The Nomadic Monarch! Divergent Views Trail Ooni Ogunwusi’s Frequent Desertion of His Throne

HIGH LIFE

Nobody knows why Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, chooses to desert his palace. But many are of the view that the newly crowned monarch and paramount ruler of Ile Ife, has chosen the path of the itinerant monarch. 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. Since the new Ooni of Ife got crowned in a colourful ceremony, he has not been spending 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 unexplainable visit to the home of Super Eagles striker, Obafemi Martins, in Lagos.

Few weeks ago, the Ooni visited the home of Skye Bank chairman, Tunde Ayeni, Atiku Abubakar, Bukola Saraki and some other people. While his critics and loyal subjects struggled to digest and forget his visit to the politicians, 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 argue 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. They are quick to cite his background in the private sector and the investment opportunities which his frequent trips could bring to his kingdom. His current tour of the United States where he was honoured by the New Jersey Congress and the Philadelphia Congress is viewed as a positive development that would further boost the image of the manarch and the imperial stool of Ife Kingdom.

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. Since the new Ooni of Ife got crowned in a colourful ceremony, he has not been spending 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 unexplainable visit to the home of Super Eagles striker, Obafemi Martins, in Lagos.