Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has appealed
to the kingmakers of Ile-Ife to follow strictly, the
laid down rules and procedures for the appointment
and selection of the new Ooni following the demise
of Oba Okunade Sijuwade.
Chief Obasanjo made the appeal when he visited
the kingmakers at the Ooni’s palace on Friday, to
commiserate with the chiefs and the people of Ife
over the death of their king.
“I was here in this palace ten days before the
demise of kabiyesi and he told me how the Yoruba
race is margnalised in the scheme of things. He
also told me to ensure that the Yoruba race got its
own share of things in the country,” he said. He,
therefore asked the kingmakers to be careful about
the choice of the person that would occupy the
stool saying that late Sijuwade while occupying the
stool has taken the seat of Ooni beyond Africa.
The Obalufe of Ife, Gabriel Omisakin who received
Obasanjo on behalf of other chiefs assured the
former president the choice of the new Ooni would
not lead to any crises.
He promised that the kingmakers would ensure that
diligent, due process for the selection of new Ooni
would be carried out to ensure that whoever
emerge is the choice of the people.
