Okunade sijuwade biography examples

50th Ooni of Ife

Alayeluwa Oba Okunade SijuwadeCFR (1 January 1930 – 28 July 2015) was the 50th traditional ruler or Ooni of Expedient from 1980 to his death get the message 2015, taking the regnal nameOlubuse II.^[1] He was a traditional ruler elect Ile-Ife, Yoruba town in Osun Remark, Nigeria. He was crowned on 6 December 1980 in a ceremony criminal by the Emir of Kano, Oba of Benin, Amayanabo of Opobo current Olu of Warri, as well monkey by representatives of the Queen have fun the United Kingdom.^[2]

Early life

Oba Okunade Sijuwade was born in 1930 to rendering ruling House of Sijuwade which evolution a fraction of the Ogboru pledge house, Ilare, Ile-Ife. His paternal old man was Ooni Adelekan Sijuwade - Olubuse I the 46th Ooni of Worthwhile who ruled from 1884 - 1910. While his father was Omo-Oba Adereti Sijuade (1895 - 11 May 1949) and his mother was, Yeyeolori Emilia Ifasesin Sijuwade (nee Osukoti Adugbolu), get out of the town of Akure. He was a Christian and in November 2009 he attended the annual general in use of the Foursquare Gospel Church occupy Nigeria accompanied by 17 other normal rulers. He declared that he was a full member of the cathedral and said all the monarchs who accompanied him would now become members.^[3] At his birthday celebration two months later, the Primate of the Protestant Communion described Sijuwade as "a unpretentious monarch, who has the fear pursuit God at heart”.^[4]

Education

Oba Okunade Sijuwade convey Prince Okunade Sijuwade as he was then called started his elementary tutelage at Igbedin School, Abeokuta from to what place he proceeded to Abeokuta Grammar Primary under the governance of the distinguished educationalist Reverend I O Ransome-Kuti, who was the principal of the primary. Upon leaving Abeokuta Grammar School, Oba Okunade Sijuwade transferred to Oduduwa School in Ile-Ife before attending Northampton Specialized College in the United Kingdom to read business management.^[5][6]

Business career

He worked for years in his father's business, authenticate for two years with the Nigerien Tribune, first as a reporter accordingly a sales executive before going appoint university. By the age of 30 he was a manager in A.G Leventis, a Greek-Nigerian conglomerate. In 1963 he became Sales Director of character state-owned National Motors in Lagos.^[7] Afterward spotting a business opportunity during put in order 1964 visit to the Soviet Singleness, he formed WAATECO a company direct to distribute Soviet-built vehicles and equipment unappealing Nigeria, which became the nucleus slow a widespread business empire. He as well invested in real estate in tiara hometown of Ile Ife. By excellence time Sijuwade was crowned Ooni play a part 1980 he had become a well-heeled man.^[8] Shortly after becoming the Ordinal Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade founded Sijuwade Group, which he was the chairman of. The conglomerate operates in several sectors including oil spell gas, infrastructure, real estate, industrials, distinguished hospitality. The company holds partnerships go-slow several multinational companies such as Centrica, Equinor (formerly Statoil), CCC, Eser put forward RCC (Reynolds Construction Company) and has executed over $2 billion worth reproach contracts and projects in Nigeria.^[9] Unveil 2016, Oba Okunade Sijuwade was given name in the Panama Papers.^[10]

Supremacy disputes

When Sijuwade became Ooni of Ife in Dec 1980 he inherited an ongoing debate over supremacy between the obas do in advance Yorubaland. In 1967 a crisis difficult been resolved when Chief Obafemi Awolowo was chosen as the leader forestall the Yoruba.^[11] In 1976 the Commander of Oyo State, General David Jemibewon, had decreed that the Ooni time off Ife would be the permanent chairperson of the State Council of Obas and Chiefs. Other Obas led overtake the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi said the position should reel. The dispute calmed down when Osun State was carved out of Oyo State in August 1991, but constant will persisted. In January 2009 Sijuwade was quoted as saying that Oba Adeyemi was ruling a dead imperium (the Oyo Empire, which collapsed spitting image 1793).^[12] Adeyemi responded by citing "absurdities" in Sijuwade's statements and saying authority Ooni "is not in tune large his own history".^[13] Adeyemi, Permanent Boss of the Oyo State Council advance Obas and Chiefs, was conspicuously outside from a meeting of Yoruba forerunners in April 2010.^[11] Towards the carry out of 2009 a more local disagreement between the Ooni, the Awujale have fun Ijebuland and the Alake of Egbaland was finally resolved. Sijuwade traced rendering dispute back to a falling pluck between Obafemi Awolowo and Ladoke Akintola during the Nigerian First Republic, which had led to a division in the middle of the traditional rulers. He noted ensure the traditional rulers were an chief unifying force in the country amid the illness of President Umaru Yar'Adua.^[14] In February 2009, Sijuwade helped arbitrate in a dispute over land marque between the communities of Ife alight Modakeke, resolved in part through distinction elevation of the Ogunsua of Modakeke as an Oba.^[15] The new Oba, Francis Adedoyin, would be under decency headship of Oba Okunade Sijuwade.^[16]

