Ooni of Ife: Succession battle toughens as Giesi family splits

There is a crack within the Giesi Ruling House over the jostle by princes from the family to succeed the late Ooni of Ife Oba Okunade Sijuwade.

The Adesogba family, an arm of Giesi Ruling House, said in a statement on Thursday that it had endorsed the founder of Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, Prince Ramon Adedoyin, as it’s sole candidate for the race.



The statement, jointly signed by eight princes and two princesses on behalf of the family, said Adedoyin, who hails from the Agbedegbede lineage of the dynasty was eminently qualified to succeed Oba Sijuwade by virtue of his immeasurable contributions towards the development of the town.

The signatories to the statement are: Princess Kehinde Sijuwade Elugbaju (Nee Adewole); Princess Adekanmi Adelugba; Princeess Olufunmilayo Busayo; Princess Adedokun Adedoyin; Prince Gabriel Adedire Adewole. Others include: Prince Adebolu Adewole; Prince Adekola Adewole; Prince Adekunmi Adewole and Prince Tilewa Bimbo Adewole.

The statement read in part, ” Dr. Ramon Adegoke Adedoyin, proprietor of Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu, The Polytechnic, Ife, Hilton Hotels and other business concerns. He is our sole candidate for the exalted stool, which became vacant following the demise of the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II on July 28, this year.

“Prince Ramon Adegoke Adedoyin is a bonafide son of the Agbedegbede compound where he has been involved in all developmental projects. He possesses the knowledge and skills as an astute and effective manager of men and resources needed to make a success of the office of the Ooni.

But another contestant to the throne, Prince Sikiru Ayedun, who is also from the Giesi family, when contacted on the telephone by our correspondent said nobody had been endorsed by the ruling house.
Ayedun said, ” Nobody has been endorsed by Giesi Ruling House. Anybody making such claim is being economical with the truth.

“You should expect that such claims will be made at this time but I am telling you that nobody has been endorsed by the family. I don’t know any family called Adesogba within Giesi.”
He urged the kingmakers and Ife people to ignore the claim.

It will be recalled that despite the claim of the Giesi family that it is their turn to produce the next Ooni based on the declarations of 1977 and 1980, the Osinkola, Ogboru and Lafogido have also joined the race.