Ife Stands Still as Ooni-designate Arrives in Company of Obasanjo

 Prince Adewusi Enitan Ogunwusi would become Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II After the coronation....

The ancient town of Ile-Ife in Osun State on Wednesday stood still as the Ooni of Ife-designate, Prince Adeyeye Ogunwusi, arrived the town amid cheers and pomp for the necessary traditional rites before his coronation.

The new Ooni arrived in the company of former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

As early as 8a.m., the Ife traditional council known as the Isoros, prominent chiefs, kingmakers, indigenes and non-indigenes thronged the Ife expressway to receive the awaited would-be monarch.

In the same manner, jubilant residents and relatives of the Ooni-elect made their way to Ibadan-Ife expressway to cheer and welcome Ogunwusi.

Prince Ogunwusi who was decked in white ‘Agbada’ marched with purple cap arrived at the boundary of Ife by 2p.m.

Amid cheers and long entourage, Ogunwusi who was also accompanied by Prof. Adekanye Aderibigbe, the chairman of the screening committee of the Giesi Ruling House, was received by his father, Prince Oluropo Ogunwusi; kingmakers and traditional chiefs of Ife.

Before his arrival, the jubilant crowd was full of delight as they danced and sang cheerful songs while awaiting the new king. Some members of Giesi ruling house wore customised shirts bearing the photograph of Prince Ogunwusi.

Leaders of the Igbo and Hausa communities and other tribes were also on ground to receive the new Ooni.
  
Various trade associations in Ife, Ife youths, primary and secondary school students, student union leaders of the Obafemi Awolowo University and other tertiary institutions in Ife took to the streets to usher in Ogunwusi in grand ceremony.
  
Speaking before the ceremonial arrival of the 40-year-old Ooni of Ife-elect the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Kola Sodipo, said security had been beefed up in strategic locations in the state for his arrival.

Discarding any security threat, the CP said he was pleased with the conduct of the defeated contestants and their supporters before the announcement of the choice of Ogunwusi.
  
Speaking also, Secretary to the Giesi ruling house, Adekunle Adelowo Ogunleye, noted that the dawn of the new Ooni would bring about industrialisation and youth employment in the ancient city.

On the litigation in court, Ogunleye said the warm reception witnessed by the Ooni-elect showed that there was no more agitation and that justice has been done.

In his remarks, the head of Sookos to the Lafogido ruling house, one of the major opponents to the stool, Walomo Adeleke Adewoyin, disclosed that Ogunwusi would be made a Sooko as the first traditional rite before he becomes Ooni.

He said the case in court was over since Prince Ogunwusi had been unanimously chosen.

Upon Ogunwusi’s arrival, he stopped over at his ruling house at Obalufe’s compound for the first traditional rite of feet washing.

  
Reliable sources in the family house told THISDAY that Prince Ogunwusi would prostrate seven times before the traditional chiefs and kingmakers as part of the rites.

  The Ooni-designate would then proceed to Ilofi today where he would carry out other traditional rites for the next 21 days before he would be crowned Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II.
   

   The family compound of the Ogunwusis at Agbedegbede area was also in a festive moods guests were entertained there.

    Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, was sighted at the family house of the new monarch among other guests.

   Policemen were stationed at the family house of the new monarch to ensure safety of lives and property.