The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ife

  • Ooni set to transform Ife to tourist destination

    BEFORE his crowning as the Ooni of Ife, Oba  Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11,   had always shown deep passion and knowledge of tourism and how the industry could positively transform a host community and empower the indigenes of the place.

    It is with this knowledge that he transformed a hitherto virgin land with little economic activities into a prime tourism site in Lagos. The Ooni built the Inagbe Grand Resort to become one of the  prime resorts in Lagos. It is an  all-inclusive hideaway that offers visitors opportunity to enjoy nature at its best.

    On one side of the resort is the calm lagoon front, and on the other side, the blue Atlantic Ocean front. The resort is  complemented by first class facilities and services. The Ooni achieved this  using locally sourced materials for the design, construction and decoration.

    It was, therefore, not surprising that the first area of interest to the new Ooni on ascending the throne of his forefathers was how to transform the ancient city of Ile Ife into a destination capable of attracting a large number of tourists.

    The city of Ile-Ife is blessed with rich historical sites and artifacts to attract a large number of inbound tourists to the city. Many argue that the town ought to be a  UNESCO World Heritage Site. However, some of the ingredients to transform the city into a tourist destination are still not in place.

    Top among these is the number of bed spaces available in the city and the quality.  There is also the need for the sites to be streamlined  and value added by providing  other facilities capable of keeping the tourists engaged after visiting the sites.   These, among others, are the areas the Ooni is about to focus on to transform the ancient city.

    To this end, the Ooni, through his newly appointed chief tourism adviser and consultant, Otunba Wanle Akinboboye, who is the founder of La Campagne and Motherland Beckons, disclosed that Oba Ojaja 11 is set to declare Ife a tourism zone on February 26 and to kick-start the development of the zone into a tourism destination of world-class standard has concluded plans to build a N7.6 billion Ife Grand Resort.

    Also in line with his resolve to foster peace and unity amongst his people, a major ingredient for sustainable tourism development, and put to rest the ghost of the over 200 years old conflict between Ife – Modakeke, the Ooni over the week brushed aside all protocols and barriers to attend the Modakeke Day celebration even as he announced the employment of 20, 000 widows from the over 40, 000 widows recorded in the last Ife – Modakeke crisis to work in the tourism zone project with a promise to absolve the remaining 20, 000 widows alongside the teeming population of unemployed as the project gathers traction.

    The Ooni’s attendance at the Modakeke Day celebration has been hailed by many people as a deft move by the Kabiyesi to finally bury the Ife – Modakeke intermittent conflict that has lingered for over 200 years as this has never been done by any Ooni in the past 200 years, as attending Akoraye Day in Modakeke, is a way of not only healing the wounds of the past, but also clearing the negative past and replacing it with a prosperous future through tourism.

    As part of the grand design to secure life and property in Ife, the Kabiyesi has approved the construction of a watch tower with standby rapid response squad that is fully equipped and which response time to any distress call should not be more than 10 minutes and this time frame hopefully would be cut to five minutes in the days ahead.

    Speaking on these new initiatives by the Ooni, Akinboboye, who has also announced the Kabiyesi as the grand patron of Motherland Beckons, said it is a grand design by the Ooni to redesign the tourism map and agenda of Ife by drawing the attention of Africans, the Diaspora and the entire globe to it in a way that has never been done in the history of the former Ife Kingdom, which is not only regarded as the Source of Yoruba but the cradle of South West civilisation.

    According to him, ‘‘the glory of Ife is finally coming to light. Ife is now the new destination in Africa as the sleeping giant of tourism in Africa wakes up to a new reality,’’ insisting that henceforth the whole world would come to Ife on religious, cultural, economic,  educational and archaeological  tourism, among others, as the new Ooni constructs a new agenda for  the kingdom of Ile Ife.

    Akinboboye revealed that the declaration ceremony and the kick-off for Motherland Beckons has been fixed for February 27 with the president of Black Lawyers in England and Wales, Peter Herbert, billed to deliver the keynote address, while the Chairman of Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO) America, among a host of other dignitaries are expected at the event.

