• Ooni Ogunwusi
The ancient town of Ile-Ife, in Osun State, practically stood still to receive Ooni-elect, Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi yesterday as he made his entry into the town regarded as the cradle of Yoruba civilisation.
Prince Ogunwusi is expected to undergo traditional rites before he can be crowned the 51st Ooni of Ile-Ife.
The prince of the Giesi Ruling House, rode into the ancestral home of the Yoruba, at about 1.58p.m, in a convoy of hundreds of vehicles and personalities including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, amid drumming, dancing and praises.
However, the celebration was not without a casualty, as a middle-aged Okada rider, who rode against traffic, shortly before Ooni got into town, died, while another person, who sustained injuries, was later taken to the hospital for treatment.
As early as 8a.m. yesterday, members of Ife Traditional Council, the Isoros, notable chiefs, kingmakers, indigenes and non-indigenes alike, thronged major streets of Ife to receive the monarch.
Jubilant residents and relatives of the Ooni-elect made their way to Ibadan-Ife Expressway to cheer and welcome Ogunwusi in different attires bearing his portrait.
The Ooni-elect, dressed in white agbada, with a purple cap, was received by tumultuous jubilant crowd, who danced and sang praises and prayed for a long reign for him.
Amid cheers and a long entourage, Ogunwusi, who was accompanied by Prof. Adekanye Aderibigbe, chairman of the Screening Committee of the Giesi Ruling House was received by his father, Prince Oluropo Ogunwusi, kingmakers and traditional chiefs at the Ibadan-Expressway boundary of Ife at about 1.58p.m.
Leaders of Igbo, Hausa communities and other tribes were also on ground to receive the new Ooni.
Upon his arrival in Ife, he visited some important places, including his family house at Agbedegbe house, the Obalufe’s compound for the first traditional rite of feet washing where he was later installed Sooko.
It is mandatory that any Ooni must be initiated into the Sooko group, which automatically conferred on him leadership of his ruling house.
Clad in white attire, with a white cloth tied around his head, the Ooni, who arrived Waluberin, where he was initiated as Sooko, acknowledged cheers from crowd who, again, prayed for a long reign for the new king.
Amid chanting of Ife songs, Prince Ogunwusi, who at about 6.04p.m.emerged from an inner room after being installed Sooko, danced to the delight of people amid new tight security.
As part of the rites, the new Ooni was expected to have prostrated seven times before the traditional chiefs and kingmakers after which it will become, taboo for him to prostrate, for anyone again in life.
The Ooni-elect would, today, proceed to Ilofi where he would carry out other traditional rites for the next 21 days before he would be crowned as the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.
Meanwhile, the Ife Development Board has congratulated the new Ooni through aa statement signed by its President, Prof. Muibi Opeloye.
“Its our fervent prayer to God to grant you Solomonic wisdom to handle the task ahead," the statement stated.