The battle to fill the vacant position of the Ooni of Ife is gathering momentum as Prince Adesoji Isaac Fadehan, a journalist with Osun State Broadcasting Corporation (OSBC), has joined the race.
Fadehan, the OSBC director general, declared his interest in contesting for the exalted role recently.
According to him, only an individual with the right to royalty by birth and lineage, should occupy the position.
“That is why, after having well and meaningful discussions with my immediate family, Fadehan Ogunleye and the elders and well-meaning members of my royal lineage, the Giesi royal family of Ile Ife, I, Prince Adesoji Fadehan, use this medium to formally declare my intention to contest for the stool of my forefathers,” he added.
Fadehun is among the first set of contestant from the Giesi royal family to indicate his intention to contest for the vacant stool.
As one of the four ruling houses with the right to occupy the seat of the Ooni of Ife, the Giesi royal family has declared that it was its turn to produce the next monarch for the ancient town.
The Ooni of Ife stool became vacant following the death of Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II in in a London hospital. The news of his death was initially denied by the Royal Traditional Council (RTC) of the town. They said the paramount ruler was alive and in a good state of health.
The monarch was laid to rest in Ile-Ife on Friday, 14th August 2015, amidst glitz and glamour as prominent Nigerians turned out in their numbers for the inter-religious service.