14th October, 2015
Photo: Idowu Ogunleye
The spokesperson of the Agbedegbede Royal Compound, Prince Ade Ogunleye, has refuted and dissociated the royal compound from the pronouncements, actions and decisions of the Professor Ade Aderibigbe-led Screening Committee, adding that, Aderibigbe has been compromised.
The spokesperson said this while reacting to the allegation that Agbedegbede unfairly presented themselves as if they are the only royal compound in the Giesi Ruling Family by listing all their sons at the detriment of others in the purported lists to the Kingmakers for consideration as next Ooni of Ife.
Prince Ogunleye said, “We are now in the know that Prof. Ade Aderibigbe – who made the screening a one-man show, has collected a car and the sum of N20 million from a candidate and that is the reason he distorted the history of the royal compounds in the ruling house to favour his paymaster. We initially yielded to him being the Chairman of the Screening Committee because of his age and education. We did not know that this has nothing to do with integrity and knowledge. We have disowned him and his utterance and actions.
“The Baale Ile (Head) of Agbedegbede has directed that his actions be disregarded. He felt bad that Prof. Aderibigbe took advantage of his bad sight to abuse the screening process.”
He urged the sons and daughters of Giesi Ruling House from Agbedegbede, Debooye, Idu, Luugba, Moniki, Wanikin and Obiri to be calm and maintain peace.
In his words, “We shall represent real lists to the kingmakers; a real list picked from a screening committee that comprises of representatives of all the royal compounds, not just Agbedegbede compound.
“This is how it was done in 1980 when Molodo, Olubuse/Olodo, Adejokun, Alaka, Amodo, Odogbon and Ooni Ilare of Ogboru Ruling House were all represented in the Committee that presented Omo-Oyee to the Afobaje (Kingmakers) and Gomina (Governor) through the Secretary of the Oranmiyan Local Government. It was not the responsibilities of the Chairmen of the Local Government, as it is been done now. It is not their role and just usurp of other roles. We will do it right this time.”
The spokesperson mentioned that appropriate punishment is being meted out to Prof Ade Aderibigbe, whom, he said, the family is reconsidering his paternity because of his tribal marks (it is not expected of Omo-Oba to have tribal mark in Ife) and for the fact he was born out of wedlock. He said that the kingmakers and State Government has been notified of the development, which means selection process has to stop until it is amicably resolved. He called on all the indigenes and residents of Ile-Ife to be at peace.
“The future is bright for Ile-Ife, Yorubas both home and abroad,” Ade concluded.