A few weeks back, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi made headlines for calling “Jesus” is his father while speaking at an event. Well in this interview with Punch, he responded to his critics and also talked about the mystery that surrounded his birth and more.
Read excerpts below:
How was your growing up like?
To the glory of God, I was born into the
family of Prince Ropo Ogunwusi and late Mrs. Wuraola Ogunwusi, both
from Ife, Osun State. My father is from the royal compound of
Agbedegbede while my mother was from Ile-Opa, Soji-opa compound. I was
born into a very humble family. I am the fifth child of the family and
the third son. I grew up in both Ibadan (Oyo State) and Ife. I had my
primary, secondary and tertiary education in Ibadan, but whenever we
were on holidays, we travelled to Ife. I have always been sentimentally
tied to Ife and as a young man, I have also been passionate about my
heritage, my origin. What has actually helped me the most is that my
father was a broadcaster and as an inquisitive child, I followed him all
over the place. He anchored a programme on radio in the 80s called
‘Ikini lede Ife’ (meaning, ‘greetings in Ife dialect.’) It was a popular
programme then. He also anchored another one called ‘Ife Ooye.’ He did
it for more than three decades on both television and radio, so all Ife
sons and daughters all over the world participated in the programme. By
virtue of this, I used to follow my father to Ife.
family of Prince Ropo Ogunwusi and late Mrs. Wuraola Ogunwusi, both
from Ife, Osun State. My father is from the royal compound of
Agbedegbede while my mother was from Ile-Opa, Soji-opa compound. I was
born into a very humble family. I am the fifth child of the family and
the third son. I grew up in both Ibadan (Oyo State) and Ife. I had my
primary, secondary and tertiary education in Ibadan, but whenever we
were on holidays, we travelled to Ife. I have always been sentimentally
tied to Ife and as a young man, I have also been passionate about my
heritage, my origin. What has actually helped me the most is that my
father was a broadcaster and as an inquisitive child, I followed him all
over the place. He anchored a programme on radio in the 80s called
‘Ikini lede Ife’ (meaning, ‘greetings in Ife dialect.’) It was a popular
programme then. He also anchored another one called ‘Ife Ooye.’ He did
it for more than three decades on both television and radio, so all Ife
sons and daughters all over the world participated in the programme. By
virtue of this, I used to follow my father to Ife.
Was there any prophecy that you would ascend the throne?
It was predicted. The specific time and
date of the week was said. It was predicted that I would be born at
exactly 1:00pm on a Thursday and up to the fourth child my parents gave
birth to, none was given birth to at 1:00pm and on a Thursday. I am the
fifth child and to the glory of God, I was given birth to on a Thursday
and at exactly 1:00pm.
date of the week was said. It was predicted that I would be born at
exactly 1:00pm on a Thursday and up to the fourth child my parents gave
birth to, none was given birth to at 1:00pm and on a Thursday. I am the
fifth child and to the glory of God, I was given birth to on a Thursday
and at exactly 1:00pm.
So many strange things happened after my
birth. Immediately I was given birth to, my maternal grandfather left
this world because he practically pushed my mother to go and have me
delivered when she was not due to do so. He did so on his sick bed. He
practically pushed her out to the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital here in
Ife to deliver the baby she was carrying. I was not due then. Few hours
after I was born, my grandfather left this world.
birth. Immediately I was given birth to, my maternal grandfather left
this world because he practically pushed my mother to go and have me
delivered when she was not due to do so. He did so on his sick bed. He
practically pushed her out to the Seventh Day Adventist Hospital here in
Ife to deliver the baby she was carrying. I was not due then. Few hours
after I was born, my grandfather left this world.
So your grandfather died the same day you were born?
