The Ooni-Ilare Ruling House of Ogboru Dynasty, Ilare, Ile-Ife has faulted the Ife Chieftaincy Declaration of 1980 on which Obalufe led Ife Traditional Kingmakers requested Giesi Ruling House to submit names to fill the vacant stool of Ooni of Ife.
The spokesman of the family Prince (Dr) Adekunle Adetogun stated that, “in paragraph 2 of the declaration made on the 7th day of June, 1957 and registered on the 4th day of July, 1957 under section 4(2) of the Appointment and Recognition of Chiefs law 1954 only increased the number of ruling houses from three to four (4) Oshinkola, Lafogido, Ogboru and Giesi” while “Ife Chieftaincy Declaration of 1980 technically throws open the contest for filling the stool of Ooni.
“The provision in paragraph six of 1980 Chieftaincy Declaration had cancelled the provision in paragraph five of Ife Chieftaincy Declaration of 1957’’; therefore, the issue of rotation should not come in,” it said.
Prince Adetogun insisted that the constitution of Ile Ife among others recognised the Kingmakers who are the Lord Temporal and the Isoros who are the Lord Spritual and the two Lords should work together in the selection of Ooni-elect.
Dr Adetogun therefore enjoined Obalufe in consultation with the chiefs of the right (known as the ‘Outer Chiefs’) and Lowa in consultation with the chiefs of the left (called the ‘Inner Chiefs’) to respect tradition in the selection of Ooni by inviting the four ruling houses to present candidates and forward their names to Ile Oodua.
The Ile Oodua, Adetogun said, has the duty to transparently consult the Ifa Oracle that will select one of the candidate as Ooni elect as it was done from time immemorial.
According to Dr Adetogun, three Oonis from Giesi Ruling House ruled between 1849 and 1894 because the Ifa Oracle was consulted as it was done in the past.
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