Ooni: Ife seeks divine choice as succession battle widens

The battle for the throne of Ooni of Ile-Ife has widened further with new royal frontiers opened thus making it so complex that the council of chiefs has to seek divine intervention as the final solution.
Before now the battle was predominantly between the two ruling families of Giesi and Ogboru, both of which were not ready to yield ground.
But now the other two ruling families of Osinkola and Lafogido have joined the fray.
The Lafogido ruling family appears to be a bit diplomatic about the issue as it is not known to have issued any official statement of interest, but the Osinkola ruling house has made a declarative statement that it has joined the race, maintaining that the position is open to all the four ruling houses.
Also, the council of chiefs led by Obalufe, Oba S. Omisakin and Lowa of Ile-Ife, High Chief, J. O Ijaodola on Wednesday prayed fervently to God to give them another monarch with the pedigree of the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade as the next Ooni of the ancient kingdom.
They during a condolence visit by the National Traditional Council of Nigeria led by Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, that “it was Sijuwade that died. Ooni can never die”
Meanwhile, on the same day, members of the Osinkola family led by Prince Olakunle Aderemi, told newsmen in Ile-Ife that the race to fill the vacant stool cannot be restricted to Giesi and Ogboru ruling families alone but instead should be open to all the four ruling houses.
He said the family would field candidates for the stool because its children were qualified to join the race.

Read also: Ooni stool: Ruling houses at loggerheads

The prince said though the Osinkola ruling house produced the late Oba Adesoji Aderemi, who ruled before Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the last Ooni who joined his ancestors on July 28, it still deserved to produce the successor of Oba Sijuwade because the family has produced the least number of the Ooni among the four ruling houses.
He premised his argument on the fact that while the Osinkola had produced only four Ooni despite being the most senior of the four ruling houses, the Lafogido had produced eight; Ogboru five and Giesi five.
“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.
“Osinkola Ruling House is one of the four ruling houses entitled to nominate candidate or candidates for the filling of the vacant stool of the Ooni. Osinkola Ruling House comprises of five male branches from which candidate or candidates can be nominated for the vacant stool.
“The ruling house believes in justice, equity and fair play. Osinkola Ruling House is a peace loving one and has always been a catalyst for development in Ile-Ife,” Aderemi said.

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