Says: ‘Any Woman Marrying Ooni Must Have A Large Heart’
The Ooni of Ife, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi (Ọjájá II), has officially unveiled his new wife, Mariam Anako.
Mariam is said to be an Oil and Gas executive from Kogi State.
The traditional rites for the marriage took place at the Enuwa’s palace in Ile-Ife, on Tuesday, September 6, 2022.
It was learnt that Mariam was given the necessary traditional rites, including the popular pouring of a reddish substance on her legs which officially ushered her into the palace as the Olori, in line with practice of the ancient Oduduwa stool.
The union is coming after her erstwhile Olori Naomi Shilekunola publicly called their union off on social media, drawing huge flaks and mixed reactions.
Some sources had claimed that the family introduction had been secretly done sometime in 2022.
Oba Ogunwusi in a video shared on the Facebook page of his spokesperson, Moses Olafare, around 10:30 pm on Tuesday, was assisted by chiefs and close aides, in welcoming the new wife into the palace.
However, President of Igbimo Apapo Yoruba Lagbaye — a Yoruba Socio-political Coalition, Aare (Esq) Dotun Hassan, while congratulating Ooni and his new Olori on their marriage, said: “Either secret or open, the marriage has been consummated and all the traditional rites were properly conducted.”
Hassan, who understands the workings of the Ife Palace exclusively told The New Diplomat that it’s not uncommon to have the Ooni pick his Olori without much funfare, explaining that “it’s only during her presentation at the Palace that the public becomes fully aware of the marriage.”
“Nobody knew when the Sultan married his many wives after all… It’s their own personal affair.
“He has rights to consummate marriage and pick any woman of his choice. In Yorubaland we still have the polygamous marriage culture,” Hassan added, saying monarchs are known to have many suitors.
“He has laxity to marry any woman of his choice. Naturally, it’s the bride’s parents that would bring the woman to Ooni at the Palace. Ooni is different from you and I who would have to go to the parents of the bride to seek their consent.” He told The New Diplomat.
Advising the new Olori and other women wanting to be Ooni’s wife, Hassan added that “any woman coming to the Palace must have a large heart and opinion beyond the marriage to accommodate all”, as he made reference to claims that the family of former Olori Naomi Shilekunola ruined her marriage to Ooni.
Recall there have been other wives before Olori Naomi, who he married as the third wife.
The Ooni of Ife has been visibly married twice. He was married to his first wife Adebukunola Bombata before he became a monarch.
Ooni of Ife’s first Olori was Olori Zaynab Wuraola Otiti, a Bini princess. However, the union hit the rock due to irreconcilable differences.
Also, the revered monarch was said to have other women in his life, with some said to be living in the palace whose identities have not been revealed.
Sources disclosed that the Ojaja ll will be unveiling another wife soon.
