Ooni Ogunwusi names city hall after predecessor
The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, has revealed the role played by his immediate predecessor, Oba Okunade Sijuade, in his ascension to the throne of Oduduwa.
Oba Ogunwusi, who became the 51st Ooni in September, 2015, after the death of Oba Sijuade in a London hospital same year, spoke at the renaming of Ife City Hall after the late Oba Okunade Sijuade in Ile Ife.
The event, which saw the three wives of the late Oba Sijuade making a public appearance within Ile-Ife for the first time since the completion of his funeral rites, in September last year, was also witnessed by the eldest son of the monarch, Prince Adetokunbo and some of his siblings.
Oba Ogunwusi, in his remarks, said his predecessor played a major role in his becoming monarch through prayers, saying that on few occasions he had opportunity of close interaction with Oba Sijuade, the late monarch in his prayers showed his clairvoyant abilities.
“Oba Sijuade is not just our revered father, he was a special creature and demonstrated his ability for foresee future on few occasions I had interaction with him. I can confidently say he played a role in my ascension. On those occasions, he usually pray from his heart for me,” Oba Ogunwusi said.
“The honour we are doing him today can never be at par with his contributions to the development of this land. His contributions to even this structure we are naming after him today was huge. Ife will continue to remember him for his great contributions to our development,” Oba Ogunwusi said.
The President, Ife Development Board, Prof. Muib Opeloye, said Oba Sijuade was being immortalised in recognition of the role he played in development of Ife and empowerment of its people.
Opeloye recalled that the late monarch initiated the project and contributed immensely to seeing it to fruition and commended the chairman of Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Babajide Omoworare, for contributing a sum of N12.5 million for the project.