He died few hours after my birth. My
mother wasn’t allowed to witness her father’s funeral because the man
was buried according to Islamic injunction. Strange things happened at
my birth. I wasn’t christened and did not have my naming ceremony until
after the 11th day instead of the usual eighth day.
mother wasn’t allowed to witness her father’s funeral because the man
was buried according to Islamic injunction. Strange things happened at
my birth. I wasn’t christened and did not have my naming ceremony until
after the 11th day instead of the usual eighth day.
Why?
Because my mother left me alone after
birth. I wasn’t breastfed. She did not do it intentionally, but due to
the fact that she was destabilised by her father’s demise. I was handed
over to my aunt and it was God who made me survive, according to my aunt
and my late mum. It affected my eating habit even till date because I
wasn’t given that proper motherly care immediately after birth. I am
thankful to God that I survived it and that is the more reason I was
named Enitan, a child of history and mystery, and my second name,
Babatunde, because we Yoruba believe in reincarnation. We believe some
of our ancestors usually come back after they die through other children
born into the family. My paternal grandfather gave me the name,
Adeyeye, meaning the potential monarch, whom the crown fits, and since
then, he gave everyone a stern warning not to hit me on the head. Anyone
who tried to hit my head had my grandfather to contend with. I never
knew, but my father took a very special interest in me. I actually look
like him, so he usually called me Adeyeye Ooni because I am from a royal
family.
birth. I wasn’t breastfed. She did not do it intentionally, but due to
the fact that she was destabilised by her father’s demise. I was handed
over to my aunt and it was God who made me survive, according to my aunt
and my late mum. It affected my eating habit even till date because I
wasn’t given that proper motherly care immediately after birth. I am
thankful to God that I survived it and that is the more reason I was
named Enitan, a child of history and mystery, and my second name,
Babatunde, because we Yoruba believe in reincarnation. We believe some
of our ancestors usually come back after they die through other children
born into the family. My paternal grandfather gave me the name,
Adeyeye, meaning the potential monarch, whom the crown fits, and since
then, he gave everyone a stern warning not to hit me on the head. Anyone
who tried to hit my head had my grandfather to contend with. I never
knew, but my father took a very special interest in me. I actually look
like him, so he usually called me Adeyeye Ooni because I am from a royal
family.
Were you close to the late Ooni of Ife?
He was my father. There is a picture on
the wall depicting my visit to him when I was a prince and that is my
best picture in the world. I used to go to him often to listen to his
words of advice and fatherly wisdom and that particular day (whose
picture is on the wall) was the day he prayed for me and it was also at
that time that he told me the story of how he became a king. He (Oba
Sijuwade), two of his children and I and God were the only ones present
there on that very day. I will never forget it.
the wall depicting my visit to him when I was a prince and that is my
best picture in the world. I used to go to him often to listen to his
words of advice and fatherly wisdom and that particular day (whose
picture is on the wall) was the day he prayed for me and it was also at
that time that he told me the story of how he became a king. He (Oba
Sijuwade), two of his children and I and God were the only ones present
there on that very day. I will never forget it.
He spoke very deeply, brought out
pictures, told me many things I did not know about him and prayed for
me. That is why the picture is very important to me.
pictures, told me many things I did not know about him and prayed for
me. That is why the picture is very important to me.
You lived in Lagos, did you ever travel in a ‘molue’?
I am always a very passionate person and
I did that on many occasions. After my service year, I lived in both
Ibadan and Lagos because I was a rice and sugar merchant. I love to take
up challenges and my growing up shaped my life. I used to help my
mother, who was born into a family of business people. My two
grandmothers were business people in Ife. My maternal grandmother used
to go to the North to buy rice and beans and sold them in Ife. I hawked
for my mother because whenever she came back from work, she resumed
business and I was very proud of doing that for her. I would hawk the
commodity in some communities in Ibadan and I am very proud to have that
kind of experience. I used to make shoes too. I have always been
enterprising ever since I was young. I made shoes for friends and
families with jeans material; I made canvas with jeans material too. I
went to learn how to do it at a shoemaking shop. I used my leisure time
after school to do those things and I was very good at them.
