God makes Kings, Ooni elect

FOLLOWING his emergence as the Ooni-elect, only coronation-rites away from occupying the pre-eminent monarchical stool among an estimated 60 million Yoruba worldwide, Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, yesterday said his ascension to the throne was a divine call, as “only God chooses kings.”

The Ooni-elect who spoke to The Guardian in an exclusive interview yesterday, expressed his appreciation to God, who made his emergence so peaceful.
He spoke against the backdrop of several efforts to thwart the process that led to his emergence which had led to uncertainty in the ancient town since the passage of the last Ooni, Oba Okunade Sijuade Olubuse II, on July 28 this year at Saint Mary Hospital London at the age of 85.

Kingmakers who had thought the new Ooni would be announced 42 days after the death of Sijuade were wrong as several interest groups raised allegations against either the families due to produce a new Ooni or Prince Adeyeye Ogunwusi himself when, they somehow found out he was the candidate to beat.

Before his selection was announced, Prince Ogunwusi had told The Guardian of his shock at the allegations, saying he was never involved in any sharp practices, stressing that he believes “it is God that actually appoints kings.
“My brother, can people be this bad?! How can they be maligning my character with all these spurious allegations, which I am not aware of or connected with? Well, I believe that in a matter of days, everything would be over and that the will of God will be done,” he had said emphatically.

Two months before, when some friends expressed concern over his bid for the throne, he simply thanked them but said: “This is beyond me; it is a divine call and I cannot do otherwise. This is the biggest challenge I have ever faced in my life.”
Through it all, the Ooni-elect even as a candidate never failed to express his confidence in God, in the integrity of the kingmakers and the government of Osun State.

‘Predictions have come true’
The Ooni-elect’s father, Prince Ropo Ogunwusi, who suddenly finds himself, socially and culturally lower than his offspring, expressed happiness at the fulfillment of predictions long ago that his son would one day wear the crown.
He called on others who contested with the new monarch to forget the past and begin a new fiesta by joining hands with the Ooni-in-waiting in building new Ife to the joy and satisfaction of all.

Credit: Guardian