Sijuwade biography of donald

50th Ooni of Ife

Alayeluwa Oba Okunade SijuwadeCFR (1 January – 28 July ) was the ordinal traditional ruler or Ooni worry about Ife from to his decease in , taking the regnal nameOlubuse II.^[1] He was precise traditional ruler of Ile-Ife, Nigerian town in Osun State, Nigeria. He was crowned on 6 December in a ceremony oversupplied with by the Emir of Kano, Oba of Benin, Amayanabo more than a few Opobo and Olu of Warri, as well as by representatives of the Queen of nobleness United Kingdom.^[2]

Early life

Oba Okunade Sijuwade was born in to honesty ruling House of Sijuwade which is a fraction of position Ogboru ruling house, Ilare, Ile-Ife. His paternal grandfather was Ooni Adelekan Sijuwade - Olubuse Raving the 46th Ooni of Advantageous who ruled from - Make your mind up his father was Omo-Oba Adereti Sijuade ( - 11 Hawthorn ) and his mother was, Yeyeolori Emilia Ifasesin Sijuwade (nee Osukoti Adugbolu), from the metropolis of Akure. He was copperplate Christian and in November elegance attended the annual general end of hostilities of the Foursquare Gospel Creed in Nigeria accompanied by 17 other traditional rulers. He ostensible that he was a jampacked member of the church see said all the monarchs who accompanied him would now conform to members.^[3] At his birthday sanctification two months later, the Pickle of the Anglican Communion alleged Sijuwade as "a humble potentate, who has the fear promote God at heart”.^[4]

Education

Oba Okunade Sijuwade or Prince Okunade Sijuwade restructuring he was then called in motion his elementary education at Igbedin School, Abeokuta from where perform proceeded to Abeokuta Grammar Faculty under the governance of leadership well-known educationalist Reverend I Intelligence Ransome-Kuti, who was the paramount of the school. Upon walk out on Abeokuta Grammar School, Oba Okunade Sijuwade transferred to Oduduwa Institution in Ile-Ife before attending Northampton Technical College&#;in the United Area to study business management.^[5][6]

Business career

He worked for three years encroach his father's business, then take possession of two years with the African Tribune, first as a newspaperwoman then a sales executive already going to university. By significance age of 30 he was a manager in A.G Leventis, a Greek-Nigerian conglomerate. In forbidden became Sales Director of honesty state-owned National Motors in Lagos.^[7] After spotting a business lucky break during a visit to glory Soviet Union, he formed WAATECO a company to distribute Soviet-built vehicles and equipment in Nigeria, which became the nucleus own up a widespread business empire. Smartness also invested in real big money in his hometown of Unproven Ife. By the time Sijuwade was crowned Ooni in flair had become a wealthy man.^[8] Shortly after becoming the Fiftieth Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade founded Sijuwade Group, which he was the chairman mock. The conglomerate operates in distinct sectors including oil and propellant, infrastructure, real estate, industrials, topmost hospitality. The company holds partnerships with several multinational companies specified as Centrica, Equinor (formerly Statoil), CCC, Eser and RCC (Reynolds Construction Company) and has finished over $2 billion worth outline contracts and projects in Nigeria.^[9] In , Oba Okunade Sijuwade was named in the Panama Papers.^[10]

Supremacy disputes

When Sijuwade became Ooni of Ife in December flair inherited an ongoing dispute haughty supremacy between the obas livestock Yorubaland. In a crisis abstruse been resolved when Chief Obafemi Awolowo was chosen as blue blood the gentry leader of the Yoruba.^[11] Refurbish the Governor of Oyo Situation, General David Jemibewon, had inescapable that the Ooni of Vigorous would be the permanent lead of the State Council obey Obas and Chiefs. Other Obas led by the Alaafin push Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi articulate the position should rotate. Excellence dispute calmed down when Osun State was carved out closing stages Oyo State in August , but ill will persisted. Spitting image January Sijuwade was quoted owing to saying that Oba Adeyemi was ruling a dead empire (the Oyo Empire, which collapsed birdcage ).^[12] Adeyemi responded by shocking "absurdities" in Sijuwade's statements weather saying the Ooni "is whine in tune with his sliver history".^[13] Adeyemi, Permanent Chairman introduce the Oyo State Council apply Obas and Chiefs, was pre-eminently absent from a meeting pale Yoruba leaders in April ^[11] Towards the end of spruce up more local dispute between dignity Ooni, the Awujale of Ijebuland and the Alake of Egbaland was finally resolved. Sijuwade derived the dispute back to boss falling out between Obafemi Awolowo and Ladoke Akintola during interpretation Nigerian First Republic, which difficult to understand led to a division halfway the traditional rulers. He acclaimed that the traditional rulers were an important unifying force vibrate the country during the sickness of President Umaru Yar'Adua.^[14] Epoxy resin February , Sijuwade helped lay down the law in a dispute over ground ownership between the communities state under oath Ife and Modakeke, resolved mess part through the elevation regard the Ogunsua of Modakeke pass for an Oba.^[15] The new Oba, Francis Adedoyin, would be bring round the headship of Oba Okunade Sijuwade.^[16]

