I read Uncle Dele’s article on the Ooni tussle with great shock. Not because I am not accustomed to his style but that he would bring same to cast veiled aspersion disguised as appreciation on royalty, especially one as sacred as the Ooni’s stool is condemnable. This opinion isn’t an attempt to join issues but to enlighten those who may not know much about the ancient city of Ile-Ife and her traditions with regards to the Ooni monarchy.

According to Uncle Dele, whose friend, Prince Adedamola Aderemi, ‘lost’ out in the race to be the next Ooni, due to the demise of Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II, it is okay to return the royal crown to the Oshikola ruling house where his friend hails from, ignoring the existence of the other three royal families in Ife.

For clarity, there are 4 royal houses in Ile-Ife namely; Lafogido Ruling House, Oshikola Ruling House, Ogboru Ruling House and Giesi Ruling House. Prince Aderemi whose grandfather, Oba Adesoji Aderemi reigned between 1930 and 1980 hails from the Oshikola family while the immediate past Ooni, Oba Okunade Sijuwade was from the Ogboru family.

It is therefore surprising that Dele Momodu would campaign for another scion of the Oshikola household to be crowned as the next Ooni of Ife knowing that the Giesi ruling house last produced an occupant to the position – Ooni Derin Ologbenla – between 1880 and 1894.

In his repugnant article, he mentioned several names including Prof. Gabriel Adesiyan Olawoyin, his son, Dr. Wale Olawoyin and Chief Alex Duduyemi as being in his boat for the campaign. I believe this was done to lend credence to his agitation as these are sons of Ile-Ife and men of unblemished integrity who know and respect the traditions of the ancient city.

He might as well have asked us to crown Prince Adetokunbo Sijuwade as next Ooni, so we conclude that the royal stool is to be rotated between two families only! Reading some of his responses to people who took him up on the article on social media, he obviously did not see anything wrong if one family produces the King, back to back.

Being born and raised in Ile-Ife does not automatically make you a kingmaker. You can by your vote, determine who become the governor of Osun State, federal and state lawmakers, local government chairman as well as ward councillor; that is where it ends. The opinion or support of any individual as to who becomes the Ooni does not matter as the decision to enthrone a successor is exclusive to the kingmakers and indigenes of the ancient town

I recall words of the late Obalufe of Iremo and second in-command to the Ooni, Chief Folorunso Omisakin, who categorically stated that “the 16 traditional rulers making up kingmakers according to Ife traditional rules and customs, hereby unanimously declare and affirm and confirm that 1980 Ife Chieftaincy Declaration is the one in existence now and we affirm as follows; Section 19, Sub section a (3) says that it is the turn of the Giesi Ruling House to present a candidate/candidates for the vacant stool of the Ooni of Ife Chieftaincy.”

It is not a political appointment that requires ‘wide consultation’ with all and sundry as Uncle Dele opine. Your preferred candidate will not always win too.

Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni-elect, will live long in good health and his reign will bring about the needed growth and development to Ile-Ife.

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