Indications have emerged on the likely ruling house that will produce the next Ooni of Ife and who, within the family will wear the crown and handle the royal scimitar.
There are four ruling houses in Ile- Ife: Giesi, Lafogido, Osinkola and Ogboru.
Reports say interested princes from the ruling houses for the exalted throne have started jostling for the position, meeting the necessary chiefs and persons that can help in actualizing their dream.
Among the princes stated to be interested in the throne is the founder of Oduduwa University, Ife, OUI, Prince Rahman Adegoke Adedoyin who, due to his closeness to the late monarch, was with him at the point of his departure to London to seek medical attention and had been endorsed by the late monarch who wanted his successor to come from Giesi Ruling House.
Investigations revealed that Giesi Ruling House is more favoured to produce the next king but has to slug it out with Lafogido Ruling House. Residents of the town expect both Osinkola and Ogboru Ruling Houses not to join the race on moral grounds because they both produced the last two kings in the town: Oba Adesoji Aderemi and Oba Sijuwade, respectively.
However, the Osinkolas do not want to be left out as they parade notables like: Prince Ademola Ademiluyi, a lawyer; Prince Yinka Ademiluyi; Prince Gboyega Ademiluyi, an oil and gas baron; Prince Adebambo Ademiluyi and Prince Kanmi Ademiluyi, a former editor of The Punch.
Shedding light on the succession issue to newsmen was Prince Adekunle Aderemi, who felt that eyes were on Giesi because it had not produced a king in recent times after which Lafogido would also have its turn, for it to go round. He said government interference should not be overlooked because the selection of any monarch may be politicised. He, however, stressed that the king makers should stick to the Ifa oracle’s choice.
Declining comments on the issue, based on the ground that all rites must be completed before the issue of succession would be brought up, the Obalufo of Ifeland, Folounso Omisakin, said that the new king would emerge in a rancor free process, adding that tradition would be strictly followed.