    This development from the palace, he said, is in partnership with La Campagne with Motherland Beckons serving as a multi – purpose vehicle for bringing to fruition the agenda of the Ooni.

  • Ife, Modakeke‘ll live together in peace, says Ooni

    Ife, Modakeke‘ll live together in peace, says Ooni

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, yesterday said Ife and Modakeke have resolved to live together in peace and harmony.

    Speaking during a “Thank You” visit with Ife traditional rulers and chiefs to Governor Rauf Aregbesola at the Government House in Osogbo, the state capital, Oba Ogunwusi told the governor that the two communities have also agreed not to engage in rivalry or war.

    The Ooni called on the governor to support his initiative, the House of Oduduwa, inaugurated as a trust fund to assist the youth and to rebuild the ruins of war in the areas.

    He praised the governor for promoting the Yoruba culture and ethos by adopting the Oranmiyan title.

    Oba Ogunwusi called on his chiefs to pray for the governor for bringing unity to the cradle of Yorubaland.

    The monarch also urged the people to pay their taxes for government to be able to give them the new lease of life they desire.

    According to the monarch, payment of tax will, no doubt, help the government to continue with developmental projects.

    He assured the governor of the support of Ife people, saying the ancient town will not depend solely on government for development.

    He noted that the time has come for all to join hands with the government to bring Osun to a place of prosperity and abundance.

    His words: “We are all here to show our appreciation to the governor, I use this opportunity to say that our relationship will continue to grow, what we have in Ife is great to the extent that foreigners acknowledge it.

    “Europeans have been to Ife and they likened us to the Roman Empire and other empires of the world, the time has come for all and sundry to see the greatness of Ife and Osun.

    “Leaders in Ife are closer to the people than government. I want to assure that the change and development that has come to Ife will spread across Osun.

    “I don’t want to believe that it will be difficult for our people in Osun to pay tax, the only way we can help government is by paying tax.”

    Responding, the governor urged the Ooni to use his position to unite all Yoruba sons and daughters all over the world.

    Aregbesola called on traditional rulers to help the government in educating people on the need to pay taxes.

    The governor, who asked cocoa farmers not to sell their produce out of Osun, noted that for the state to experience abundance, citizens and residents alike must be ready to fulfill their civic duties to government by promptly paying their taxes.

    He emphasised that the time has come for everybody to realise that Osun has nothing serious to expect from the federal allocation accruing to state monthly.

     

  • Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi is new Ooni of ife

    Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi is new Ooni of ife

    Forty-year old  Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi has emerged  as the  new Ooni of ife.

    His appointment was announced in a press statement by the Government of Osun state early Monday morning in a statement signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti.

    The statement reads: “The Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, has approved the appointment of a new Ooni of Ife. He is Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi of the Giesi Ruling House of Ile Ife State of Osun.

    ” This choice follows the completion of the due process by the kingmakers and the communication of their decision to the Government.”

    Born to Prince Ropo and Late Mrs Margaret Wuraola Ogunwusi of Ile Opa family compound, Ile Ife , the new Ooni is a Higher National Diploma graduate from The Polytechnic, Ibadan.

    He is on the Board of Imperial Homes Mortgage Bank Limited, (formerly GTHomes), GTBank Plc and FinaTrust Microfinance Bank Limited.

    He is a member of several professional bodies including ; Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN), an Associate Accounting Technician and a certified member of the Institute of Directors (IoD) Nigeria as well as Global Real Estate Institute (GRI).

  • Anxiety as Ife gets Ooni today

    Anxiety as Ife gets Ooni today

    Heavy security presence as govt, kingmakers fill stool

    There is anxiety in Ile-Ife amid plans by the Osun State government to name a new Ooni for the historic town today.

    There has been heavy security presence in the town since Saturday following Friday’s judgment on a suit challenging the Ooni of Ife 1980 Chieftaincy Declaration.

    The security measure is to forestall a breakdown of law and order when the Ooni is named.

    An Osun State High Court dismissed the suit.

    Following the verdict, the government, it was learnt, resumed the process of filling the stool.

