Tension As Protest Rocks Ile-Ife Over Ooni's New Appointment

Members of the Aga Orunto ruling family have staged a peaceful protest over the appointment of comrade Idowu Olaniyi Adediwura as the new Obalufe.

Ooni of Ife

Vanguard reports that the protesters on March 14 took their disaffection to the palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi. 

The protesters on Thursday stormed the Ooni’s palace few hours before the official pronouncement of the new Obalufe, to express their unhappiness on the choice as well as take a unanimous stance. 

The protesters who staged Monday’s protest against the Obalufe, who is the second in command to the Ooni, gathered at the palace after loitering along the major streets of Ile-Ife. The protesters alleged that Adediwura was imposed on them and demanded his appointment should be reversed. 

They posited that the Yoruba traditional father made a wrong decision not to have appointed someone from Aga Orunto family as the new Obalufe to replace Oba Folorunsho Omisakin, who hailed from Ado. 

They went ahead to list the order for the appointment of Obalufe as – Ajagbusi, Ado Gbodo, Aga and Jaojo among others. The protesters demanded that the person that was picked from the Aga Orunto family for the position at the screening conducted for candidates should be announced. 

 Speaking with journalists on the matter, Prince Oluwasegun Olayade from Aga family said: “We are protesting today because my family has been deprived of the Obalufe position that we are entitled to based on the order of the gazette. 

Four ruling houses are entitled to Obalufe position based on that existing arrangement and there was no disorder until it is our turn now.”

Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who did his traditional wedding to Wuraola Zynab Otiti, at the weekend on March 13 did his thanksgiving at the Royal Court of Ife, Aafin, Enuwa Square in Ile-Ife, Osun state.

Source: Naij .com