It was one long stretch of grandeur. The landscape was a
snaky sweep of class. Lagos, known for its panache and impatience, was the
take-off point for Prince Enitan
Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the new Oonirisa of Ile-Ife, as he took the royal route to
the abode of his kingly forbears—Ife. But such kingly elevation and splendid
status would not have him drive alone. The Lagos-Ibadan Expressway,
ill-famed for its overwhelming burden on road users, became an enchanting
appeal as Prince Ogunwusi, in a stately convoy animated the highway. The over
100 vehicles that peopled his convoy glamorously authenticated the magnificence
of the new Ooni.
The weeks of speculations, hearsay and rumour finally
gave birth to a validation of the succession to the throne of the Oonirisa of
Ife. Before the new Ooni made his entry into Ife, the Ife-Ilesa interchange
junction was in frightening frenzy as a teeming crowd waited in excited
anticipation for the new leader of the Yoruba race. It was a bubbly collage of
humanity. The educated shook hands with the not-too-enlightened; market folks
laughed gleefully with passersby; indigenes conversed without restrictions with
visitors. Palace chiefs were present in their regality of prominence; students
mixed freely.
I am fulfilled— Head, Giesi ruling house
However, the new Ooni made a quick stop in Ibadan at the
home of the head of Giesi ruling house in Ile-Ife, Professor Adeyemi Adeoye
Aderibigbe. The ruling house had produced the new Ooni. Alighting from his
black Bentley, Ogunwusi recognized cheers of the crowd that waited outside.
Prince Aderibigbe, who vied for the stool in 1980, stated
that he felt honoured that his ruling house had produced the new monarch. While
speaking with Nigerian Tribune yesterday at his road D9, Tinubu Layout,
Monatan, Ibadan residence, he expressed joy at the thought of the prominence
which the new appointment had conferred on his lineage.
According to him, “My principal concern was that the
stool would return to my ruling house and it has returned. I am fulfilled. I
did not allow the negative utterances of others to affect my faith in God. The
kingmakers have chosen wisely and I am proud of the choice made for us. I am
very confident that God in his grace will direct the new king.
“You will now be proud that you have an Ooni who is hospitable,
the head of the Yoruba race. Politics aside, we all came from Ife. The title
means the land owner. You will see the difference.”
Immediately, he held a brief meeting with some family
members and got back into his waiting car around 11:12am, with a long convoy of
about 100 cars to Ile-Ife, Osun State.
After the meeting with family members, the new king made
straight for Ife at exactly 11:12 a.m. In his convoy were Lagos chiefs which
included the Alahun of Imore and Apapa, friends, family members, associates,
among others.
Ife agog as Ogunwusi makes entry
In front of the Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, the
crowd’s patience was as legendary as Job’s. They had started converging as
early as 10 a.m. As the crowd grew so did the security apparatus.
The jubilation became electrifying when the convoy
arrived the Ife toll gate. Donning a white lace with purple cap to match, Ooni
Ogunwusi, who acknowledged cheers from the crowd was led to his father, Pa Ropo
Ogunwusi by the head of Giesi ruling House, Professor
Aderibigbe.
His father subsequently handed him over to the palace
chiefs, who held a brief discussion with him before he (Ogunwusi) boarded his
car as he joined the procession to the palace of Obalufe, where some
traditional rites were performed.
The entourage of Ogunwusi had former President Olusegun
Obasanjo, Otunba Wole Fasawe, Honourable Ojuolape Olagbaju, Chief Lekan
Ijiyode, among other dignitaries.
As at the time of filing this report, Obasanjo was at
Agbedegbede compound of Giesi ruling house, waiting to witness the installation
of Ogunwusi as the Sooko of Giesi ruling house as part of the conditions to be
fulfilled before his coronation as the Ooni of Ife.
Speaking during a chat with journalists, Osun State
Commissioner of Police, Mr Kola Sodipo said his men were ready to ensure
security of lives and property. “We have been securing this town since last
week to ensure the safety of lives and properties.
“We do not envisage any security threat. There is peace
in the town.”
In his remarks, the Seriki Hausawa of Ife, Alhaji
Mammudah Abubakar Madagali said “Our prayer has been answered in Ile-Ife. Ife
people love foreigners. The new monarch should accommodate everybody so that
the peaceful coexistence we have can continue.”
Similarly, the Eze Ndigbo of the Source, Eze Ezekiel
Onyejekwu, called on all Ife indigenes and other tribes, residing in the town,
to support the new monarch, just as he promised the cooperation of his ethnic
community.
Tribune
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