GBENRO ADESINA/ILE-IFE

Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Ooni of Ife, was committed to the worms in Ile Ife, the Osun state capital, popularly referred to as the cradle of the Yoruba race, on Saturday 14 August 2015. It was an occasion when Christian, Islamic and African Traditional Religious leaders, fell over one another to give the Oba befitting burial rites.

However, the burial proper was done out of public glare, keeping to the Ooni’s mystique of being beyond the ordinary alive. To deepen this sense of mystery and tradition, a curfew was slammed on the town for seven days and this is expected to end on Wednesday, 19 August.

Since nature abhors a vacuum, Ooni Sijuwade has joined his ancestors and the stool of Oduduwa, the Yoruba progenitor, from whose loins the late Oba descended, must not be vacant. Thus, indications have emerged on the likely ruling house that will produce the next Ooni and who, within the family will wear the crown and handle the royal scimitar. TheNEWS reliably gathered that interested princes from the ruling houses for the exalted throne have started jostling for it, meeting the necessary chiefs and persons that can help in actualizing their dream. There are four ruling houses in Ile- Ife: Giesi, Lafogido, Osinkola and Ogboru.

Among the princes stated to be interested in the throne is the founder of Oduduwa University, Ife, OUI, Prince Rahman Adegoke Adedoyin who, due to his closeness to the late monarch, was with him at the point of his departure to London to seek medical attention and had been endorsed by the late monarch who wanted his successor to come from Giesi Ruling House.

Investigations revealed that Giesi Ruling House is more favoured to produce the next king but has to slug it out with Lafogido Ruling House. Residents of the town expect both Osinkola and Ogboru Ruling Houses not to join the race on moral grounds because they both produced the last two kings in the town: Oba Adesoji Aderemi and Oba Sijuwade, respectively.

However, the Osinkolas do not want to be left out as they parade notables like: Prince Ademola Ademiluyi, a lawyer; Prince Yinka Ademiluyi; Prince Gboyega Ademiluyi, an oil and gas baron; Prince Adebambo Ademiluyi and Prince Kanmi Ademiluyi, a former editor of The Punch.

Shedding light on the succession issue to newsmen was Prince Adekunle Aderemi, who felt that eyes were on Giesi because it had not produced a king in recent times after which Lafogido would also have its turn, for it to go round. He said government interference should not be overlooked because the selection of any monarch may be politicised. He, however, stressed that the king makers should stick to the Ifa oracle’s choice.

Declining comments on the issue, based on the ground that all rites must be completed before the issue of succession would be brought up, the Obalufo of Ifeland, Folounso Omisakin, said that the new king would emerge in a rancor free process, adding that tradition would be strictly followed.

Oba Sijuwade attended Abeokuta Grammar School and Oduduwa College in Ile-Ife for his secondary education. After working for three years in his father’s business, he joined Nigerian Tribune where he worked for two years as a reporter. He attended Northampton College in the United Kingdom where he studied business management. By the age of 30, he was a manager in Leventis, a Greek-Nigerian conglomerate. In 1963, he became Sales Director of the state-owned National Motor in Lagos. After spotting a business opportunity during a 1964 visit to the Soviet Union, he formed a company to distribute Soviet-built vehicles and equipment in Nigeria, which became the nucleus of a widespread business empire. He also invested in real estate in Ife.

In November 2009, Sijuwade gave his life to Christ during the annual general meeting of the Foresquare Gospel Church which he eventually became a member and in 2010, he dropped the title of ‘Oluaye’, owner of the universe, in deference to the Almighty God.

The Oonis of Ile-Ife

1.Oduduwa
2.Osangangan Obamakin
3.Ogun
4.Obalufon Ogbogbodirin
5.Obalufon Alayemore (Obalufon II)
6.Oranmiyan
7.Ooni Ayetise
8.Lajamisan
9.Lajodoogun
10.Lafogido
11.Odidimode Rogbeesin
12.Aworokolokin
13.Ekun
14.Ajimuda
15.Gboonijio
16.Okanlajosin
17.Adegbalu
18.Osinkola
19.Ogboruu
20.Giesi
21.Luwoo
22.Lumobi
23.Agbedegbede
24.Ojelokunbirin
25.Lagunja
26.Larunnka
27.Ademilu
28.Omogbogbo
29.Ajila Oorun
30.Adejinle
31.Olojo
32.Okiti
33.Lugbade
34.Aribiwoso
35.Osinlade
36.Adagba
37.Ojigidiri
38.Akinmoyero (1770–1800)
39.Gbanlare (1800–1823)
40.Gbegbaaje (1823–1835)
41.Wunmonije (1835–1839)
42.Adegunle Adewela (1839–1849)
43.Degbinsokun (1849–1878)
44.Orarigba (1878–1880)
45.Derin Ologbenla (1880–1894)
46.Adelekan Olubuse I (1894–1910)
47.Adekola (1910)
48.Ademiluyi Ajagun (1910–1930)
49.Adesoji Aderemi (1930–1980)
50.Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II (1980-2015)
-Wikipedia