….all about the Aya-Obas (wives) in the palace of his imperial majesty after Olori Zaynab left and the before and after Olori Naomi came in revealed…..
Do not be deceived to think that the quite handsome and highly revered numero uno monarch of the Yoruba nation, in the person of the “Arole Odua himself”, “the Oonirisa Adimula of Ile-Ife”, ‘his imperial majesty’, Alaiyeluwa, “Oba Adeyeye Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ojaja II is a one-woman man! Far be it! The very epitome of traditional excellence and culture knows and loves his women, he is in fact the symbol of the strength and virility of a blessed monarch- a father of all!
As we speak right now, there are at least 5 or 6 or better still 7 of these gorgeous ladies in the powerful harem of the classy monarch, all better referred to as ‘Aya Obas’ (wives of the royal father) and this may still be counting!
In this harem, there is actually one very well known Olori, who is most visible for all and who most people recognises as the only wife, but then there are about (6) Aya-Obas in the Palace! If particularly one speculation- which is about Princess Ronke is as true as some people have made it out to be.
But we recognise that the most visible of them all without any doubt for now, is none other than “Olori (prophetess) Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi”, the mother of the heir to the throne.
According to our very reliable findings, we can reveal to you all without any fear of contradiction, that there are at least 5 maybe 6 Aya-obas of his imperial majesty. All in that haven of the Yoruba’s most powerful and arguably most influential monarch.
Before we actually reveal one by one, who these Oloris (Aya-Obas) are, let’s let you all know very well too, the enviable position that the great Ooni occupies in the hierarchy of the monarchs in Nigeria and most especially in the South-Western part of Nigeria.
The Oonirisa is acclaimed to be a direct descendant of the founder and progenitor of the Yoruba race known as Oduduwa, an acclaimed son of Olodunmare.
According to the myth, Oduduwa is the 2nd son of Olodunmare, that the Almighty, had sent after his first son Obatala who he had 1st sent on a mission to establish the earth had gotten drunk on the way and couldn’t fulfill the given task. So the 2nd son Oduduwa was now sent to go fulfill that actual mission his elder brother couldn’t, which he Oduduwa actually accomplished.
To fulfill his purpose he had carried a cockerel, a chain and some earth in his hand for the mission. The chain was via which he descended, to the primordial earth that was fully covered with water, with the earth he had carried in his hand which he sprinkled on the waters. It was that sprinkled earth that became the firm earth that he was to land on and then the cockerel was what helped to spread the earth further about over the waters that covered everywhere that became more land.
The actual first place Oduduwa stepped his foot on, is what is said to have become known as Ile-Ife, the supposed source of civilisation.
It was from here that all else became established, hence Ile-Ife is referred to as the source of all things.
According to the myth, Oduduwa had many wives and many children and he was actually the 1st ever Oonirisa of Ile-Ife.
Oduduwa’s 7 most prominent sons then were the 1st ever Alaafin of Oyo, the Olowu of Owu, Oba of Benin, Onisbe of Sebe, Alaketu of Ketu, Onipopo of Popo & Orangun of Ila.
The Ooni as a custodian of the impressive traditions and culture of the Yoruba race is able to marry more than one wife. As a father to all, even his loyal subjects can honour him with their daughters as his wives, so when such happens he cannot actually say no.
The highly revered former Ooni, in the person of the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II was well known to have married some of the most gorgeous and stylish women as wives. The late billionaire monarch before he became king was already a very successful businessman based in the UK and he took the baton of rulership from the great enigma, the late Oba Sir Titus Martins Adesoji Tadenikawo Aderemi KCMG, Atobatele I, who also was a Governor of Western Region of Nigeria for 2 years. Oba Sijuwade ruled or better still reigned for 35 good years on the throne from 1980 till 2015 and in the years of his reign part of what added to his admiration by all were his gorgeous wives that he always admiringly showed off to the delight of all. One of the more visible ones was in fact consistently rated amongst the most stylish women then.
Oba Adesoji Aderemi himself reigned on the throne for a whopping 50 years from 1930 till 1980, he was an intimidating personality till his demise!
The current Ooni in the person of the highly revered and very well celebrated, H.I.M Oba Adeyeye Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, came on the throne in 2015 after succeeding the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Olubuse II who had passed on at the age of 85, 35years out of which he reigned as the Ooni.
Oba Adeyeye 47, just recently celebrated his 6th year coronation anniversary with loads of fanfare. In the short period do far of his reign, this most visible South-Western monarch has dazzled all with his many impressive achievements so far.
His gospel of peace amongst the royal fathers of the Yoruba race alone, is worthy of great applause. And he infact gave credence to his passion by putting his money where his mouth is, by going on the missionary journey to preach that gospel with gusto.
Whilst on the throne, he has been visibly married twice. Though he had married and separated from his 1st ever wife before he became the monarch too!
His 1st Olori from whom he is now separated was none other than “Olori Zaynab Wuraola Otiti” a Bini lady. Whom he married then amidst much fanfare not too long after he came on the throne. That marriage then was seen as the unification of the kingdoms of Oduduwa, but it soon hit the rock due to irreconcilable differences and the monarch and his former wife parted ways amicably.
Not too long afterwards, on October 17, 2018, to be more precise, he got married in a colourful traditional ceremony to a popular prophetess, who was the founder of her own thriving ministry- En-Heralds interdenominational Christian ministry based in Akure, Ondo State, where the Olori is from.
Many had wondered aloud then, how it was possible for the very global symbol of traditional religion in the world, in the person of the Ooni could have married a prophetess of the Christian faith in the person of prophetess Morenike Naomi Silekunola Oluwaseyi. But that union seemed to have been made in some type of heaven, as it is thriving and it has worked out seemingly without any visible issues and is even blessed with an heir!
