· Paramount ruler of Ile Ife suffer hard knocks over frequent trips outside the kingdom
By Olubunmi Ogundipe
Vanity functions on the arrogance of its own modesty. The self-confidence that is part of being popular is outrageously flexible and indicative of defects. But Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi the Ooni of Ife, is oblivious of this fact.
Interestingly, one of the most significant perquisites of the monarchy is : ‘Once you mount the throne, you stay put on the throne.’ Ooni Ogunwusi is no doubt ignorant of the fact that his penchant for deserting his throne to embark on what many of his subjects consider ‘frivolous royal missions’ is impacting negatively on his image, the Ooni royal stool and the entire ruling clan from which he emerged.
According to mischief makers, since the new Ooni of Ife got crowned in a colourful ceremony, he is yet to spend quality time with his subjects and on his throne. He has persistently embarked on frequent trips out of Ile Ife for one courtesy visit or the other. If he is not visiting his royal colleagues, the Alaafin of Oyo, the Alake of Egba land to mention a few, he is engaged in one far-fetched royal activity several miles away from his kingdom.
Recently, Ooni Ogunwusi stunned his subjects and admirers from other kingdoms as he embarked on one such and unexplainable visits to the home of Super Eagles striker, Obafemi Martins, in Lagos. Few weeks ago, the Ooni visited the home of Skye Bank Managing Director n(MD), Tunde Ayeni, former VP Atiku Abubakar, Senate President Bukola Saraki. While his critics and loyal subjects struggled to digest and forget his visit to a politician’s home, they were struck and mystified by his recent visit to the home of the Nigerian soccer star.
It is unclear what benefits can be derived from his frequent trips out of Ife kingdom. Admirers of the monarch argued that he has only set out to build bridges and establish lines of favourable liaisons with persons capable of making progressive forays into Ife kingdom in the nearest future.
According to concerned citizens of Ile Ife, the Ooni, by virtue of his status, owes nobody social visits. Anyone who wishes to see the paramount ruler is free to visit his palace to pay homage to him, they argued. Royal clans and cultural pundits within and outside Ile Ife agree that it is demeaning for the Ife monarch to persistently desert his throne to embark on social calls that adds no value to his kingdom.