I did that on many occasions. After my service year, I lived in both
Ibadan and Lagos because I was a rice and sugar merchant. I love to take
up challenges and my growing up shaped my life. I used to help my
mother, who was born into a family of business people. My two
grandmothers were business people in Ife. My maternal grandmother used
to go to the North to buy rice and beans and sold them in Ife. I hawked
for my mother because whenever she came back from work, she resumed
business and I was very proud of doing that for her. I would hawk the
commodity in some communities in Ibadan and I am very proud to have that
kind of experience. I used to make shoes too. I have always been
enterprising ever since I was young. I made shoes for friends and
families with jeans material; I made canvas with jeans material too. I
went to learn how to do it at a shoemaking shop. I used my leisure time
after school to do those things and I was very good at them.
Did you hawk in a ‘molue’?
No, I did not but I used to board
‘molue.’ Last year, there was a time I boarded the BRT bus in Lagos. The
reason is very simple; I am quite passionate about mankind, so I
developed a concept to live like the common man at least once every
month because I believe we did not come into this world with anything. I
would drop everything I have to live like an average man struggling in
life. I would visit people under the bridge, ride on a motorcycle, and
board a ‘molue’ to wherever I was going in Lagos. It was very stressful
but those times were my best moments in life because I got to relate
with the real people. I saw their sufferings and felt their plights.
When I ascended the throne, I requested the elders to grant me the
opportunity to continue the concept, but they did not agree, so I coined
a new one that would go in line with the throne, which is stopping my
convoy whenever I get to a particular open place with moderate crowd and
buy ‘boli’ (roasted plantain) and ‘dundu’ and other basic food items
because we don’t have to forget where we are coming from in life. Which
position are you that nobody has never been in life? When you serve
mankind, you serve God. Our people have disconnected from the
less-privileged and the downtrodden. Each time I stop, the people are
always happy and my security men are usually afraid and they caution me
to get into the car, but I always make them realise that I cannot be
harmed by these people. They are just excited and I am always happy to
be in their midst. At times, I would not come out of the car, but most
times, I do get out to shake people’s hands and I would buy from them
what they’re selling and pay them higher than what they have sold. I
will be sick if I am not with the common people; it has always been my
lifestyle.
‘molue.’ Last year, there was a time I boarded the BRT bus in Lagos. The
reason is very simple; I am quite passionate about mankind, so I
developed a concept to live like the common man at least once every
month because I believe we did not come into this world with anything. I
would drop everything I have to live like an average man struggling in
life. I would visit people under the bridge, ride on a motorcycle, and
board a ‘molue’ to wherever I was going in Lagos. It was very stressful
but those times were my best moments in life because I got to relate
with the real people. I saw their sufferings and felt their plights.
When I ascended the throne, I requested the elders to grant me the
opportunity to continue the concept, but they did not agree, so I coined
a new one that would go in line with the throne, which is stopping my
convoy whenever I get to a particular open place with moderate crowd and
buy ‘boli’ (roasted plantain) and ‘dundu’ and other basic food items
because we don’t have to forget where we are coming from in life. Which
position are you that nobody has never been in life? When you serve
mankind, you serve God. Our people have disconnected from the
less-privileged and the downtrodden. Each time I stop, the people are
always happy and my security men are usually afraid and they caution me
to get into the car, but I always make them realise that I cannot be
harmed by these people. They are just excited and I am always happy to
be in their midst. At times, I would not come out of the car, but most
times, I do get out to shake people’s hands and I would buy from them
what they’re selling and pay them higher than what they have sold. I
will be sick if I am not with the common people; it has always been my
lifestyle.
What were the other things you did before ascending the throne that you now miss?
