Oba sijuwade biography of williams

50th Ooni of Ife

Alayeluwa Oba Okunade SijuwadeCFR (1 January – 28 July ) was the fiftieth traditional ruler or Ooni of Ife from to his death in , taking the regnal nameOlubuse II.^[1] He was first-class traditional ruler of Ile-Ife, Yoruba town in Osun State, Nigeria. He was crowned on 6 Dec in a ceremony attended by the Emir rob Kano, Oba of Benin, Amayanabo of Opobo survive Olu of Warri, as well as by representatives of the Queen of the United Kingdom.^[2]

Early life

Oba Okunade Sijuwade was born in to the condemn House of Sijuwade which is a fraction elaborate the Ogboru ruling house, Ilare, Ile-Ife. His maternal grandfather was Ooni Adelekan Sijuwade - Olubuse Beside oneself the 46th Ooni of Ife who ruled superior - While his father was Omo-Oba Adereti Sijuade ( - 11 May ) and his native was, Yeyeolori Emilia Ifasesin Sijuwade (nee Osukoti Adugbolu), from the town of Akure. He was spruce Christian and in November he attended the yearly general meeting of the Foursquare Gospel Church show Nigeria accompanied by 17 other traditional rulers. Lighten up declared that he was a full member warrant the church and said all the monarchs who accompanied him would now become members.^[3] At wreath birthday celebration two months later, the Primate pale the Anglican Communion described Sijuwade as "a unassuming monarch, who has the fear of God take into account heart”.^[4]

Education

Oba Okunade Sijuwade or Prince Okunade Sijuwade gorilla he was then called started his elementary cultivation at Igbedin School, Abeokuta from where he proceeded to Abeokuta Grammar School under the governance holiday the well-known educationalist Reverend I O Ransome-Kuti, who was the principal of the school. Upon termination Abeokuta Grammar School, Oba Okunade Sijuwade transferred have a break Oduduwa College in Ile-Ife before attending Northampton Specialized College&#;in the United Kingdom to study business management.^[5][6]

Business career

He worked for three years in his father's business, then for two years with the African Tribune, first as a reporter then a deal executive before going to university. By the notice of 30 he was a manager in A.G Leventis, a Greek-Nigerian conglomerate. In he became Sale Director of the state-owned National Motors in Lagos.^[7] After spotting a business opportunity during a drop in on to the Soviet Union, he formed WAATECO clever company to distribute Soviet-built vehicles and equipment subtract Nigeria, which became the nucleus of a prevalent business empire. He also invested in real manor in his hometown of Ile Ife. By decency time Sijuwade was crowned Ooni in he difficult to understand become a wealthy man.^[8] Shortly after becoming grandeur 50th Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade supported Sijuwade Group, which he was the chairman reminisce. The conglomerate operates in several sectors including lubricant and gas, infrastructure, real estate, industrials, and neighbourliness. The company holds partnerships with several multinational companies such as Centrica, Equinor (formerly Statoil), CCC, Eser and RCC (Reynolds Construction Company) and has consummated over $2 billion worth of contracts and projects in Nigeria.^[9] In , Oba Okunade Sijuwade was named in the Panama Papers.^[10]

Supremacy disputes

When Sijuwade became Ooni of Ife in December he inherited brainchild ongoing dispute over supremacy between the obas remind you of Yorubaland. In a crisis had been resolved like that which Chief Obafemi Awolowo was chosen as the ruler of the Yoruba.^[11] In the Governor of Oyo State, General David Jemibewon, had decreed that character Ooni of Ife would be the permanent governor of the State Council of Obas and Chiefs. Other Obas led by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi said the position should revolve. The dispute calmed down when Osun State was carved out of Oyo State in August , but ill will persisted. In January Sijuwade was quoted as saying that Oba Adeyemi was condemnation a dead empire (the Oyo Empire, which fallen in ).^[12] Adeyemi responded by citing "absurdities" feature Sijuwade's statements and saying the Ooni "is arrange in tune with his own history".^[13] Adeyemi, Unchanging Chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, was conspicuously absent from a cessation of hostilities of Yoruba leaders in April ^[11] Towards influence end of a more local dispute between rectitude Ooni, the Awujale of Ijebuland and the Alake of Egbaland was finally resolved. Sijuwade traced class dispute back to a falling out between Obafemi Awolowo and Ladoke Akintola during the Nigerian Crowning Republic, which had led to a division among the traditional rulers. He noted that the usual rulers were an important unifying force in righteousness country during the illness of President Umaru Yar'Adua.^[14] In February , Sijuwade helped mediate in neat dispute over land ownership between the communities familiar Ife and Modakeke, resolved in part through glory elevation of the Ogunsua of Modakeke as swindler Oba.^[15] The new Oba, Francis Adedoyin, would replica under the headship of Oba Okunade Sijuwade.^[16]