Olori Naomi is the proud mother of the heir to the throne of Ife- ‘Prince Tadenikawo Ogunwusi’, who recently celebrated his 1st birthday with much pomp in the 3rd year of his mom’s marriage to the monarch!
But the thing is, though Olori Naomi is by far the most visible or more publicly known wife of Oba Adeyeye, there are others too that are also or have also been the (Aya-obas) wives of his imperial majesty for some time too now!
According to our accurate findings, there are at least 6 of them, and this is inclusive of Olori Naomi herself. And if we include princess Ronke Ademiluyi like some have speculated then they are all 7.
And most of them except maybe one, were before Olori Naomi actually ever came onto the scene.
Why the palace has deliberately kept them in the background, allowing just one to be far more visible than all others we do not know! May be it is as the tradition or culture dictates!
But we can say categorically and undoubtedly too that, there are at least 6 Aya-Obas (wives of the king).
Let’s start with the one that has been the major speculation for God knows how long now, since before the monarch even ascended the throne in 2015, in the person of “Princess Ronke Ademiluyi”.
For those that do not know, the London born, London trained lawyer, a very well known entrepreneur who used to shuttle then between the UK and Nigeria, is the founder of the popular fashion showcase platforms, the AFWN & AFWL franchises. And she didn’t just meet the royal father yesterday or after he had ascended the throne!
They had actually known each other, long before the throne ever even beckoned. Princess Ronke Ademiluyi is in fact a blueblood, true and through herself, as she is the granddaughter of one of the late Ooni of Ife, the late Oba Ademiluyi Ajagun’ who reigned just before Oba Adesoji Aderemi came on the throne in 1930.
Oba Ademiluyi Ajagun was the 48th Ooni of Ife who had reigned from 1910 till 1930, making it a reign of 20 years on the throne. He was from the Lafogido royal house. He was a grand grand grand grandson of Oranmiyan, the prime heir of Ife.
As a prince then, the now Oba Adeyeye Babatunde Enitan Ogunwusi’s company, was one of the major sponsors of the ‘Africa Fashion Week Nigeria’ the fashion showcase platform founded by Princess Ronke Ademiluyi.
At least from what we know, the mother of one, a brilliant graduate daughter for that matter, has known the king since 2014 or thereabout.
So according to those selling their story, they are alleged to have been an item since as far back as 2014 that’s at least 7 years now.
Many have actually sworn that she’s one of the privileged Aya-Obas of the handsome monarch who is the heartthrob of very many and we can say it’s a matter of fact too, that she was there before Queen Zaynab Wuraola came in and even long before Olori Naomi came on the scene too!
All the others too that would be listed were also there long before Olori Naomi ever stepped in except for one. Though apart from Princess Ronke the others arrived after Queen Zaynab!
Those before Olori Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi includes Princess Afolashade Ashley (Ogunwusi) who some are claiming to be a new wife. No one is in doubt about who this gorgeous lady is and where sge occupies in the heart of the Ooni. She’s actually based in the United Kingdom for those that don’t know, from where she comes visiting to see her husband whenever she wants and needs to. She’s acclaimed to be a mother of 1, a daughter for that matter though not for the royal father. As she had been married before.
Princess Afolashade Ashley is the founder of the “Afolashade Ashley Adegoke Foundation” which caters to single moms, widows, the less privileged and orphans in the society.
Princess Afolashade Ashley is also the one known more popularly as Olori Ashley. And she is a blueblood too, just like Princess Ronke Ademiluyi. Princess Afolashade’s forebear is said to have also being a king too at one point.
Then there’s the other one called Olori Lola who some claim may even be pregnant for the monarch currently. Not much is known about her.
After these 2 there are princesses Temitope Adesegun and Kemi B. Fadojutimi, all of those already mentioned here were said to have been in the harem before Olori Naomi came on board.
The very beautiful princess Temitope Adesegun has an intimidating resume counting Oxford, Cambridge, Insead, Harvard as some of her alma maters and some may even describe her as an overachiever. She used to work as the PA to the then Secretary to the Lagos State Government of a former action Governor of Lagos State in the person of Babatunde Raji Fashola, who is now an action-packed Minister for Works in the Federal cabinet. She was said to have been married before, but not anymore. She’s actually based in Lagos. She’s the director of Hope Alive Initiative poverty alleviation advocacy that is powered by the House of Odua inspired by the Ooni.
This next Aya-Oba is by the name Princess Kemi B. Fadojutimi used to be US-based till she relocated to Nigeria some time ago.
She’s the CEO of “All Eyes on Africa Media” owners of the same TV show by the same name. She’s also a director of “Dare2 Dream Organisation” an advocacy agency. She has represented the monarch at some functions before.
But then there’s another (Aya-Oba) in the harem that came after Olori Naomi and she seems much older than some of the others from what we could gather.
She’s none other than the highly cerebral Professor of Health from the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who is said to be an accomplished physician and consultant on public health, she’s the acclaimed ‘Professor Olapeju Adefunke Esimai’.
She’s said to have lost her former husband some time ago and she’s now an (Aya-Oba) of the very stylish monarch. She in fact lives in Ife with the monarch. She also doubles as the king’s personal physician.
So for now these are the 7 heartbeats of the colourful monarch, a few more may soon join too to increase the already intimidating harem.
Curiously though, the most visible Olori, Mama Prince Tadenikawo, Olori Naomi was conspicuously absent at the 6th year coronation anniversary of her husband-the monarch making some start speculating dust. Claiming may be some misunderstanding between the palace and her mom and she may have sided with her mom. (The Capital)