I can’t move around freely now,
unfortunately. I can’t hang out the way I used to; I cannot eat and
drink on the street because of tradition, which forbids an oba from
eating outside. But I still play with the less-privileged. I am into
real estate, which is labour-intensive, so I am always in the midst of
thousands of people because I go to sites once in a while and they hail
me. I like the feeling.
unfortunately. I can’t hang out the way I used to; I cannot eat and
drink on the street because of tradition, which forbids an oba from
eating outside. But I still play with the less-privileged. I am into
real estate, which is labour-intensive, so I am always in the midst of
thousands of people because I go to sites once in a while and they hail
me. I like the feeling.
Will you still marry more wives according to tradition?
That is not my priority; marrying more
wives is not my priority. Honestly, my priority is to better the lot of
the downtrodden and the less-privileged and not to keep acquiring wives
upon wives.
wives is not my priority. Honestly, my priority is to better the lot of
the downtrodden and the less-privileged and not to keep acquiring wives
upon wives.
Recently, you travelled to the United States with some obas and chiefs, why did you travel with such a large entourage?
Truth be told, I went there to display
our culture, our rich tradition and our rich heritage. A lot of Africans
in the diaspora and African-Americans have been making a lot of
enquiries and tracing their origins back to Ife and some have gone to
the extent of doing DNA tests to know where they came from because most
of them have traced their lineage to majorly West Africa and the largest
tribe there are the Yoruba. It will be remembered that at some point,
there was no boundary in West Africa until 1884, by Lincoln’s friends or
so, that the partitioning started and if you go to as far as other
countries in Africa, you will discover that a significant number of
their population speak Yoruba fluently. At some point, we lived as one
happy family, so Yoruba is one very big tribe. Most of the
trans-atlantic slave trade took place in the Yoruba region of West
Africa because the northern part was open to jihad and Islamisation, so
they didn’t do more of the trans-atlantic slave trade there, while the
whole of South Africa was locked up in apartheid. East Africa was
difficult for the colonial masters to penetrate. They didn’t penetrate
Ethiopia at all and it is the giant of East Africa. I went to the US for
a clarion call that those in the diaspora belong to a tribe that has
culture, that they belong to a tribe that has tradition.
our culture, our rich tradition and our rich heritage. A lot of Africans
in the diaspora and African-Americans have been making a lot of
enquiries and tracing their origins back to Ife and some have gone to
the extent of doing DNA tests to know where they came from because most
of them have traced their lineage to majorly West Africa and the largest
tribe there are the Yoruba. It will be remembered that at some point,
there was no boundary in West Africa until 1884, by Lincoln’s friends or
so, that the partitioning started and if you go to as far as other
countries in Africa, you will discover that a significant number of
their population speak Yoruba fluently. At some point, we lived as one
happy family, so Yoruba is one very big tribe. Most of the
trans-atlantic slave trade took place in the Yoruba region of West
Africa because the northern part was open to jihad and Islamisation, so
they didn’t do more of the trans-atlantic slave trade there, while the
whole of South Africa was locked up in apartheid. East Africa was
difficult for the colonial masters to penetrate. They didn’t penetrate
Ethiopia at all and it is the giant of East Africa. I went to the US for
a clarion call that those in the diaspora belong to a tribe that has
culture, that they belong to a tribe that has tradition.
A lot of people complained about the
crowd I went with and they thought the government was supporting us, but
no, we only got support from friends and God. We went from the county
level to the state level and then to the federal level in the US. We
were warmly received by the people and the government of America.
crowd I went with and they thought the government was supporting us, but
no, we only got support from friends and God. We went from the county
level to the state level and then to the federal level in the US. We
were warmly received by the people and the government of America.
When will this trip start yielding fruits?