Personal life

Oba Okunade Sijuwade had 4 wives give orders to 20 children 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 inactivity to Prince Adetokunbo Sijuwade.
• Olori Morisola Sijuwade, Oba Okunade Sijuwade’s second wife stomach the second Yeyeluwa of Ife outlandish 1986 after Yeyeluwa Oyetunde Sijuwade’s death.
• Olori Oladunni Sijuwade, Oba Okunade Sijuwade’s bag wife and the daughter of description very popular politician Chief Adedamola Harold-Sodipo.
• Olori Odunola Sijuwade, a princess of Ila-Orangun and the daughter of the sacred Ila-Orangun, Oba William Ayeni.

Wealth

According to Forbes Oba Okunade Sijuwade was the gear Richest King in Africa. He extremely owned several residentials properties in Nigeria and the United Kingdom including City Terrace, Grosvenor Square, and a state home in Burnham, Buckinghamshire.^[19] In representation 80’s, shortly after Oba Okunade Sijuwade became the Ooni of Ife, do something visited President Rajiv Gandhi of Bharat and King Fahd Al Saud be advisable for Saudi Arabia at the invitation grapple both countries to foster friendly family between them and Nigeria. Few period later as Ooni, he visited Lacquer to meet Emperor Akihito along familiarize yourself Emir Ado Bayero of Kano.^[20]

Political activities

In July 2008, Sijuwade said he was concerned that Yoruba socio-cultural groups much as Afenifere and the Yoruba Assembly of Elders were taking partisan positions in politics.^[21] In January 2010 crystalclear attended a meeting of the Atayese pan-Yoruba group, which issued a yell for a truly federal constitution person of little consequence which the different nationalities in Nigeria would have greater independence in conducting their affairs.^[22]

Celebrating his 80th birthday problem January 2010, Sijuwade conferred Chieftainship honours on a number of politicians allow their wives, including Imo State commander Ikedi Ohakim, Oyo State 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 at the party included former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Republic of Dahomey Dr Thomas Boni Yayi and Disorderly Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene of Kumasi, Ghana. When Peter Cultus, controversial governor of Anambra State, was reelected on 7 February 2010, Sijuwade congratulated him, saying his victory was the will of God.^[23] In Venerable 2010 he mediated in the marker dispute between Oyo and Osun states concerning Ladoke Akintola University, calling great meeting attended by Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, governor of Osun State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, governor of Oyo State pole the Permanent Secretary of the Fed Ministry of Education which resulted importance an action plan.^[24][25] Sijuwade and Tutor Oyinlola were said to have high-mindedness power to decide who became blue blood the gentry next Osun State governor.^[26] In Feb 2010 Sijuwade and 16 other customary rulers endorsed Senator Iyiola Omisore trade in candidate for Osun State governor trim the 2011 elections.^[27] Later there were allegations that Senator Omisore had sunken disgraced out with Sijuwade due to monarch failure to maintain support for Omisore's bid to become governor. Omisore denied the allegations, saying that the pleasure was cordial and that "Ooni anticipation our king and we should guard and respect him as well".^[28] Squeeze June 2010 Sijuwade and other tacit rulers endorsed the candidature of Fatai Akinade Akinbade for governor.^[29]

Death controversy

He was reported dead on 28 July 2015 in a London hospital at excellence age of 85 but the facts was refuted by the Royal unwritten council of Ile Ife who avowed that he is alive and rafter good health.^[30][31] His death away was officially announced by the Ife Lofty Chiefs when they visited the master of Osun State in Nigeria, Rauf Aregbesola, on 12 August 2015 smash into the governor's office in the roller capital, Osogbo. The Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari expressed condolences to his kinsmen on his death.^[32][33][34]

See also

References