The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Obalufe

  • Ooni appoints Adediwura as Obalufe

    Ooni appoints Adediwura as Obalufe

    The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi , yesterday appointed Comrade Idowu Olaniyi Adediwura of the Ajagbusi royal house of Orunto as the Obalufe of Ife.

    The Obalufe is second-in-command to the Ooni. By implication, Adediwura, who replaces the late Oba Folorunso Omisakin, who died last October, is now the next in command to the Ooni.

    Born in 1967 to the family of Pa Alfred Tijuara and Mrs Tayelolu Mariani Adediwura, the Obalufe-designate is a trade unionist and labour leader in the maritime sector.

    He is a member of the Maritime Workers Union of Nigeria and has remained the Tin Can Island Container Terminal unit chairman from 1992 till date.

    He attended All Saints Primary School, Ilode, Ile-Ife; Oronna High School, Ilaro Ogun State and Pen Foster Career School in Canada.

    He is married to Olusola and they are blessed with children.

  • How contestants for Ooni’s deputy Obalufe were screened

    Facts have emerged on how an 11-member committee screened the 10 contestants for the vacant stool of Obalufe Iremo, the head of Ife kingmakers.

    The Obalufe is second in command to the Ooni.

    Ten princes from the Aga Ruling House had signified intention for the vacant position after the death of Oba Solomon Omisakin.

    Some of the contestants are protesting against the Ayoola Olafiranye-led committee after Elu Abayomi came first with 115 points, Sunday Oladimeji Fadire 98 points and Segun Adeyeloja 96 points.

    They accused the committee, which was yet to make its report public, of not complying with the tradition that frowns on picking a candidate from female lineage, when there are qualified ones from the male lineage.

    But a contestant said before the selection process began, a meeting was conveyed where it was resolved that aspirants from both male and female lineages should be allowed to vie for the post.

    Abayomi said because Jaojo, one of the ruling houses, is a female progenitor, it implies that the arrangement al binitio has no special consideration for patriarchal system.

    According to him, “two Obalufes before Oba Omisakin were from female lineage and contributed immensely to Ile-Ife. So, no declaration forbids candidates from the female lineage.

    “After the committee was inaugurated to select the most qualified candidate(s), it began work. Forms were sold for N100, 000 while required credentials were also submitted.

    “Ten aspirants were deemed eligible. As part of the selection process, the committee saw the need for the aspirants to sign a MoU with the following terms:

    “That the committee was assessed and accepted by all aspirants as competent to do the job.

    “That the ten aspirants were eligible to vie for the post.

    “That the decision of the committee shall be binding on all aspirants. That all the aspirants will embrace peace before, during and after the exercise.

    “After the passage rites of Oba Omisakin, the committee received a communiqué from the government to select the next Obalufe. It fixed December 31 for the final screening.

    “The event was closely observed and monitored by appropriate authorities, such as the executive secretaries of both Ife Central and Ife East Local Governments, the head of local government administration (HLA) , the area commander, Moore police station, and other security agencies.

    “Nine aspirants appeared for screening; one abstained for personal reasons.”

    He said if condemnation of the outcome of the committee’s work persists, the exercise can be decalred inconclusive.

  • Aspirants: don’t impose Obalufe on us

    Some aspirants of  the Obalufe of Iremo in Ile-Ife, Osun State, have vowed to resist an alleged imposition of a candidate on them.

    The contenders and their supporters are threatening to resist the “imposition at all cost”.

    The Obalufe is next in rank to the Ooni.

    It was gathered that nine of the 10 contenders  accused the Ayoola Olafiranye Committee, overseeing the screening, of bias.

    Ten princes from the Aga Ruling House showed interest after the death of Oba Solomon Omisakin.

    But sources said nine contenders are challenging the committee’s alleged decision to pick an aspirant from the female lineage, Elu Abayomi.

    They accused the committee, which is yet to make its report public, of not complying with the tradition that did not favour a candidate from a female lineage.

    The aggrieved aspirants said: “The committee invited 10 aspirants and we were screened but before it could submit its report, we got to know that it is planning to present a candidate, who is not qualified to contest.”

    The Obalufe stool is for contenders from a male lineage although those from female lineages could contest only if there is no competent prince from the male lineage.”

    One of the contenders, Fatai Adiyeloja, called for calm, assuring the people that the matter would be resolved.

    Committee Chairman Ayoola Olafiranye said: “What else can I say when they have undermined everything we did.

    “They have decided to react when we have not presented the reports of our findings to the ruling family. I cannot say anything on the issue.”

  • Ooni’s deputy Obalufe dies at 85

    Ooni’s deputy Obalufe dies at 85

    The second in command to the Ooni of Ife and head of Ife kingmakers, the Obalufe, Oba Solomon Folorunso Omisakin, is dead. He died yesterday at 85.

    It was learnt that the Obalufe was on his sick bed when the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, passed on. But he recovered for a short while.

    He died amid ongoing plans to pick a new Ooni.

    Our correspondent was at the Obalufe palace yesterday, where some people gathered, discussing in hushed tone.

    Those at the palace tried to avoid talking, saying they were not ready to speak to reporters.

    But a relation, Chief Iyiola Alowooja, told The Nation that he was at the hospital, to see the late monarch but was turned back.

    He said: “I was in the hospital but I was not allowed in. The staff told me to go home and meet the Obalufe, that he has left the hospital.”

    One of those at the palace advised that anyone, who wants information, should come back in a few days.

    He said rites had to be carried out before announcing the Obalufe’s passage.

     A source said his death would not stop the selection of the Ooni.

    The source said his funeral might come before the conclusion of the process.

    The Lowa of Ife, Oba Joseph Ijaodola, may take over the Obalufe’s functions.