Osinkola Ruling House seeks special consideration to occupy Ooni stool

• UK-based prince indicates interest
• National rulers extol Sijuwade’s virtues 

As the race to occupy the vacant Ooni stool in Ile-Ife, Osun State continues, the Osinkola Ruling House has appealed that it be specially considered to ascend the throne.

The three other ruling houses are Giesi, Ogboru and Lafogido. Meanwhile, a member of the Ogboru Ruling House based in the United Kingdom, Prince Adeagbo Adekemi Adefarakan, has declared interest to contest the vacant stool.

The Osinkola Ruling House stated that all the four recognised ruling houses in the town are eligible and free to present contestants for the exalted office.

It based its position on what it described as the variation to the 1977 Ooni Chieftaincy Declaration that paved the way for Ogboru Ruling House to present a candidate in 1980, who later defeated 54 other contestants and became the 50th Ooni of Ife.

The Osinkola Ruling House is claiming that the variation has “technically thrown the race open.” Addressing a press conference on behalf of the Osinkola Ruling House in Ile-Ife yesterday, Prince Olakunle Aderemi, a son of the 49th Ooni, Oba Adesoji Aderemi, claimed that the Osinkola Ruling House which has five branches, despite being the eldest, had had the least number of Ooni (four) in the history of the ancient town, while Lafogido has occupied the office eight times, Giesi six times and Ogboru, that just left the throne, has occupied it five times.

In the spirit of fairness, Osinkola should be allowed to produce the next Ooni. Before 1930, there was no chieftaincy declaration guiding selection of Ooni. In 1957, the first chieftaincy declaration came into being. In 1977, there was alteration and some variations were provided.

Those variations were relied upon to pave way for the emergence of Ooni Sijuade in 1980. “What we seek is that the variations that were considered then should once again be activated for us Osinkola to be considered.”

He disclosed that the ruling house has received letter of intention from six qualified, capable and competent contestants that have met all the demands of would-be Ooni to fill the stool.

The UK- based consultant in the oil and gas sector, Prince Adefarakan of the Adefarakan dynasty, Ogboru Olubuse royal family house is a great grandson of Ooni Olubuse the first.

According to a statement, his late grandfather, Omoba Matthew Adeboye Adefarakan, was the prince royal before his demise during the time of Ooni Adesoji Aderemi. Prince Adefarakan has since notified the kingmakers of his intention to vie for the exalted stool.

Also yesterday, top hierarchy of the nation’s traditional rulers sent a six-man delegation of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), on a condolence visit to Governor Rauf Aregbesola over the transition of the Ooni of Ife, Oba OkunadeSijuwade.

The delegate comprising members from across the six geo political zones in the country was led by the Chairman, Coordinating Committee of NCTRN and Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar. .

Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, the Etsu Nupe described the late Oba Sijuwade as a leader who was blessed with wisdom. “We are going to miss him because of his relationship with the traditional council.”

Receiving the delegates on behalf of the governor, the Chief of Staff to Aregbesola, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, expressed appreciation to the royal fathers, urging them to support the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government.