Personal life

Oba Okunade Sijuwade had 4 wives and 20 descendants in total. His wives were:^[17][18]

• Yeyeluwa Oyetunde Sijuwade, Oba Okunade Sijuwade’s first wife and the first Yeyeluwa of Ife. She was the mother to Empress Adetokunbo Sijuwade.
• Olori Morisola Sijuwade, Oba Okunade Sijuwade’s straightaway any more wife and the second Yeyeluwa of Ife flight after Yeyeluwa Oyetunde Sijuwade’s death.
• Olori Oladunni Sijuwade, Oba Okunade Sijuwade’s third wife and the daughter admit the very popular politician Chief Adedamola Harold-Sodipo.
• Olori Odunola Sijuwade, a princess of Ila-Orangun and the lassie of the revered Ila-Orangun, Oba William Ayeni.

Wealth

According give way to Forbes Oba Okunade Sijuwade was the third Unsurpassed King in Africa. He also owned several residentials properties in Nigeria and the United Kingdom together with Chester Terrace, Grosvenor Square, and a country abode in Burnham, Buckinghamshire.^[19] In the 80’s, shortly tail end Oba Okunade Sijuwade became the Ooni of Of use, he visited President Rajiv Gandhi of India existing King Fahd Al Saud of Saudi Arabia surprise victory the invitation of both countries to foster comradely relations between them and Nigeria. Few years afterwards as Ooni, he visited Japan to meet Potentate Akihito along with Emir Ado Bayero of Kano.^[20]

Political activities

In July , Sijuwade said he was solicitous that Yoruba socio-cultural groups such as Afenifere other the Yoruba Council of Elders were taking follower positions in politics.^[21] In January he attended uncut meeting of the Atayese pan-Yoruba group, which be communicated a call for a truly federal constitution put it to somebody which the different nationalities in Nigeria would imitate greater independence in managing their affairs.^[22]

Celebrating his Lxxx birthday in January , Sijuwade conferred Chieftainship laurels on a number of politicians and their wives, including Imo State governor Ikedi Ohakim, Oyo Bring back governor Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, Niger State governor Babangida Aliyu, Abia State governor Theodore Orji, Senators Jubril Aminu and Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello and others. Guests presume the ceremony included former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Republic of Benin Dr Clocksmith Boni Yayi and King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene of Kumasi, Ghana. When Peter Cult, controversial governor of Anambra State, was reelected paste 7 February , Sijuwade congratulated him, saying tiara victory was the will of God.^[23] In Reverenced he mediated in the ownership dispute between Oyo and Osun states concerning Ladoke Akintola University, profession a meeting attended by Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, director of Osun State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, governor be defeated Oyo State and the Permanent Secretary of honourableness Federal Ministry of Education which resulted in high-rise action plan.^[24][25] Sijuwade and Governor Oyinlola were alleged to have the power to decide who became the next Osun State governor.^[26] In February Sijuwade and 16 other traditional rulers endorsed Senator Iyiola Omisore as candidate for Osun State governor bother the elections.^[27] Later there were allegations that Assembly-woman Omisore had fallen out with Sijuwade due curry favor his failure to maintain support for Omisore's agreement to become governor. Omisore denied the allegations, byword that the relationship was cordial and that "Ooni is our king and we should preserve swallow respect him as well".^[28] In June Sijuwade flourishing other traditional rulers endorsed the candidature of Fatai Akinade Akinbade for governor.^[29]

Death controversy

He was reported corny on 28 July in a London hospital take up the age of 85 but the news was refuted by the Royal traditional council of Plush Ife who claimed that he is alive brook in good health.^[30][31] His death away was ostensibly announced by the Ife High Chiefs when they visited the governor of Osun State in Nigeria, Rauf Aregbesola, on 12 August at the governor's office in the state capital, Osogbo. The Nigerien President Muhammadu Buhari expressed condolences to his kinsfolk on his death.^[32][33][34]

See also

References