    Sooko Adegoke and Prince Marcus Adebola Akimoyero on behalf of Lafogido Ruling House of Ile-Ife, had sued Governor Rauf Aregbesola, the Obalufe of Ile-Ife, the late Oba Solomon Omisakin and Lowa of Ife, Chief Joseph Ijaodola over the decision to allow only the Giesi Ruling House to present a candidate for the stool.

    The plaintiffs asked the court to set aside the 1980 Ife Chieftaincy Declaration which they said was “lopsided, unjust, unconstitutional and unfair.”

    Yesterday, a source, who asked not to be named, said a candidate from the Giesi Ruling House may be named before 10am today.

    According to him, two candidates were initially picked from the ruling house until one of them, a Lagos-based businessman, was eventually selected by the kingmakers after consulting the Ifa oracle.

  • Our meeting with Aregbesola, by Ife Traditional Council

    Our meeting with Aregbesola, by Ife Traditional Council

    The Ife Traditional Council yesterday clarified their last week’s meeting with Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola on the vacant stool of Ooni of Ife.

    They expressed misgiving over reports on some national newspapers.

    Speaking at a meeting held at the Ooni of Ife’s palace in Ile-Ife yesterday, Chief Ijaodola, the Lowa of Ife, said:  “Indeed, it is true that we held a meeting with the Osun State Governor, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola, in his office in Oke-Fia, Osogbo, last Friday”. According to him, the meeting was held on the governor’s invitation.

    The meeting, Chief Ijaodola said, was earlier scheduled to hold before last Friday, but some traditional engagements involving the Chiefs made it impossible.

    According to Chief Ijaodola, 13 of the 16 Traditional Chiefs attended the meeting. Two of the 16 chiefs were said to be indisposed. One of the Chiefs, the Akogun, is dead.

    The House of Oduduwa, as the Ife Palace is known, has 16 chiefs comprising eight on the left and eight on the right, that is, eight Inner and eight Outer Chiefs, forming the Traditional Council.

    Chief Ijaodola said, apart from the governor, who was the convener of the meeting, the Osun State government was also represented by four other top officials, namely, Alhaji Moshood Olalekan Adeoti, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, the Chief of Staff (COS), Mr. Mufutau Oluwadare, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, as well as, a representative of the Justice Ministry.

    [ad id=”403656″]According to Chief Ijaodola, the meeting, which was held behind closed doors, was presided over by the governor.

    Opening the meeting, Chief Ijaodola said, the gorvernor told the gathering that the state government had, in recent time, been inundated with security reports that tension was building up in the ancient city of Ile-Ife following the demise of the immediate past Ooni, Oba Okunade Sijuwade and urged the Ife Traditional Council to prevent any breakdown of law and order in the town.

    Oba Sijuwade joined his ancestors after a brief illness, at a highbrow hospital in London, on Tuesday, July 28. The announcement of his death by the media caused a lot of controversy with the Ife Traditional Council maintaining that the first class monarch was still alive and that if anything had happened to him, it was the responsibility of the Traditional Council to make the news public and not that of any other person through whatever medium. However, his transition was later made public when the Ife Traditional Council alongside members of the Sijuwade family including Tokunbo, his first son, finally broke the news to the Osun State governor at the Governor’s Office in Oshogbo on August 12. The remains of the departed monarch have since been buried  at the Ife Palace.

    Chief Ijaodola said, the governor touched on the succession to the vacant stool at the meeting. According to him, the governor told them point blank that “the choice of a new Ooni, is the sole responsibility and prerogative of the Ife kingmakers” and that he, the governor, has no candidate for the vacant stool and so he will not impose any candidate on the kingmakers. According to Chief Ijaodola, the governor later requested the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs who had come to the meeting with a file on the Ooni’s succession issue, to brief the gathering on what the law says on the succession.

