Ile-Ife: Dawn breaks as Ooni-elect gets set for coronation

One of the striking features of the palace of the Ooni of Ife during the lifetime of Oba Okunade Sijuwade was its bustling nature. The architectural masterpiece palace-square at Enuwa in Ife is a beauty to behold. The relics of history are scattered all over the widespread ancient buildings, including the statue of Moremi. The […]

One of the striking features of the palace of the Ooni of Ife during the lifetime of Oba Okunade Sijuwade was its bustling nature. The architectural masterpiece palace-square at Enuwa in Ife is a beauty to behold. The relics of history are scattered all over the widespread ancient buildings, including the statue of Moremi. The palace of Ooni was usually a hub of activities and excitement as highly influential people including politicians, captains of industry and celebrities, used to throng the palace for royal blessings and other matters. Locals including the commercial motorcycle operators, artisans, women and children also used to swarm  the Ooni’s palace to catch a glimpse of  Oba Sijuwade’s  guests, and they would cheer like a crowd at  a football pitch.
These pleasant features vanished   when Oba Sijuwade joined his ancestors three months ago. The traditional ruler died on July 28, 2015 at a London hospital after a brief illness. When Daily Trust visited the Ooni’s palace before the appointment of a new traditional ruler for Ile-Ife, Prince Adeyeye  Enitan Ogunwusi of the Giesi Ruling House by Osun State Government on 26th of October, the palace was still in a  mourning mood.
But on Wednesday, 28th  October, the  ancient town was in a festive mood. It was a new beginning and Ife was aglow. Men, women and children thronged the streets to see their new monarch in his first public appearance. Clad in immaculate white, the new Ooni acknowledged cheers from the enthusiastic crowd by raising his clenched fists. He was received by the Ife Traditional Council led by the Lowa of Ife, High Chief Joseph Ijaodola. Traditional rites commenced immediately with  a series of initiations that would last for 21 days at Ilofi shrine,  during which Ogunwusi would be taken through the rudiments of his duties as the custodian of Yoruba culture and tradition. Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo accompanied Ogunwusi to a place where the new monarch was initiated into the Sooko cult.  
As Ile-Ife was agog for the new monarch, the gate of the palace remained closed. A red Armoured Personnel Carrier belonging to the Osun State Command of the Nigeria Police Force was stationed in front of the palace,  with some policemen and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps sighted there. Palace guards were also seen at their different duty posts. Some of the palace guards were in uniform, while others were in   mufti with canes in their hands.
A traditionalist told our correspondent that the new Ooni would not resume at the palace until the coronation rites are completed. He disclosed that the spirit of the late Ooni is still in charge at the palace, and that he would continue to be there until the coronation rites are finished. He added that upon the completion of the coronation rites, the deceased Oba Sijuwade would be asked to handover to his predecessor, and priests would appease him to vacate the palace. He assured that the palace is very safe, and that the people are waiting for the new Oba to ascend the throne.
At the time of filing these reports, Prince Ogunwusi had moved into seclusion at a shrine known as Ilofi and he would spend 21 days there, and this is  the major prerequisite for his coronation.  Ilofi is located at Iremo in Ile-Ife and it is a seven-minute drive from the palace. At the Ilofi shrine, Ogunwusi would be initiated into different cults, taken through the rudiments of his duties as the Ooni of Ife after performing series of traditional rites at the shrine.  Daily Trust learnt that Ogunwusi would not be allowed to see his family members until the completion of the rites, after which the coronation would take place and he would be crowned as the paramount ruler of Ile-Ife, with the title of Ojaja II and relocate to the palace.
Members of the Ife traditional council called the ‘Isoros’ have conducted the Ooni-designate around major traditional shrines and deities as part of coronation rites at Ilofi. Daily Trust learnt that Prince Ogunwusi also entered a place where he was guided on how to communicate with deities and bathed with traditional herbs to fortify him spiritually.
At the Ooni’s palace, Mr Sunday Oyewande, a retired soldier is the Chief Security Officer (CSO) and he was employed by the late Oba Sijuwade. He has worked in the palace for 28 years and he is ready to serve the next Ooni. But he was not sure whether the new Ooni would retain him or not. The CSO said, “I cannot talk to you about the security of the palace. I would only tell you that we really missed our late Kabiyesi (monarch). He brought me here from the Nigeria army.”
Speaking on the spiritual attribution of the Ooni stool, the media aide to the late traditional ruler, Mr. Funmilola Olorunnisola, said once crowned, the Ooni of Ife is no longer a human being   “When Baba Sijuwade was alive, you would always know when he was physically present in the palace, and it was always obvious when he was out of the palace. When the new Ooni completes his coronation rites, he would also be like that. That is when the palace would come alive again.” Olorunisola was not sure whether he would serve the Ooni-elect. “I served the late Ooni for 30 years. I’m 65-years-old now. The late Ooni brought me to the palace despite the fact that I’m not from Ile-Ife. I’m from Ijebu-Jesa. I will just say that the decision is for our new Ooni whether I would serve him or not.”
Mallam Sa’ad Isa, an indigene of Katsina State has been in the palace of Ooni of Ife for the past 15 years as  the Ooni’s trumpeter. He is popular known as Kakaki-Ooni meaning the Ooni’s trumpeter. When the late Ooni was alive, Sa’ad would blow his  trumpet or  Kakaki to welcome and entertain guests. Sa’ad said the late Ooni got him from the late Emir Muhammadu Kabir Usman of Katsina, and he is willing to continue with the new Ooni, but he was not sure whether Prince Ogunwusi would retain him.
Speaking in Yoruba, Sa’ad said, “The late Ooni Oba Sijuwade during one of his visits to Emir Kabir Usman told the Emir that he wanted me to follow him to Ile-Ife and remain in Ife permanently, to blow the Kakaki at his palace. Emir Kabir Usman  released me and that was how I moved to Ife 15 years ago. My family is in Ile-Ife. My children have married in Ife and I would prefer to continue with the new Ooni if he wants me but if he does not want me, I will go back to Katsina.”
In a chat with Daily Trust, the Chairman of Ife Central Local Government Council, Dr. Taiwo Olaiya also said many political issues used to be decided at the palace, and that matters that would have degenerated into serious crises among politicians who are indigenes of Ife,  were usually resolved at the palace, with the intervention of the late traditional ruler. He wants the new Ooni to imbibe the same spirit and be neutral among the political gladiators in Ile-Ife.
“For those of us that are politicians, we would want our new Ooni  to sustain the role of  a stabilizing factor that we used to experience during the reign of the last Ooni. This would go a long way in ensuring that there would be no crises among politicians in Ile-Ife,  and prevent avoidable clashes among us. Also, I would want him to be able to keep the Yoruba as one people,” Olaiya said.
 The 40-year-old monarch has said he is prepared for the task  ahead of  him .He noted that his life has been a journey managed with great conscientiousness. “I became a father at the age of 19,  and this groomed me for greater challenges in life. In order to be able to cater for my family as a young father, I became very enterprising with the knack for  building something out of nothing. This certainly increased my temperament for being successful in all my endeavours, as well as following  the right path as a responsible father.  Therefore, I am coming to set a good example and show the world that I am truly called by the Almighty  to lead Ile-Ife into a state of tranquillity, conscientiousness and prosperity. It is my fervent prayer that the Lord will continue to guide us all and bestow on us great wisdom to carry out our incumbent tasks. I use this opportunity to call on all the sons of Ile-Ife that  contested  alongside  me in the race for the stool,so that we  work harmoniously to align our goals for the sake of posterity of Ile-Ife,” Ogunwusi said.