The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, recently opened up about the deep emotional toll, public scrutiny, and intense pressure he faced over the delay in bearing children after ascending the revered throne of Oduduwa. The monarch shared these deeply personal reflections while welcoming a joyful crowd of well-wishers, community leaders, and dignitaries who gathered at the palace to celebrate the arrival of his newborn twins, born to Queen Mariam.
The traditional ruler admitted that the journey to this moment was fraught with public mockery and silent heartbreaks. He expressed profound gratitude for the new additions to the royal family, noting that the breakthrough is a testament to divine timing, proving that no situation is beyond redemption.
The monarch’s path to his current marital status was neither planned nor anticipated. Oba Ogunwusi revealed that growing up, he never envisioned a life of polygamy. However, the heavy weight of ancient customs, royal protocols, and the unique spiritual demands of his office completely reshaped his personal life. He described his journey since wearing the crown as one defined by complex mysteries and unforeseen challenges, including the immediate, overwhelming pressure to secure the royal lineage shortly after his coronation.
In a rare glimpse into past palace struggles, the Ooni disclosed that extensive efforts were once made by top-tier traditional rulers and influential figures to convince his former wife to relocate to the ancient city of Ile-Ife. Despite high-level interventions, those arrangements ultimately fell through, adding another layer of complexity to his public and private life.
Long before the pressures of the throne, the monarch had already tasted the anxieties of early parenthood. He recalled the vulnerability of becoming a father at the tender age of 19, a period he remembers as incredibly daunting. It was his late mother’s fierce encouragement, he noted, that kept him grounded, focused, and driven during those turbulent teenage years.
During the reception, the Ooni took a moment to publicly acknowledge Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu. He described her as a steady maternal figure who consistently offered unwavering support, strength, and encouragement throughout his most trying seasons on the throne.
The palace was filled with a vibrant mix of celebration and prayers, drawing representatives from the Ife Muslim community, the Hausa community, traditional rulers from Ife North, and the Giesi Ruling House, alongside business leaders and cultural groups. Leading the congratulations, the Chief Imam of Ifeland, Alhaji Abdulsemiu Abdulhammed, reminded the gathering that the ultimate control over life and joy belongs to a higher power, remarking that the arrival of the twins is a beautiful reminder of patience rewarded.
Oba Ogunwusi conveyed deep appreciation to everyone for their loyalty and prayers, adding that Queen Mariam also sends her heartfelt gratitude to all who stood by the royal family through the years of waiting.
