• Ooni Ogunwusi
Centennarian grandmother of Ooni-elect, Mrs Mariani Ayeyemi Ogunwusi, said yesterday that a prophet predicted the emergence of Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi as Ile-Ife monarch. Mrs. Ogunwusi, 104, revealed this to The Sun during an exclusive interview at the Agbedegbede family.
However, Mama Ogunwusi, expressed delight that the prediction came to pass in her life time. Her words: “I am grateful to God that I am still very much alive when my son, Enitan, mount the throne of his forefathers.”
Speaking through an interpreter, the centennarian, who is on a wheelchair as a result of old age, said no matter the darkness, there will always be a ray of light.
“As a family, we have sufferred, but today, we are happy. As a people, we are also happy that our own son is a successor to another great son of Ife, the late Oba Okunade Sijuade as Ooni.
She commended the kingmakers for ensuring justice, fair play and rancour-free during the selection process.
“Yes, our son, family and Giesi Ruling House are the main beneficiaries, but history and the Ife people wll not forget that kingmakers ensured fairplay and justice in the selection process.”
Mrs. Ogunwusi, who was nick named, “Iya Oba” (monarchs’ mother), said the prophecy has been long and we almost ignored it until things began to point towards that direction.
“Enitan is a man of history, because it has been predicted since his pregnancy at about five months that apart from going to be a great son of Ife, he would also one day be crowned as Ooni”.
“Initially, we did not believe this, but events in recent times which later led to his selection as Ooni, confirmed the prophecy. My son, don't joke with prophecy.
“We are happy for this development and that it has come to pass in our life time. And, it is my prayer that he will live longer than his predecessor with the wisdom of Solomon to pilot the affairs of Ife and her people”
Meanwhile, the Ooni-elect yesterday moved to Ilofi, a sacred traditional confinement where he is expected to stay for the next 21 days. While there, Prince Ogunwusi will further undergo many other traditional rites as well as be tutored on how to rule the town successfully and relate with people as a monarch.
A source said before the Ooni-elect left for Ilofi, he had received a team of Isoros, kingmakers and traditional chiefs in his newly-built house at Parakin area of the town.
It was also gathered that only the Isoros are permitted by tradition to stay with the new king at Ilofi throughout his solitary confinement.
“As a step-mother, I can tell you that his actions and deeds even as a boy has shown that he is destined to be great in life. Like other members of the family, I wish him well.
One of Ooni’s nieces, Tofade Fausat, described him as a humble, caring and unassuming personality, who always have the interest of his family and others at heart.
“His enthronment as Ooni is a compensaton to his doing good to people in life. He is one member of the family whose interest is how to better the lots of the people irrespective of their religion, status and tribe. We are happy for him,” she stated.