraki was said to have twitted he is sad over the death of the flamboyant Monarch.
Prince
Tokunbo Sijuwade the eldest of Ooni’s children relocated to UK and is now
acting as the head of the family, Ooni’s wives and children are also reported
to have moved to London.
But as the Council battled to dispel the report of the revered monarch’s death, news emerged that the Osinkola ruling house, one of the four ruling houses in the ancient city, is poised to produce the next Ooni. The battle for succession has started and has been narrowed down to the Ademiluyi Royal Family. There are four ruling houses in Ile-Ife, namely Lafogido, Giesi, Ogbooru and Osinkola. The Ademiluyis are the main branch of the Osinkola dynasty. While Oba Okunade Sijuwade is from the Ogboru ruling house, his predecessor, Oba Adesoji Aderemi, was from Giesi ruling house. Elders from the Osinkola/Ademiluyi family, however, declined comment on the succession plan.
The reported demise of Oba Sijuwade at the St. Mary’s Royal Hospital in Paddington, London, after a brief illness on Tuesday, has thrown up at least five members of the Ademiluyi family as top contenders. The names currently on the lips of the family include those of Princes Ademola Ademiluyi, an octogenarian, lawyer and a close confidant of Chief Rasaq Okoya (chairman, Eleganza Group); Yinka Ademiluyi, a septuagenarian socialite, and Gboyega Ademiluyi, said to be in his late sixties, but suave, cultured and a highly successful oil magnate. Others are Prince Adebambo Ademiluyi, in his mid-sixties, ex- Kings College graduate, and Prince Kanmi Ademiluyi who is in his late 50s.
It was learnt that, Kanmi, the maternal scion of the Lagos Peregrino family and former editor of The Punch may be difficult to discountenance in the selection of a new Ooni. He is said to have close affinity with the All Progressives Congress and is extremely close to both the Osun State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. It is forbidden to express aspiration to succeed a reigning monarch, but there is no denying that all eyes have turned in the directions of the Osinkola ruling house to produce Oba Sijuwade’s successor.
Ooni, the title of the traditional ruler of Ile-Ife, ranks at the forefront of traditional institutions in Yorubaland by virtue of the position of Ile-Ife as the cradle of Yoruba kingdom. Its dynasty goes back to over a hundred years back, with fifty monarchs having ascended the throne. Historically, Ife is where the founding deities, Oduduwa and Obatala, began the creation of the world, as directed by the paramount deity, Olodumare. Obatala was said to have created the first humans out of clay, while Oduduwa became the first divine king of the Yoruba nation.
Other Obas in the line include Osangangan Obamakin, Ogun, Obalufon Ogbogbodirin, Obalufon Alayemore, Oranmiyan, Ayetise, Lajamisan, Lajodoogun, Lafogido, Odidimode Rogbesan, Aworokolokin, Ekun, Ajimuda, Gboonijio, Okanlajosin, Adegbalu, Osinkola, Ogboruu, Giesi, Luwoo, Lumobi, Agbedegbede, Ojelokunbinrin, Lagunja, Larunnka, Ademilu, Omogbogbo, Ajila-Oorun, Adejinlejila, Olojo, Okiti, Lugbade, Aribiwoso, Osinlade, Adagba, Ojigidiri. Others are; Akinmoyero who reign between 1770-1800, Gbanlare (1800–1823), Gbegbaaja (1823-1835), Wumonije (between 1835-1837), Adegunle Adewela (1839-1849), Degbinsokun (1849-1878), Orarigba (1878–1880), Derin Ologbenla (1880–1894), Adelekan Olubuse (1894-1910), Adekola (1910, Ademiluyi Ajagun (1930-19800), Adesoji Aderemi (1930-1980) and Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse 11 (1980-2015).
WHY GOVERNOR AREGBESOLA MAINTAINED SEALED LIPS
But as the Council battled to dispel the report of the revered monarch’s death, news emerged that the Osinkola ruling house, one of the four ruling houses in the ancient city, is poised to produce the next Ooni. The battle for succession has started and has been narrowed down to the Ademiluyi Royal Family. There are four ruling houses in Ile-Ife, namely Lafogido, Giesi, Ogbooru and Osinkola. The Ademiluyis are the main branch of the Osinkola dynasty. While Oba Okunade Sijuwade is from the Ogboru ruling house, his predecessor, Oba Adesoji Aderemi, was from Giesi ruling house. Elders from the Osinkola/Ademiluyi family, however, declined comment on the succession plan.
The reported demise of Oba Sijuwade at the St. Mary’s Royal Hospital in Paddington, London, after a brief illness on Tuesday, has thrown up at least five members of the Ademiluyi family as top contenders. The names currently on the lips of the family include those of Princes Ademola Ademiluyi, an octogenarian, lawyer and a close confidant of Chief Rasaq Okoya (chairman, Eleganza Group); Yinka Ademiluyi, a septuagenarian socialite, and Gboyega Ademiluyi, said to be in his late sixties, but suave, cultured and a highly successful oil magnate. Others are Prince Adebambo Ademiluyi, in his mid-sixties, ex- Kings College graduate, and Prince Kanmi Ademiluyi who is in his late 50s.
It was learnt that, Kanmi, the maternal scion of the Lagos Peregrino family and former editor of The Punch may be difficult to discountenance in the selection of a new Ooni. He is said to have close affinity with the All Progressives Congress and is extremely close to both the Osun State Governor Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola and the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. It is forbidden to express aspiration to succeed a reigning monarch, but there is no denying that all eyes have turned in the directions of the Osinkola ruling house to produce Oba Sijuwade’s successor.
