Allegation of Betrayal Trails Ooni Of Ife Over Demolition of Buildings of His 96 Year Old Family Head/ Benefactor + Exclusive Pictures

Flashback to the events leading to the emergence of His Royal Majesty (HRM), Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11 as the 51st Ooni of Ife, Osun State after the death of the late Oba Okunade Sijuade.

After the mantle fell on the Giesi Ruling House to produce the next monarch for the ancient town and the cradle of the Yorubas, the Ogunwusi family had the problem of who to choose for the coveted office of the head of the origin of the Oduduwa, the father of all Yorubas.

It was revealed that the father of Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Prince Aderopo Ogunwusi was initially nominated for the throne, but he was said to have rejected the offer, claiming that he had become old and preferred that one of his sons should be chosen for the glamorous office.

However, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, an accountant, real estate developer, was reportedly recommended ahead of his two elder brothers, including the one, who introduced him to business, by the head of Giesi Royal family, Professor Aderibigbe.

It was gathered that Professor Aderibigbe stood his ground and gave Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, who was then a prince full support and ensure that he was chosen for the office.

This was said to have caused a lot of disaffection between Aderibigbe and other contenders for the office, but we were told that the professor refused to shift ground.

But, years after, allegations of betrayal are trailing Oba Enitan Ogunwusi as his agents reportedly demolished a building belonging to Professor Aderibigbe based on the order of the first class traditional ruler.

Ooni Ogunwusi was said to have acted contract to expectations with many people wondering what could have happened “between Ooni and his adopted father.”

“He (Aderibigbe) took Ogunwusi to former president Olusegun Obasanjo before he became the Ooni and see the turn of events now.

“Ogunwusi saw him as a mentor then as he knew that he held the ace then.

“It didn’t start with Aderibigbe, a lot of people have land issue with him, even if they say kabiyesi is the custodian and owner of everything, there are exemptions, the man bought the land in 1982 when the kabiyesi was barely six years old. He has all his papers intact and was only waiting for his children to come and invest in Ile Ife.

“This same thing played out with Oba Ogunwusi and the university, it wasn’t until the university fenced the remaining portion of their land before there was peace.

“Now, kabiyesi has sold part of the Olori ebi’s land to Mukoro Waters and it has become a case the police are now investigating,” a source revealed to us.

We also gathered that before now there was no sign of hostility or disagreement between Oba Ogunwusi and professor Aderibigbe.

Our source disclosed that the monarch was even at both the 85th and 95th birthday celebrations of the professor.

The 96-year-old scholar is said to have always been loyal to Oba Enitan Ogunwusi and convinced everyone in the family to support the monarch.

The latest development, sources said, was below the belt for the scholar, who we were told “now reasoned with those who were against his support for Enitan Ogunwusi for the coveted office then.”

“To make the matter worse, the grave of the first wife of the professor was desecrated during the demolition and the man was not given a listening ear by someone he helped to assume the position of the Oba of the home of the Yorubas.

“Its like biting the fingers that fed you and no one is happy with what has become of the man we all expected to make things better in his time as a monarch,” said a source.

Sources close to the monarch have however, denied the allegations, saying that the demolition was not ordered by him.

They said that Oba Enitan Ogunwusi is a man of honour, who would not go so low to destroy the building of a man that helped him into office and that the allegations are the handiwork of the enemy of the throne.

A source however, volunteered that the last “may not have been heard about the matter as elders have been called upon to intervene in the whole saga.”

Ooni Adeyeye Ogunwusi was selected from the Giesi Ruling House of Ile-Ife, amongst indigenes who were also heirs to the throne on 26 October 2015.

He received his staff of office on 7 December 2015.

Oba Ogunwusi is the spiritual leader of the Yoruba people now saddled with the responsibility of making supplications to God and the Òrì?à on behalf of his tribe and the world at large during annual festivals such as Olojo.