OBA ENITAN ADEYEYE OGUNWUSI CROWNED AS 51ST OONI OF IFE TODAY
The new monarch, who has been crowned by traditional chiefs at a ceremony for only the initiated, will later appear in public briefly later today. His inauguration and elaborate ceremony will hold on Monday, December 7.
An informed source said said Oba Ogunwusi was crowned traditionally in a confidential ceremony between 3am and 5am. According to him, there was nothing like coronation in the Ife tradition.
He said “experts” had enlightened those in charge of the process that there could only be an inauguration for the Ooni instead of coronation.
He added: “Ooni gives crowns to traditional rulers and he is not expected to receive one like others. His crowning is usually done in secrecy or confidence, not in the open.
“And traditionally, whoever is pronounced by the kingmakers and the government becomes the Ooni. He does not need to wait till he undergoes rites and crowned before he is referred to as Ooni.”
One of his close aides, Mr. Biyi Odunlade, revealed the scheduled traditional crowning of Oba Enitan Ogunwusi while briefing journalists on Sunday(yesterday).
He said, “The Ooni will leave Ilofi later tonight (Sunday) and he will be crowned tomorrow (Monday). The Ooni does not receive the crown in the public. Unlike other Obas, who are crowned in public, Ooni of Ife doesn’t receive the crown in public.
“The traditional crowning will be done at the palace on Monday (today) but the inauguration would hold on December 7. The Ooni will come out to see some people after the traditional coronation.”
The Obadio of Ife, Oba Olajide Faloba, when contacted, also confimed the secret coronation. He said the traditional coronation would be followed by the inauguration ceremony, which would hold later, would be an occasion for the presentation of staff of office to the new Ooni.
Governor Rauf Aregbesola approved the appointment of Ogunwusi as the Ooni of Ife in a letter by the Secretary to the Osun State Government.
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