The Ooni Of Ife, Oba Enitan Adeyeye Ogunwusi, is definitely the one being talked about now.
To have married six beautiful and well read women within six weeks is no mere feat.
When in September 2022, it was announced that he was welcoming the first queen after a nine-month absence of any official queen, many rejoiced with him.
By Tuesday, September 6, 2022, his first wife Mariam Anako, became the new queen, replacing former queen Naomi.
Just as the new queen was settling down in the bossom of her husband, another wedding was announced.
This time, it was for former Ms Elizabeth Akinmuda and the traditional wedding rites took place in Lagos, at the bride’s parents’ residence in Magodo.
By October 9, 2022, he married Queen Tobi Phillips as his third wife.
Queen Ashley followed suit, becoming the fourth wife on October 16, while Queen Ronke Ademiluyi wedded him on October 20, 2022.
Queen Temitope Adesegun became the number six queen on October 24, 2022.
“Why are they castigating the Ooni of Ife for his back-to-back marriage? Where were all the critics when former queen Naomi took to social media to announce her divorce from the highly revered monarch and made him ridicule to many social media followers?” a palace source observed.
According to him, there is no big deal in the marriages.’
“First, all and sundry should know that he was commanded and he adhered to the institution that made him a king. He was commanded to marry more than a wife and everyone of them should be queens within a given period of time.”
Recall that Ooni, while welcoming Queen Mariam during his 48th birthday and grand reception of the wedding, revealed the kind of person she is.
Speaking at the occasion in Ile Ife, Ooni eulogized his wife and went down memory lane on his initial perception of her.
He said, “Left to me, I would probably think she was one of those women. In life when you close your eyes, you want evil people to pass, but the good people will also pass at the same time. But to the glory of God I didn’t close my eyes.”
Facing her on the chair where she sat next to him, he told Mariam, “Thank God for your life. Thank you for your patience. Thank you very much for your patience.
But you still need to have more patience.”
Indeed, being a king is no walk in the park. The Ooni explained that he tried making some changes but he couldn’t. Maybe referring to his decision to keep to only one queen and have concubines, the monarch said of the traditional heritage of Ile Ife, “This institution is bigger than me, beyond me. People in this palace are more than 800; they are close to a thousand. There are some people who have been living in this palace for more than 60 years, while some have lived here for more than 80 years old. Some people are over 100 years old in this palace.
If I had my way, I tried to challenge it but it blew on my face but thank God I’m still alive. It’s an institution that is rich in heritage, culture and tradition.”
Naomi, who was said to have begged the king to accept her back, is busy flaunting her new clothes and accessories on Instagram. Lately, she was seen with her son, Tadenikawo on social media.
“Ooni of Ife has done no wrong marrying six wives in six weeks. In fact, many more wives are coming. The palace is large enough. His predecessors including Oba Okunade Sijuwade had many wives and children. Why should that be a source of concern to all critics?” palace sources said.