As the race for the successor of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okuanade Sijuwade hots up, one of the ruling houses, the Ooni Ilare ruling house of Ogboru Dynasty has cautioned against monopolising the Ooni stool by a wealthy section of a ruling house to the exclusion of the other eligible or rightful candidates.
The Head of Ooni-Ilare Royal House Prince Adekoyejo Lawrence stated this while presenting Prince (Engr.) Adewuyi Adetogun as the sole candidate from Ooni Ilare ruling house of Ogboru Dynasty.
Prince Adekoyejo said that the stool of Ooni should not be a commodity for sale, adding that the selection of an Ooni should be open to all ruling houses while Ifa Oracle should be transparently consulted in the selection of an Ooni.
He said that the 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’) whose responsibilities are to invite ruling houses to present candidates and forward their names to Ile Oodua whose duty is to consult the Ifa Oracle that will select one of the candidate as Ooni elect should follow the ageing tradition and should not allow the issue of rotation to come in.
The Ooni Ilare sons and daughters unanimously enjoined the ruling government in Osun State and other external bodies who are not part of the “traditional Kingmakers in our ancient and globally respected town of Ile-Ife to respect our tradition and allow Ile-Ife Kingmakers and Ifa Oracle to pick the next Ooni.“
Giving a breakdown of those that are qualified to ascend the throne of Ooni, Prince Adekoyejo said that the Olofin Oduduwa had a number of children some of whom became Ooni of Ife at one time or another and amongst whom was Oranmiyan from whom one Lajamisan descended.
He said that even Lajamisan who had the rare opportunity of reigning as an Ooni of Ife, was an offspring of intermarriage in the Ooni’s family all of whom domiciled at the palace at that time.
“His mother was a descendant of the Olofin Ogbogbodinrin, Ooni of Ife, Oduduwa eldest son and successor. His father was a descendant of Olofin Oranmiyan the Ooni of Ife, Oduduwa’s youngest son
“The monarch enjoyed an unusually long reign. At his death, there was none as important as his son Lajodogun among the princes to contest election to the throne. Thus Lajodogun peacefully succeeded his father. He too was universally known at Ife as a good king and at the end of his equally unusually long reign, he was buried contrary to custom at the palace to mark his glorious reign.
He said that three of Lajodogun’s many sons, Lafogido, Oshinkola and Ogbolu succeeded him one after another.
Prince Adekoyejo said the dynasty has resulted in the monopoly of the crown for over 400 years and produced 25 holders of the title from its founder Lajamisan to the immediate past Oba Okunade Sijuwade.
According to the spokesman, Gbanlare the last Ooni from the Royal House ruled between 1800 and 1823. He also stated that “Adimula” the added title of Ooni and some Obas in Yorubaland originated from Ooni Ilare.
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