Encomium
Details of how Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi emerged man of the throne
AFTER many controversies, doubts and legal tussles, the much awaited declaration of the new Ooni of Ife has been made as successful businessman, Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, a descendant of the Giesi Ruling House, finally emerged the successor of late Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Olubuse II.
The final announcement which caught many unawares was made in the early hours of Monday, October 26, 2015, through a statement reportedly signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Olalekan Adeoti.
This was confirmed by one of the aspirants to the exalted throne, the Larooka of Wanikin, Oba Adewale Ojutalayo, who spoke to ENCOMIUM Weekly on Monday, October 26, 2015, on the development.
According to Oba Ojutalayo who is also a descendant of the Giesi Ruling House, the choice of Ogunwusi is not controversial as the oracle has spoken
“I am happy to tell you that a new Ooni of Ife has emerged in the person of Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi. There is no controversy about it as the oracle has chosen him. And that’s in line with the tradition of Ile-Ife.
“We thank God that at the end of it all, a new Ooni has emerged. We pray that God is going to be with him and all the people of Ife Kingdom.
“I have told you that God is a native of Ife and surely there will be peace in the land during the reign of the new Ooni.”
Asked to shed light on the myriad court cases by some princes from different royal families challenging the state government and Ife Kingmakers for allowing only Giesi Ruling House to produce candidates for the revered throne, he reacted, “I am not the judge or a lawyer. So, I am not in a position to comment on those cases. But all I know is that all the petitioners will soon close ranks with the new Ooni because his choice was by god (oracle), which they can’t fault. I tell you, there is nothing to fear. We will all come together and celebrate the new Ooni.”
Meanwhile, an inside source had earlier told ENCOMIUM Weekly that the new Ooni can’t emerge until after the new Obalufe of Ife is crowned. The source added that it’s the prerogative of the Obalufe to announce the new Ooni as the head of Ife Kingmakers. He also disclosed further that the Ife palace chiefs and traditional council had met early last week and concluded that no new Ooni will emerge unless there is new Obalufe on the throne. The source explained further that this can’t happen until the late Obalufe is buried.
This fuelled the speculations that getting a new Ooni of Ife may drag till next year as the families of late Obalufe, Oba Solomo Omisakin are yet to announce his burial details.
Meanwhile, late Omisakin, few weeks before his death, formally declared that it’s the turn of Giesi to produce the next Ooni in accordance with the 1980 Ife Chieftaincy Declaration.
Omisakin reportedly assured that the new Ooni will emerge in 40 days.
“We the 16 traditional rulers making up kingmakers by Ife traditional rules and customs hereby unanimously declare, affirm and confirm that 1980 Ife Chieftaincy Declaration is the one in existence now and we affirm as follows: Section 19, Sub-section A(3) that it is the turn of the Giesi Ruling House to present a candidate or candidates for the vacant stool of the Ooni of Ife cheftaincy.
“We hereby urge the other ruling houses to wait until it’s their turn to rule while we also plead to the people of Ife to maintain peace,” he was quoted to have said.
Now that Obalufe is gone and the new one has not been installed and new Ooni has emerged. This has laid to rest all the doubts and arguments as to whether Ife will get a new Ooni soon.
Reacting to this on Monday, October 26, 2015, Oba Ojutalayo reiterated his submission when he had a chat with ENCOMIUM Weekly on the issue, stating categorically that the death of Obalufe, Oba Omisakin has nothing to do with the selection of new Ooni of Ife.
“I think I have told you that the passing away of Obalufe, Oba Solomon Omisakin won’t retard or stop the process of selecting the new Ooni. It has become clear now. Ife has a structure which can’t be faulted. The rest of the kingmakers might have met and concluded because they all knew what to do.”
On how soon Prince Ogunwusi will be given the staff of office as the new Ooni of Ife and the number of days he will spend in a seclusion (Ipebi) before ascending the throne fully, Oba Ojutalayo said, “I am not in a better position to determine that. I am not one of the kingmakers. But everything will be done according to Yoruba tradition.”