Ooni, the title of the traditional ruler of Ile-Ife, ranks at the forefront of traditional institutions in Yorubaland by virtue of the position of Ile-Ife as the cradle of Yoruba kingdom. Its dynasty goes back to over a hundred years back, with fifty monarchs having ascended the throne. Historically, Ife is where the founding deities, Oduduwa and Obatala, began the creation of the world, as directed by the paramount deity, Olodumare. Obatala was said to have created the first humans out of clay, while Oduduwa became the first divine king of the Yoruba nation.
Other Obas in the line include Osangangan Obamakin, Ogun, Obalufon Ogbogbodirin, Obalufon Alayemore, Oranmiyan, Ayetise, Lajamisan, Lajodoogun, Lafogido, Odidimode Rogbesan, Aworokolokin, Ekun, Ajimuda, Gboonijio, Okanlajosin, Adegbalu, Osinkola, Ogboruu, Giesi, Luwoo, Lumobi, Agbedegbede, Ojelokunbinrin, Lagunja, Larunnka, Ademilu, Omogbogbo, Ajila-Oorun, Adejinlejila, Olojo, Okiti, Lugbade, Aribiwoso, Osinlade, Adagba, Ojigidiri. Others are; Akinmoyero who reign between 1770-1800, Gbanlare (1800–1823), Gbegbaaja (1823-1835), Wumonije (between 1835-1837), Adegunle Adewela (1839-1849), Degbinsokun (1849-1878), Orarigba (1878–1880), Derin Ologbenla (1880–1894), Adelekan Olubuse (1894-1910), Adekola (1910, Ademiluyi Ajagun (1930-19800), Adesoji Aderemi (1930-1980) and Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse 11 (1980-2015).
WHY GOVERNOR AREGBESOLA MAINTAINED SEALED LIPS
Even when the news is everywhere, the governor of Osun State, Ogbeni Rauf
Aregbesola, would not confirm the death. He must have been guided by the
experience of 1980. When Sijuwade’s predecessor, Oba Adesoji Aderemi, ‘ascended
into the loft’ on July 3, 1980, his death was not announced until July 7, 1980,
as demanded by the esoteric tradition of Ile-Ife where about 401 deities are
worshipped all year round. According to tradition, the Ile-Ife Traditional
Council is the only body that has the right to announce the demise of a sitting
monarch and it is also the body saddled with the responsibility of nominating
the successor.
The then governor of the old Oyo State, Chief Bola Ige, had ‘goofed’ by announcing on the floor of the Old Oyo State House of Assembly that the king was no more. His action was roundly condemned by the Ife traditional council which claimed that it was their traditional responsibility to announce the death of their monarch. However, since the deed had been done, the traditional council went ahead with the burial rites and, thereafter, embarked on the selection of a successor.
HOW OONI’S DEATH WILL BE ANNOUNCED
Among the kingmakers in Ile-Ife are the Ejiro, the Obalufe and the Obaloran, who today are traditional rulers in their right courtesy Oba Okunade Sijuwade’s tenure as the Ooni of Ile-Ife. Immediately after the death of Ooni, it is expected that the Sookolekun, who is the head of the Ife Princes, is saddled with the responsibility of informing the traditional council officially.
The traditional council will then carry out some cultural and traditional rites before the death of the monarch is announced to the public. The council, after declaring the demise to the public, will now declare the markets in the ancient town closed and a seven-day mourning period declared. It is expected that all the property of the late monarch must have been removed from the palace before the announcement of the death, as whatever was left of his property belongs to the palace immediately his demise was announced.
OBA SIJUWADE’S UNFULFILED DREAMS
One of the late Ooni’s sons, Adegbite, is set for his traditional marriage with ace television presenter and actress, Dolapo Oni. The wedding was scheduled next Sunday. The wedding introduction was held a few days ago at the Oni’s family compound in Lagos. But as it is the wedding may be put on hold as no ceremony will be allowed during the period of the mourning of the Ooni. Also the Asiwaju of Ile-Ife Chief Alex Duduyemi is planning for his 80th birthday but with this development that may also be put on hold.
The then governor of the old Oyo State, Chief Bola Ige, had ‘goofed’ by announcing on the floor of the Old Oyo State House of Assembly that the king was no more. His action was roundly condemned by the Ife traditional council which claimed that it was their traditional responsibility to announce the death of their monarch. However, since the deed had been done, the traditional council went ahead with the burial rites and, thereafter, embarked on the selection of a successor.
HOW OONI’S DEATH WILL BE ANNOUNCED
Among the kingmakers in Ile-Ife are the Ejiro, the Obalufe and the Obaloran, who today are traditional rulers in their right courtesy Oba Okunade Sijuwade’s tenure as the Ooni of Ile-Ife. Immediately after the death of Ooni, it is expected that the Sookolekun, who is the head of the Ife Princes, is saddled with the responsibility of informing the traditional council officially.
The traditional council will then carry out some cultural and traditional rites before the death of the monarch is announced to the public. The council, after declaring the demise to the public, will now declare the markets in the ancient town closed and a seven-day mourning period declared. It is expected that all the property of the late monarch must have been removed from the palace before the announcement of the death, as whatever was left of his property belongs to the palace immediately his demise was announced.
OBA SIJUWADE’S UNFULFILED DREAMS
One of the late Ooni’s sons, Adegbite, is set for his traditional marriage with ace television presenter and actress, Dolapo Oni. The wedding was scheduled next Sunday. The wedding introduction was held a few days ago at the Oni’s family compound in Lagos. But as it is the wedding may be put on hold as no ceremony will be allowed during the period of the mourning of the Ooni. Also the Asiwaju of Ile-Ife Chief Alex Duduyemi is planning for his 80th birthday but with this development that may also be put on hold.
Credit: Leadership Newspaper
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