We just signed a Memorandum of
Understanding on technology and agricultural city that a lot of
Nigerians in the diaspora and Africans as well as African-Americans will
key into. What I was told to bring is a good agricultural hub and so we
will create a city where cash crops will be sown. We are trying to go
back to the old days of cocoa, cashew and other cash crops the west was
reputed for and we are planting aggressively, not only in Ife, but we
are championing it in Ife just to encourage thousands of youths to go
back to the farm. So we signed a very good MoU, in which the project is
to cost about $1.5bn. It is a consortium to build a technology city and
they would partner with Obafemi Awolowo University in terms of
technology transfer from the university into the city and there are a
lot of people who want to come and do businesses on Public Private
Partnership basis that would require the government to come on board and
we represent the community and it is yielding results. Another good
thing is our culture; tourism is now evoking a different attraction. So
many historic places in Ife are generating a lot of traffic from people
who come in to check their authenticity.
Understanding on technology and agricultural city that a lot of
Nigerians in the diaspora and Africans as well as African-Americans will
key into. What I was told to bring is a good agricultural hub and so we
will create a city where cash crops will be sown. We are trying to go
back to the old days of cocoa, cashew and other cash crops the west was
reputed for and we are planting aggressively, not only in Ife, but we
are championing it in Ife just to encourage thousands of youths to go
back to the farm. So we signed a very good MoU, in which the project is
to cost about $1.5bn. It is a consortium to build a technology city and
they would partner with Obafemi Awolowo University in terms of
technology transfer from the university into the city and there are a
lot of people who want to come and do businesses on Public Private
Partnership basis that would require the government to come on board and
we represent the community and it is yielding results. Another good
thing is our culture; tourism is now evoking a different attraction. So
many historic places in Ife are generating a lot of traffic from people
who come in to check their authenticity.
Concerning the ‘ori olokun’ and other artifacts that were stolen from Ife by the colonialists, can they still be recovered?
Well, we are not going to give up. ‘Ori
olokun’ is very strategic to any nation. It is very strategic to the
British Government and the British Museum, but peace is our watchword,
so we would negotiate over some of them that they can return because we
can’t get all of them back, honestly, but our plan is to collaborate
with them and bring back the glory of the black race and unite
everybody.
olokun’ is very strategic to any nation. It is very strategic to the
British Government and the British Museum, but peace is our watchword,
so we would negotiate over some of them that they can return because we
can’t get all of them back, honestly, but our plan is to collaborate
with them and bring back the glory of the black race and unite
everybody.
You have gone round to visit some monarchs, especially in Yorubaland. With this, can you say Yoruba obas are more united now?
O yes! We are because everybody has
their strength and you cannot say you are the leader. I travelled to the
US and when I came back, I called other monarchs to give them feedback
on what I was able to achieve on my trip so as to honour them and not
show off or exhibit supremacy. You just have to work with them so that
where they have their strength, you can combine it with yours because no
man is an island. We are working together and there is peace.
their strength and you cannot say you are the leader. I travelled to the
US and when I came back, I called other monarchs to give them feedback
on what I was able to achieve on my trip so as to honour them and not
show off or exhibit supremacy. You just have to work with them so that
where they have their strength, you can combine it with yours because no
man is an island. We are working together and there is peace.
Are there taboos in Ife?
Of course, we have our dos and don’ts.
Let me give you a good example, the sunlight that gives us good energy,
aids photosynthesis and supports human life cannot be looked into
because it will destroy our sight despite the fact that it aids our
living. We do have our dos and don’ts which must be kept well. There are
some deities that certain things cannot be done with. There are some
deities that don’t like people that are not clean, if you are not
morally clean, you cannot go there because they get upset when they
notice such and we do warn people not to overstep.
Let me give you a good example, the sunlight that gives us good energy,
aids photosynthesis and supports human life cannot be looked into
because it will destroy our sight despite the fact that it aids our
living. We do have our dos and don’ts which must be kept well. There are
some deities that certain things cannot be done with. There are some
deities that don’t like people that are not clean, if you are not
morally clean, you cannot go there because they get upset when they
notice such and we do warn people not to overstep.
Also, the ‘yeyemolu’ (water) in the
palace cannot be taken away from the palace. We warn people not to try
it because it has grave consequences.
palace cannot be taken away from the palace. We warn people not to try
it because it has grave consequences.
