Almost a dozen candidates have finally emerged from the Geisi Ruling House after the 16 kingmaker announced that it was their turn to produce the successor to Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Ooni of Ife who joined his ancestors on July 28.
Top on the list are the Maye of Ifeland, Chief Rahmon Adedoyin and a former commissioner for Home Affairs, Culture and Tourism in the cabinet of Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Prince Sikiru Ayedun.
Other princes from the royal house who have indicated interest for the stool include Prince Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Prince Adesoji Isaac Fadehan, Prince Adetunji Ogunwusi, Prince Aderemi Adelowo, Prince Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Prince Taye Ogunleye, Prince Adegboyega Ologbenla and Prince Gbadegesin Ologbenla.
The rest are: Princes Bankole Adediwura, Adegboyega Adedire, Olajide Adejoba, Ademoyewa Omomadelo, Adegoke Adeyemo, Aderemi Adeniran Adewole, Adegboyega Adewoyin Coker and Alani Adelowo.
By virtue of the status of the Ooni in Yorubaland, whosoever would aspire to the throne must be versatile with tradition and custom apart from being a man of substance, therefore all those who showed interest in the stool are men of timber and calibre.
Their Profiles Chief Ramon Adegoke Adedoyin from Adesogba family of Giesi ruling house is a renowned educationist per excellence.
He is the proprietor of Oduduwa University, Ipetumodu and The Polytechnic Ife, he is also the owner of the popular Hilton Hotel, Ife and other business concerns
He is on the board of director of First Access Microfinance Bank Ltd and Our Saviour University, Delaware, USA.
A son of Agbedegbede compound where he has been involved in all developmental projects and possessed the knowledge and skill as an astute and effective manager of men and resources needed to make a success of the office of an Ooni.
Adedoyin, a home based educationist and industrialist was very close to the late Ooni Okunade Sijuwade and even claimed that he was the anointed successor to the throne by Oba Sijuwade.
But he is under fire from various quarters that Oba Sijuwade has no traditional right to anoint his successor adding that a prince does not accept chieftaincy title an indication that he is not entitle to the throne.
