Aregbesola appoints Ogunwusi Ooni of Ife

Femi Makinde, Osogbo
The waiting game ended in the early hours of Monday as Osun
State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, approved the appointment
of Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi the new Ooni of Ife.
The appointment was contained in a statement signed by the
Secretary to Osun State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti,
and made available to journalists around 2:45am.
The statement dated October 24 read, ” The Governor of the
State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola has approved
the appointment of a new Ooni.
“He is Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi of Giesi Ruling House,
Ile Ife, Osun State.
“This choice follows the completion of the due process by the
kingmakers and the communication of their decision to the
government.”
Security had been beefed up in Ife since Saturday in preparation
for the announcement of the new monarch. Heavy presence of
policemen was seen around Enuwa where the palace is located
and in other strategic places in the town.
The announcement of the new Ooni followed the dismissal of the
suit filed by Lafogido Ruling House against the Ife Chieftaincy
Declaration of 1980.
The kingmakers had relied on the declaration to narrow down
the selection process to Giesi Ruling House and the court upheld
their decision last Friday.
The Chief Judge of Osun State, Justice Adepele Ojo, held that
the suit lacked competence and went ahead to dismiss it.
However, a similar case instituted by the Osinkola Ruling is still
pending. Counsel for Osinkola family requested that the case be
transferred to another judge when the court dismissed the
similar suit by Lafogido last Friday.
The Osinkola family had said they would continue with the case
in court till the Supreme Court.
The new Ooni is into real estate and he was involved in
developing many high prime estates in Lagos State.
The Ooni stool became vacant following the death of Oba
Okunade Sijuwade at a London hospital on July 28.