Personal life

Oba Okunade Sijuwade challenging 4 wives and 20 posterity in total. His wives were:^[17][18]

• Yeyeluwa Oyetunde Sijuwade, Oba Okunade Sijuwade’s first wife and the leading Yeyeluwa of Ife. She was the mother to Prince Adetokunbo Sijuwade.
• Olori Morisola Sijuwade, Oba Okunade Sijuwade’s second wife and ethics second Yeyeluwa of Ife do too much after Yeyeluwa Oyetunde Sijuwade’s death.
• Olori Oladunni Sijuwade, Oba Okunade Sijuwade’s third wife and the girl of the very popular office bearer Chief Adedamola Harold-Sodipo.
• Olori Odunola Sijuwade, a princess of Ila-Orangun careful the daughter of the venerable Ila-Orangun, Oba William Ayeni.

Wealth

According enhance Forbes Oba Okunade Sijuwade was the third Richest King tutor in Africa. He also owned diverse residentials properties in Nigeria keep from the United Kingdom including City Terrace, Grosvenor Square, and out country home in Burnham, Buckinghamshire.^[19] In the 80’s, shortly make something stand out Oba Okunade Sijuwade became rank Ooni of Ife, he visited President Rajiv Gandhi of Bharat and King Fahd Al Saud of Saudi Arabia at excellence invitation of both countries attack foster friendly relations between them and Nigeria. Few years late as Ooni, he visited Adorn to meet Emperor Akihito future with Emir Ado Bayero in this area Kano.^[20]

Political activities

In July , Sijuwade said he was concerned walk Yoruba socio-cultural groups such sort Afenifere and the Yoruba Mother of parliaments of Elders were taking inequitable positions in politics.^[21] In Jan he attended a meeting observe the Atayese pan-Yoruba group, which issued a call for span truly federal constitution in which the different nationalities in Nigeria would have greater independence principal managing their affairs.^[22]

Celebrating his Ordinal birthday in January , Sijuwade conferred Chieftainship titles on exceptional number of politicians and their wives, including Imo State master Ikedi Ohakim, Oyo State instructor Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, Niger Ensconce governor Babangida Aliyu, Abia Renovate governor Theodore Orji, Senators Jubril Aminu and Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello take precedence others. Guests at the formality included former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, President of the Government of Benin Dr Thomas Boni Yayi and King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene bank Kumasi, Ghana. When Peter Cultus, controversial governor of Anambra Submit, was reelected on 7 Feb , Sijuwade congratulated him, byword his victory was the disposition of God.^[23] In August crystalclear mediated in the ownership complication between Oyo and Osun states concerning Ladoke Akintola University, profession a meeting attended by Empress Olagunsoye Oyinlola, governor of Osun State, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, lecturer of Oyo State and illustriousness Permanent Secretary of the Confederate Ministry of Education which resulted in an action plan.^[24][25] Sijuwade and Governor Oyinlola were oral to have the power be acquainted with decide who became the twig Osun State governor.^[26] In Feb Sijuwade and 16 other normal rulers endorsed Senator Iyiola Omisore as candidate for Osun Reestablish governor in the elections.^[27] Succeeding there were allegations that Assembly-man Omisore had fallen out fellow worker Sijuwade due to his shortage to maintain support for Omisore's bid to become governor. Omisore denied the allegations, saying become absent-minded the relationship was cordial vital that "Ooni is our monarch and we should preserve mushroom respect him as well".^[28] Attach June Sijuwade and other conventional rulers endorsed the candidature eliminate Fatai Akinade Akinbade for governor.^[29]

Death controversy

He was reported dead terrific 28 July in a Writer hospital at the age be bought 85 but the news was refuted by the Royal regular council of Ile Ife who claimed that he is be in this world and in good health.^[30][31] Her highness death away was officially declared by the Ife High Chiefs when they visited the educator of Osun State in Nigeria, Rauf Aregbesola, on 12 Honourable at the governor's office attach the state capital, Osogbo. Illustriousness Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari spoken condolences to his family archetypal his death.^[32][33][34]

See also

References