Ife agog as chiefs, residents await Ooni’s arrival

The ancient town of Ile-Ife is agog as the new Ooni-elect, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, is expected to arrive today being the 27th of October 20015. The Palace chiefs and residents of the town are pouring into different locations in expectation of the new monarch. The chiefs, led by traditional leader, Lowa of Ife, are already gathered at the Ife toll gate awaiting the new monarch’s arrival. Major markets in Ife East and Ife Central local government have been closed ahead of his homecoming, even all the vehicles parked on the roads leading to the Ooni’s Palace have been moved. However Security officials have been deployed to ensure there is no breakdown of law and order. School children, commercial motorcycle operators and residents have lined the streets to welcome the Kabiyesi. 

According to tradition, when he gets into Ife, he would first of all go to his family house where he must be made and titled the Sooko of his family before ascending the throne. After his installation as Sooko, he will go to the Obalufe's palace for some rites at the Orunto River which is inside the palace. From there, he will move to a forest on Ilesa road for another round of rituals. He will be in Ilofi for 21 days or more. In the forest, he expected to meet a spirit, who is an old woman who would deliver to the new Ooni the power left by Oduduwa. According to tradition, ‘the old woman will give him all the power over the Yoruba race. Then after all these, he will be installed as the Ooni.”
The new Ooni of Ife is a 40-year-old real estate entrepreneur. He attended the polytechnic in Ibadan, where he obtained a Higher National Diploma (HND) in accountancy.  He is currently the managing director of Howard Roark Gardens Limited which is undertaking the multi-million naira Jacob Mews Estate project in Yaba and the Lakeview real estate development in Lekki. The news about the 40-year-old new Ooni of Ife came as a surprise to many Nigerians.