Heavy Security In Ife, As Indigenes Awaits Announcement Of New King

There were strong indications yesterday that Osun State
government may this week announced the new Ooni of Ife amidst heavy presence of
security operatives around the ancient town.

Sunday Vanguard gathered that as early as 8 am yesterday,
news had gone round the town that new Ooni may be announced, throwing the town
into expectant mood and frenzy.

Though late Obalufe, Chief Solomon Omisakin, while
addressing the media on the decision of the kingmakers to stick to the 1980 Ife
Chieftaincy Declaration and narrow search for new monarch to only the Giesi
Ruling House, inside Ooni’ s palace a little over one month ago, said new
monarch would emerge 40 days from then.

But the death of Obalufe, who was the most senior kingmaker
and many court cases instituted by the aggrieved parties in the matter had made
the projection very unlikely.

However, the insinuation that a new Ooni had been chosen by
the kingmakers, only for the state governor to approve yesterday, sparked
tension in the town.

Lending credence to the insinuations was the increased
presence of security operatives in strategic places across the town.