…says they are maternally connected to the throne
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After the burial of the late Ooni, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, intensive lobbying has commences for the successor to the throne. Some members of the family have disowned two prominent candidates that has been identified as likely candidates to the stool.
It would be recalled that one of the candidates had in an interview claimed that the late Oba Sijuwade had suggested him as a successor before his death.
The members of the Giesi family in a chat with Info Trust says that the two aspirants are from the maternal line and are therefore ruled out of contention.
It was gathered that the family whose turn is next to produce the Ooni of Ife was notified through a letter from the king makers.
After the letter had been sent, the family has held series of meeting and according to the source, candidates would be suggested soon for the throne.
It was reported earlier by Info Trust that the Giesi family is expected to produce the next Ooni following a declaration made on 14th September, 1979; approved on 20 January 1980 and registered on 26 January, 1980.
According to the declaration, the four ruling houses which have the right to present candidates for the Ooni stool and the order of rotation are as follows: Osinkola House – which produced late Oba Adesoji Aderemi; Ogboru House – from which Oba Sijuwade Okunade, Olubuse II hailed; the Giesi House and Lafogido House.
No fewer than seven contenders have been identified from the ruling house, and are believed to have started underground lobbying. They include a lawyer simply identified as Ogunlewe; the founder of the Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu (OUI), Ile-Ife, Dr Rahmon Adegoke Adedoyin; Prince Yomi Ogunsi, Prince M. Eludoyin; a former Commissioner for Special Duties and Integration in the state, Alhaji Sikiru Ayedun; a lawyer and grandson of Oba Aderemi, Prince Adedamola Aderemi; Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi and Prince Rufus Adegboyega Ologbenla.
Some members of the family disclosed to Info Trust with evidences that two of the aspirants are not qualified as they are claiming family compounds that are “maternally” related to the Giesi royal family.
A source said: “Since it is the turn of our family, we are expected to provide a candidate or candidates from among whom the kingmakers shall select the most suitable person. It is only when there are no qualified persons from the male side that the female side is considered. Why are they going about claiming what they are not?”
Another member of the family noted that “those who think we will be blindfolded with money would fail. When we get to the family meeting, we will sort all that out.”
