The Osinkola Ruling House has disagreed with the Giesi and
Ogboru Ruling Houses on whose turn it is to produce the next
Ooni.

The leader of the Osinkola Ruling House, Prince Olakunle
Aderemi, who led other members of the family to a press
conference in Ile-Ife on Wednesday, said the race to fill the Ooni
vacant stool was open to aspirants from the four ruling houses
in Ile-Ife.

Based on this assertion, he said the family would field
candidates for the stool because its children were qualified to
join the race.

Although the Osinkola Ruling House produced the late Oba
Adesoji Aderemi, who ruled before Oba Okunade Sijuwade, who
died on July 28, the prince said Osinkola deserved to produce
the successor of Oba Sijuwade because the family produced the
least number of the Ooni among the four ruling houses.

The ruling house based its position on the variation to the 1977
Ife Chieftaincy Declaration which he said allowed the Ogboru
Ruling House to present Sijuwade who eventually emerged the
Ooni.

Aderemi said while the Osinkola had produced four Ooni despite
being the most senior of the four ruling houses, the Lafogido had
produced eight; Ogboru five and Giesi five.

Aderemi said, “ Ife Chieftaincy Declaration of 1980 technically
throws open the contest for filling the stool of Ooni. The
provision in paragraph six of 1980 Chieftaincy Declaration had
cancelled the provision in paragraph five of Ife Chieftaincy
Declaration of 1957.

“Osinkola Ruling House is one of the four ruling houses entitled
to nominate candidate or candidates for the filling of the vacant
stool of the Ooni. Osinkola Ruling House comprises of five male
branches from which candidate or candidates can be nominated
for the vacant stool.

“The ruling house believes in justice, equity and fair play.
Osinkola Ruling House is a peace loving one and has always
been a catalyst for development in Ile-Ife.”

Aderemi enjoined Ife kingmakers, who he said were noted for
integrity and justice in their assignment to pray for divine
guidance to enable them choose a suitable candidate for the
throne.
The family also warned that the stool should not be for sale,
saying the family would not allow some aspirants who had
started parading themselves falsely as members of the Osinkola
to move near the throne.

The secretary of the family, Prince Bade Adeyemo, said six
contestants had shown interest from the ruling house.

He stated that 54 contestants jostled for the stool before Oba
Sijuwade emerged, adding that he believed the kingmakers
would be guided by justice and equity in selecting who would
succeeded the late Ooni.