Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi Ojaja II, Ooni of Ife (born October 17, 1974) is a Nigerian accountant and the 51st Ooni of Ife. He succeeded the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade, who died on July 28, 2015. The Vanguard Newspaper described him as “an astute entrepreneur driven by turning impossibilities to ‘possibilities’”. His reign has been marked by a modern outlook and a number of progressive policies.

Professional background

The Ọọni is a qualified accountant. He attended Loyola College Ibadan between 1985 and 1991. Afterwards, he attended The Polytechnic Ibadan to study Accounting.

In 2002, he led the Federal Government of Nigeria delegation to Canada that enhanced alliances through a partnership with the government of Ondo State on solid mineral.

Selection and coronation

On October 26, 2015, Adéyẹyè was selected as the king-elect out of 21 contenders to the Ọọ̀ni stool in an announcement by the Governor of Ọ̀ṣun State, Ọ̀gbẹ́ni Rauf Arẹ́gbẹ́ṣọlá. As a prince from the Giesi Family whose turn it was to produce a king, he beat out a number of competitors including his elder brother. Oba Ogunwusi received his Staff of Office from Osun State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola on Monday 7 December 2015 at Enuwa Square, Ile-Ife in the presence of several dignitaries from all walks of life, including the Vice President of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo. The new king promised to unite the Yorùbás under a peaceful and prosperous reign.

Achievements

Since his coronation, the king has made news for a number of notable actions and pronouncements including the promise not to re-litigate supremacy battles with other Yorùbá kings. On January 17, 2016, Ọọ̀ni Ògúnwùsi broke a 79 year-old antagonism between the thrones of Ifẹ and Ọ̀yọ́ by visiting the Aláàfin, the first of such visits in eight decades by an Ifẹ monarch. He has instituted a number of progressive causes in Ilé-Ifẹ̀, including a cocoa farm meant to feed thousands of widows in the state.

Honours

On June 12, 2016, Ọọni was presented with the key of the City of Sumerset, Franklin Township in New Jersey and honoured with the proclamation of the town of Franklin along side his wife, Olori Wuraola Ogunwusi, the Yeyelua.

Personal life

Ọọ̀ni Ògúnwùsì hails from Giesi Royal Family, one of the four royal families in Ilé-Ifẹ̀, Osun State, Nigeria. The last Ọọ̀ni from the family was Ọọ̀ni Dérin Ọlọ́gbẹ́nlá (1880-1894). Ọba Ògúnwùsì assumed the title of Òjájá (II). Ojaja (I) was from Agbedegbede Compound, Irẹmọ Quarters (the ancestral home of the Giesi). His father is Prince Rọ́pò Ògúnwùsì, a veteran broadcaster. He is the third son in a family of six. He has three sisters.

He has a daughter, Adéọlá Àánúolúwapọ̀ Ògúnwùsì, born in Ibadan, in May 1994, to Omolara Olatubosun with whom he has been a co-parent.

He was married from 2008 to 2016 to Adebukunola Bombata. He is now currently married to Wuraola Zynab Otiti, a marriage reportedly arranged by the Oracle. The wedding took place in Benin City while the reception held in Ile-Ife.