PROFILE OF NEW OONI-ELECT, ADEYEYE ENITAN OGUNWUSI
The Prince of the Source, a fearless and self-made business man, Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, being the 4th direct descendant of the Giesi family, is in all context, the man for the throne.
About 40 years ago in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, a prince was born into the Giesi Ruling House, Ojaja Royal Compound of Agbedegbede in Ile-Ife. He was named Adeyeye. Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi was quietly delivered into the humble family of Prince Ropo and late Mrs Margaret Wuraola Ogunwusi (Ile Opa family compound, Ile Ife). The father was a radio and television anchor and presentation star that spanned the entire mid-1980s to early 21st century in the South-western part of Nigeria. Though born quietly, Prince Ogunwusi’s excellence and outstanding acumen would soon start to announce itself for the world to behold.
Adeyeye is presently an employer of over 300 indigenous youths at the Inagbe Cocowood Factory Essential Homes Furniture brand, first of its kind in Nigeria using 100% indigenous raw materials for production. He has over 450 direct employees across his various companies, and over 3000 indirect employees.
Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi is a Director on the Board of Directors of Imperial Homes Mortgage Bank Limited (formerly GTHomes), a leading National Mortgage Bank and former subsidiary of one of the biggest banks in Africa, GTBank Plc. He is also a Director, FinaTrust Microfinance Bank Limited, one of Nigeria’s foremost microfinance banks focusing on SMEs and micro credit facilities. He is the founder and managing director of Gran Imperio Group, the holding company of real estate and construction, manufacturing, facilities management, leisure and tourism companies in Nigeria.
Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi holds a Higher National Diploma in Accountancy from The Polytechnic, Ibadan, where he started cutting his teeth in outstanding entrepreneurship, even as a student. To mention a few, the prince of Ile-Ife, the Source, is a member of dignified professional bodies, namely, Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), an associate accounting technician and a certified member of the Institute of Directors (IoD) Nigeria. He is also an active member of Global Real Estate Institute (GRI), having participated at various levels.
To be a prince in Yoruba land is in itself outstanding. To be a prince of the Source, Ile-Ife, the cradle of civilization is to be truly blue-blooded. Very passionate about what he believes in, people and possibilities, Adeyeye has achieved giant strides even from his very youthful age.
Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has been involved in remarkable partnerships with dignified royal fathers in some of his real estate developments – HRM, Oba Saheed Elegushi, Kusenla III, Elegushi of Ikate Land, Lagos (Development of LakeView Park 2, Lafiaji, Off Orchid Hotel Road, Lekki Epe Expressway), HRM, The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade (development of Northpointe Estate, Chevron Drive, Lekki, Lagos), HRM, Oba Oyekan, Onilado, of Ilado Inagbe Island, Lagos, (Development of Inagbe Grand Resorts and Leisure, Lagos), HRM, Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, The Oranmiyan Osile Oke Ona of Egba Land, Abeokuta (development of The Lord’s Estate, Buckswood College, Abeokuta), HRM, Oba Oloruntoyin Saliu, the Oloworo of Oworonsoki, Lagos (partners in the proposed Oworonsoki Redevelopment Scheme, Lagos), HRM Oba Akinloye, Ojomu of Ajiran Land, Lekki a host to several developments which Adeyeye has embarked on, HRM, The Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Muhammed Gbadamosi (partnership during the rice and sugar merchandising for Dangote Group and others).
Highly dignified, fearless and daring, a self-made man who not only has passion for his home town but his country as a whole, who has and is working in the improvement of the society at large whilst he spends his time and money to preserve and showcase the cultural heritage of his people and tradition of Ile-Ife, he is also creating job opportunities for the indigenes of Ife.
He is loved and highly respected by the people of Ile-Ife. The Prince is someone who has stayed and is very much in touch with his roots and tradition. A man of honour who already has started making a difference in the city of Ife, he has close alliances with some of the most esteemed royal fathers, leaders and kings men.
Truly, it’s a new dawn and Ife will never remain the same again.
- TADE ASIFAT