    After the Permanent Secretary’s briefing, Chief Ijaodola said three members of the Traditional Council including himself spoke and at the end of the meeting, the council chiefs assured the governor that they were capable of maintaining peace in the ancient town. He also said that they told the governor that, though they had noticed an influx of some shady characters into the town in recent time, they were not folding their arms. According to Chief Ijaodola, the Traditional Chiefs, therefore, implored the governor to beef up security in the ancient city as a way of forestalling the occurrence of any untoward development. Chief Ijaodola said since that Friday’s meeting, the government has swung into action as an increase in security presence had been noticed in the town.

    On the successor to the Ooni, Chief Ijaodola said the Ife Traditional Council would today (Monday) address a news conference in the ancient town on the issue.

    Apart from Chief Ijaodola, yesterday’s news conference at the palace was attended by seven others. They are Chief Adekola Adeyeye, the Jaaran of Ife, Oba Sakaniyawu Adewusi, the Obaloran, Ilode Quarters, Ife, Oba Zacheus, the Wasin of Ilare Quarters, Ile-Ife, Oba Jimoh Arifayo Awe, Arode of Ile-Ife, Oba Arasanmi, Erebese of Ile-Ife, Oba Adebowale Olafare, the Lowate of Ile-Ife and Idowu Salami, the Traditional Secretary to the Ooni of Ile-Ife.

  • ‘Ooni’s wives can’t re-marry’

    ‘Ooni’s wives can’t re-marry’

    The wives of the late‎ Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Olubuse II, by tradition cannot re-marry after the demise of their husband, according to a palace chief.

    The chief, who preferred not to be named, said the order was prescribed by the Ife tradition since the Ooni is not considered dead but to have transited to a higher realm.

    Maintaining that the Ooni still lives, he said it is forbidden for wives left behind by Oba Sijuwade to re-marry.

    He said: “The rules is general and applies to all Ooni that has passed on and not peculiar to the wives of Oba Sijuwade, the immediate past Ooni. There may not be a clearly defined repercussion against the tradition but it is advisable that the order is obeyed at all times and for all generations. The best that can happen to the oloris left behind by any late Ooni is for them to remain single or be inherited by the reigning Ooni.”

    He added that it does not matter whether the wives are young or old, “what matters is that the tradition must be sustained in the overall interest of the society.”

    The late Ooni’s wives are Oloris Morisola, Ladun, Odunayo, Adedolapo and Linda and their ages are between 40’s and 60’s.

    The first wife, Olori Yetunde, the mother of the first son, Prince Adetokubo, died some years ago, long before Oba Sijuwade.

  • Ife chiefs appease gods over faulty broadcast of Ooni’s death

    •Sijuwade’s family members move out of palace

    Members of the Iledi, a group of traditionalists, have begun rituals to appease the gods over the way the death of Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Olubuse II, was announced.

    Sources within the Ogboni Ibile (Iledi Ooni) said that the announcement on social and traditional media broke traditional protocol.

    They noted that the development could attract the wrath of the gods, hence the need to appease them to prevent calamities.

    Sources revealed that the remains of Oba Sijuwade  were committed to mother earth on Friday night, hours after an inter-religious service for the late monarch.

    Christians, Muslims and the traditionalists participated in the inter-religious service held at Enuwa Square, opposite the palace otherwise known as Ile Oodua.

    According to the palace sources, the body was buried after several traditional rites had been concluded.

    The sources also revealed that people expecting a public burial for Oba Sijuwade were disappointed because “Ooni is not an ordinary individual, whose burial is done without rituals and ceremonies.

    The members of the Iledi added that the burial rites on Oba Sijuwade’s body was done in 201 shrines before it was buried.

    It was learnt that Oba Sijuwade’s successor would also pass through the 201 rites before being crowned the next Ooni.

    Iledi Ooni is the group of traditional Ogboni, that works with the Ooni, offering wise counsels from the traditional point of view.

    The group used to serve as the Supreme Court in the old days before modernity brought democracy and its institutions.

    Members of the Sijuwade’s family have moved out of the palace with their property, leaving the palace free.

  • Prince commiserates with Ife people

    A member of the Lafogido Ruling House in Ile-Ife and President General, Oranmiyan Worldwide  Foundation, Prince Felix Awofisayo, has sympathised with the indigenes of the ancient town, home and abroad, over the demise of their traditional ruler, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II, the Ooni of Ife.

