Two royal families are laying claim to the throne of the Ooni of Ife, which became vacant recently with the demise of Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse 11, the Daily Times can authoritatively report.
One is the Giesi royal line while the other is the Lafigido family.
While the Giesi family bases its argument on a declaration by the then Oyo State government in 1979, the Lafigido point to traditional history as supporting their aspiration.
Going by the declaration by the then Oyo State government, made on 14 September, 1979, approved on 20 January, 1980 and registered on 26 January, 1980, the Giesi family claims it is next in line to produce the next Ooni.
The declaration is also said to have held that a family, Adejinle/Abewale, should be attached to the Lafogido family.
According to the declaration, the four ruling houses that have the right to present candidates for the Ooni stool, and their order of rotation are: Osinkola – which produced the late Oba Adesoji Aderemi; Ogboru; Giesi and Lafogido.
The document, obtained exclusively by the Daily Times, was prepared under the reign of the late Oba Aderemi who was from the Osikola ruling House.
The late Oba Sijuwade was from the Ogboru ruling house.
The declaration document was signed by then chairman, Chieftaincy Committee of the then Oranmiyan Local Government; the Secretary; and one P. O. Olaniyi for the Secretary of the Oyo State Government.
With the demise of Oba Sijuwade from the Oshikola family, the Lafogido House is insisting that the immediate past Oba used the Giesi slot.
Investigation by our correspondent revealed that there was a fierce battle between the Giesi family, represented by a lawyer and the Oshikola family, before Sijuwade emerged as Oba.
It was gathered that the late Ooni eventually emerged in-line with the declaration, making the Oshikola family producing two Oonis, Olubuse I and Olubuse 11.
A close source told our correspondent that none of the families has been given a letter to proceed with the selection process in accordance to tradition.
It was gathered that the family, whose turn is next to rule, is usually notified through a letter from the king makers.
After the letter has been sent, the family is expected to have a meeting where candidates would be suggested for the throne.
However, the Olumobi family of the Lafigido ruling house has also indicated interest in the stool, warning that the history, custom and tradition of the ancient town should not be distorted.
Members of the family, who spoke to our correspondent, argued that possession of material wealth or political influence by aspirants should not be a basis for picking the next monarch.
They insisted the successor should be selected based on the rights of the true princes of the Ife royal dynasty.
According to a prominent member of the family, Prince Adedimeji Adefioye, the royal house ought to be allowed to present the new Ooni because the last time the lineage ascended the stool was more than two centuries ago. y.
Speaking on a member of his family, he declared: "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. But we must warn those running the race against him to do away with campaign of calumny and stop distorting facts about the history of Africa's noblest race because these traditions and histories are too sacrosanct to be altered."
Prince Adebode is a director on the boards of Lafarge Africa Plc and Wema Bank Plc, among other multinational companies.
The financial expert, who is the Chief Executive Officer at IBK Services Ltd and a member of the Ikeja Golf Club in Lagos, is said to be a grandson of the late great Ile-Ife-born philanthropists, Prince Badru Adefioye."
Their forebear, who was the progenitor of the Olumobi compound of Lafigido Ruling House had reigned as the 22nd Ooni of Ife, just after the reign of Luwoo, regarded as the only female Ooni and the town's 21st monarch.
Written by NEWSTRAWL ONLINE UPDATE
Sodiq Oyeleke is a Media, Human Resources, Project Management and Public Relations Practitioner
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