How many people do you feed in the palace daily, because your predecessor fed about a thousand people daily?
It is ‘Olodumare’ that assists me in
feeding them because I have lost count of how many people come in every
day, so I don’t want to brag with that. Don’t let us put any number to
it. People come in large number every day and God feeds them through me.
feeding them because I have lost count of how many people come in every
day, so I don’t want to brag with that. Don’t let us put any number to
it. People come in large number every day and God feeds them through me.
Will you advocate the use of Yoruba as an official language in Osun State?
That is what we do here on the throne.
We only speak Yoruba; if not because you want me to speak in English, I
would have chosen Yoruba. People take English as an official language
and a generally accepted one because it is widely accepted in the world.
We only speak Yoruba; if not because you want me to speak in English, I
would have chosen Yoruba. People take English as an official language
and a generally accepted one because it is widely accepted in the world.
Your knelt to worship God
during a thanksgiving after your coronation this attracting criticisms
from some quarters, do you have any regret doing this?
during a thanksgiving after your coronation this attracting criticisms
from some quarters, do you have any regret doing this?
I will continue to do it forever and
ever. Those who criticised me are ignorant of the supreme power of God
Almighty before whom all kings must bow. God is the King of all kings.
He appoints kings and dethrones them. If you remember the story of
Nebuchadnezzar, who was a powerful king, when he allowed power to get to
his head, God turned him into a beast. So, it is God who is the author
and the finisher of everything and I will continue to worship him in
humility. He is the God of all ‘orisas’ (deities); any deity that does
not want to obey God will be crushed to powder, that is the truth. I
have no regrets. Remember I am not the first Ooni, I am the 51st, so
people have been here before me. It pleased God to put me on the throne
and that is why I am here. Why will I not worship the God who made it
possible?
ever. Those who criticised me are ignorant of the supreme power of God
Almighty before whom all kings must bow. God is the King of all kings.
He appoints kings and dethrones them. If you remember the story of
Nebuchadnezzar, who was a powerful king, when he allowed power to get to
his head, God turned him into a beast. So, it is God who is the author
and the finisher of everything and I will continue to worship him in
humility. He is the God of all ‘orisas’ (deities); any deity that does
not want to obey God will be crushed to powder, that is the truth. I
have no regrets. Remember I am not the first Ooni, I am the 51st, so
people have been here before me. It pleased God to put me on the throne
and that is why I am here. Why will I not worship the God who made it
possible?
How would you react to the criticisms that trailed your visit to Obafemi Martins?
What is wrong in going to visit Obafemi
Martins? But the fact is that he came to greet me and he is someone I
like and have tremendous respect for. He is a football icon and a human
being for that matter. I visit ‘boli’ sellers whenever I like and I
don’t think anything is wrong about that. I still stop my convoy to
greet street hawkers because I don’t see them as commoners. I buy from
them. I share whatever I buy among my crew. I still did it some days ago
on my way from Lagos; the women were happy. That is me, that is who I
am. Why can’t I greet Obafemi Martins because I became the Ooni of Ife?
And has no one ever done that before? If he invites me to his house
today, I will go because he is a human being and an icon with all due
respect. It is because we don’t celebrate good people in this country
and that has always been our problem.
Martins? But the fact is that he came to greet me and he is someone I
like and have tremendous respect for. He is a football icon and a human
being for that matter. I visit ‘boli’ sellers whenever I like and I
don’t think anything is wrong about that. I still stop my convoy to
greet street hawkers because I don’t see them as commoners. I buy from
them. I share whatever I buy among my crew. I still did it some days ago
on my way from Lagos; the women were happy. That is me, that is who I
am. Why can’t I greet Obafemi Martins because I became the Ooni of Ife?
And has no one ever done that before? If he invites me to his house
today, I will go because he is a human being and an icon with all due
respect. It is because we don’t celebrate good people in this country
and that has always been our problem.