35 aspirants from Giesi ruling house jostle for vacant Ooni of Ife stool

As the race to fill the vacant stool of the Ooni of Ife hots up, no fewer than 35 contestants from the Giesi Ruling House are now jostling to contest for the vacant stool of the throne.

The Guardian learnt yesterday that stakeholders in the Ruling House not wanting to leave anything to chances have re-strategised urging princes in the house to show keen interest in order to ensure the Ooni’s throne does not elude them this time around.

Already, the Giesi Ruling House, whose turn it is to produce the next traditional ruler for Ile-Ife in line with standing rotational arrangement of the 1957 Chieftaincy Declaration after the demise of Oba Okunade Sijuwade, had set in motion plan to present qualified persons to the kingmakers.

And towards achieving this, the Giesi Ruling House met at the weekend at the family compound at Agbedegbede Lane in Ile-Ife to receive the report of its selection screening committee.

The committee, it was gathered, had submitted its report to the head of the family, Prince Modupe Fadehan.

According to investigation, notable among the contestants screened as qualified candidates and those considered as top contenders for the vacant throne are Princes Aderemi Adeniran Alani Adelowo, Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Taye Ogunleye, Adegboyega Ologbenla and Gbadegesin Ologbenla.

Others are Princes Adetunji Adeyemi Ogunwusi, Bankola Ojulalayo Adediwura, Adegboyega Adedira, Olajide Adejoba, Adetona Sikiru Ayedun, Ademoyowa Omomadelo and Adegoke Adeyemo.

Meanwhile, a competent source, who attended the meeting, said: “Well, that is a good development for us and we are sure that a good person will be picked as the Ooni. This is the normal process and we know it won’t cause disaffection.

“The normal thing is that the Ruling House will send names of
qualified candidates to the kingmakers. For instance, the Ogboru family sent 14 names out of which the late Oba Sijuwade emerged.”