Osun State Government has approved the appointment of Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi as the new Ooni of Ife.
The formal announcement was made in the early hours of today, Monday through a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Olalekan Adeoti.
There have been plethora of security operatives on the streets of Ife earlier at the weekend apparently ahead of the expected announcement of a new monarch for the ancient Yoruba city.
The state government, in a three paragraph statement, said: “The Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, has approved the appointment of a new Ooni of Ife.
"He is Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi of the Giesi Ruling House of Ile Ife State of Osun.
"This choice follows the completion of the due process by the kingmakers and the communication of their decision to the Government.”
Since the death of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade at a London clinic on July 28, there have been tension and controversy as the race for who succeeds the late monarch splited the ruling house.
Recall that the late Obalufe, Chief Solomon Omisakin, while addressing the media on the decision of the kingmakers to stick to the 1980 Ife chieftaincy declaration and narrow search for new monarch to only the Giesi Ruling House, inside Ooni’ s palace a little over one month ago, said new monarch would emerge 40 days from then.
But the death of Obalufe, who was the most senior kingmaker and many court cases instituted by the aggrieved parties in the matter had made the projection very unlikely.
Meanwhile, the insinuation that a new Ooni had been chosen by the kingmakers, only for the state governor to approve yesterday, sparked tension in the town.
An Osun State High Court three days ago presided over by the Chief Judge, Justice Oyebola Adepele Ojo has dismissed a suit challenging the competence of Ooni of Ife 1980 Chieftaincy Declaration.
This is just as Prince Kayode Adebowale and four others from Akui branch of Oshikola Ruling House urged the Chief Judge to transfer their case to another judge, saying they cannot get fair judgment in her court.
Sooko Adegoke and Prince Marcus Adebola Akimoyero had on behalf of Lafogido Ruling House of Ile-Ife, dragged Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the Obalufe of Ile-Ife, Oba Solomon Omisakin (now late) and Lowa of Ife, Chief Joseph Ijaodola to court, challenging their decision to allow only Giesi Ruling House present candidates for the vacant stool of Ooni.
The appointment of Ogunwusi has, however, put to rest the whole controversy.
There are four ruling houses in Ile-Ife – Lafogido, Giesi, Ogboru, and Oshikola.
Oba Okunade Sijuwade, who reigned between 1980 and 2015, is of the Ogboru royal lineage.
The Giesi ruling house last produced an occupant to the position – Ooni Derin Ologbenla – between 1880 and 1894.
The other royal houses have also taken turns to produce Obas for the ancient town at various times.
The Ogboru lineage produced Oba Adelekan Olubuse I, who reigned between 1894 and 1910, with the Lafogido ruling house producing his successor, Oba Ademuluyi Ajagu (1910-1930).
Oba Sijuwade’s predecessor, Adesoji Aderemi, who reigned between 1930 and 1980, came from the Oshikola ruling house.
But the Adetipe family from the Amodo clan of the Ogboru ruling house curiously said it had already submitted an expression of interest for the Ooni stool, saying Oba Sijuwade’s time on the throne should not be counted for the Ogboru ruling house.