Families clash in Ile-Ife as Ooni appoints new Obalufe

Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye

There was a fracas on Thursday in the palace of Ooni of Ife when two ruling families clashed over who will produce the next Obalufe.

The position of ‎Obalufe, which is the second in command to the Ooni of Ife became vacant when Late Oba Folorunso Omisakin died in October 15, 2015.

When our correspondent visited the palace on Thursday, members of the Oga and Jaojo ruling families came to lodge a complaint so that they can produce the next Obalufe.

After being attended to by other traditional rulers in the absence of Ooni, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, members of the families were seen reigning blames on themselves over a pamphlet.

Our correspondent gathered that content of the pamphlet accused Lowa, Obaloran, Obajio and Jaaran of accepting ‘bribe’ to favour a candidate identified as Adediwura.

It was gathered that four royal houses are entitled to occupy the position of Obalufe – Ajagbusi, Ado Gbodo, Aga and Jaojo.

The last Obalufe, our correspondent gathered, hailed from the Ado Gbodo ruling house.

On his part, President of Obalufe Progressive Youth Club, Prince Arogundade Taiwo, explained that interview had been conducted for the aspirants of the position and a candidate had emerged.

“There is a gazette and that is what guides the rotation. We have considered this and conducted interview, out of the nine candidates that were screened, Prince Elu Abayomi had the highest score,” he added.

Also, Reverend Odediran Adi from the Orunto Aga ruling house said, “We are the next to produce the next Obalufe. We heard that the Ooni wants to announce another person who is not from our family. We have appealed to Ooni and sent five names from our ruling house for him to pick his choice.”

Just as the ruling houses where fighting, the Ooni announced the appointment of Comrade Idowu Olaniyi Adediwura from Ajagbusi Royal House of Orunto as the new Obalufe of Ife Kingdom to replace late Oba Omisakin.

The appointment was contained in a statement by the ‎Director of Media and Public Affairs, Ooni’s Palace, Comrade Moses Olafare, on Thursday.

The statement titled, ‘Ooni appoints Adediwura as new Obalufe’ read, “Guided by the laws of Osun State, in line with the customs and traditions of Ile-Ife, and having widely consulted with the government, kingmakers other relevant stakeholders, His Imperial Majesty Oba Ogunwusi (Ojaja II), this morning (Thursday), appointed Comrade Idowu Olaniyi Adediwura from Ajagbusi Royal House of Orunto as the new Obalufe of Ife Kingdom, to replace late Oba Folorunso Omisakin who died in October 2015.

“Born in 1967 to the family of Pa Afred Tijuara and Mrs Tayelolu Mariani Adediwura, the Obalufe designate expected to be the Ooni’s deputy, is a trade unionist and labour leader in the maritime sector, a member of Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria and has remained the Tin Can Island Container Terminal unit chairman from 1992 till date. He attended All Saints Primary School, Ilode, Ile-Ife, Oronna High School, Ilaro Ogun State and Pen Foster Career School in Canada.

“He is married to Mrs. Olusola Adediwura and blessed with children.”