Ooni picks new Obalufe

…As opposition kicks against choice of Adediwura

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NIGERIA: THE Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has announced the appointment of Mr. Idowu Adediwura as the new Obalufe of Ife.

‎This was contained in a statement issue to newsmen on Thursday by the Media Aide to Ooni, Mr Moses Olafare, at Osogbo, the state capital.
But the choice of the new Obalufe did not go down well with some members of the community who kicked against the decision of the new Ooni.

The President of Obalufe Progressive Youth Club, Prince Taiwo Arogundade, stated that an interview had earlier been conducted for the aspirants to the throne and that one of them was outstanding.

He said: “There is a gazette and that is what guides the rotation. We have considered this and conducted interviews, out of the nine candidates that were screened, Prince Elu Abayomi had the highest score and he should be appointed to occupy the throne.”

Also, Reverend Odediran Adi from the Orunto Aga ruling family also claimed that it was the turn of his family to produce the next Obalufe.

He said: “We are the next to produce the Obalufe.  We heard that the Ooni wanted to announce another person who is not from our family.
‎“We have appealed to the Ooni and sent five names from our ruling house for him to pick his choice.”

The announcement of Adediwura came as a surprise to the members of the two families who engaged in altercations at the palace.
‎Obalufe is known as the head of the 16 traditional chiefs in Ife, who is the second in command to the Ooni.

• By Temitope Kayode-Adedeji