    He said the death of the monarch was painful considering his impacts in the development of Ile-Ife, Osun State and Nigeria as a whole since he mounted the throne of his forefathers in 1980, 35 years ago.

    Describing the late Ooni as a pride of Ile-Ife all over the world, he noted that the monarch had established himself positively in the history that would never be forgotten.

    He said Oba Sijuwade’s influence transcends Ile-Ife Kingdom, Osun State or Nigeria, but all over the world, describing him as a unifying force in the traditional, political and social arena.

    “He carried himself with dignity and candour, coupled with his wide reach in business and administration.

    “He also united sons and daughters of Ile-Ife in the Diaspora. He was always more than willing to assist Ife indigenes as a paramount ruler and traditional monarch,” Awofisayo said.

  • Ooni: The nation has lost a rare gem – Ambode

    Ooni: The nation has lost a rare gem – Ambode

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode on Thursday commiserated with the family, friends, associates, subjects and the government and people of Osun over the transition of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Olubuse Sijuwade II.
    In a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Habib Aruna, the Governor said the late first class monarch will be sorely missed for his fatherly role and advice, describing his demise as a great loss to the nation.
    Extolling the virtues of the late Ooni, Governor Ambode said the nation and most especially the Yoruba race has lost a rare gem.
    He recalled that the late monarch used his wealth of experience in tradition and commerce to better the lot of the Yoruba race.
    “Without any iota of doubt, Oba Sijuwade was a forthright traditional ruler, and astute business man who for decades helped to pursue and unite the common interests of the Yoruba race. His timely interventions in communal and inter-state disputes in the past are remarkable strides that will forever remain in our minds”.

    He said the leadership role of the late Oba will remain an inspiration to all, stressing that one of his virtues as a leader was his ability to take responsibility and be responsible for others.
    “Among other virtues the Ooni dedicated himself to the service of the nation and as long as we are alive, we must remember him for many things; his peace loving nature, candidness and his belief that there is hope that Nigeria’s challenges will be surmounted in the nearest future.”, he said

    He prayed that Almighty God grant the departed soul peaceful repose and his family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss just as he urged them to take solace in the fact that he lived a fulfilled life and was leaving behind a worth legacy for his successor.

    “On behalf of my family and the good people of Lagos State, I wish to express our sincere condolences on the passing away of one of our illustrious traditional rulers. He would sorely be missed by all”, the Governor said.

  • Ooni’s death to be announced Wednesday

    Ooni’s death to be announced Wednesday

    Then death of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II will be officially announced on Wednesday‎.
    Making the disclosure on Monday, the Awara of Iwara-Ife, Oba Layi Adereti, said the preparation of the burial of the monarch who died at Saint Mary Hospital in London about two weeks ago will immediately commence.‎
    Oba Adereti spoke for the first time on the death of the Oba Sijuwade, which had been severally denied by the palace chiefs.
    According to him, the Oro festival is the final rite of passage for the Oba Sijuwade, disclosing that between 9 am and 4 pm on Wednesday the death of Ooni would be made public.
    Oba Adereti, who is also the head of Oro Cult in Ile-Ife, warned all residents, both male and female of the ancient town to keep indoors during the Oro rites.
    The monarch also disclosed that after the Oro rites and proclamation, subsequent rites will follow. He therefore appealed to all Ife residents to heed the restriction order to keep away from the palace area.
    He added that though only women are normally barred when Oro festival is being carried out, this time around, it has no respect for any gender.
    He said: “This is an official statement from the palace of Awara of Iwara-Ife who is the head of Oro diety that on Wednesday 12th August 2015, there would be official proclamation of the demise of Ooni of Ife. The proclamation will be made public during the Oro festival, being the final rites on the demise of Ooni of Ife.
    “The residents of the ancient town are therefore urged to keep away from the streets between the hours of 9 am and 4 pm during which the Oro diety will be out. With the announcement, people are advised to stay in-door for the period when the Oro will be out.”