Tension mounts as Ife awaits announcement of new Ooni

There are reports that the perceived decision to announce the new Ooni of Ife have created tension in Ile Ife, Osun State.

Read: Breaking News: Ooni of Ife is dead

According to a report by Vanguard Newspaper, there were strong indications that the State government may announce the new Ooni of Ife, thus, there is a heavy presence of security operatives around the ancient town.

Read: Head of Ife kingmakers dies at 83

Though there are insinuations that Ife kingmakers might stick to the 1980 Ife Chieftancy Declaration and narrow search for new monarch to only the Giesi Ruling House, following the late Obalufe, Chief it is also bandied about town that there are new developments as some aggrieved parties are bent on getting their way.

Read: Here’s everything we know about monarch’s burial rites

Though details of the four candidates submitted by the Prof. Adekanye Aderibigbe-led screening panel set up by the Giesi Ruling House had been kept from the public and media, sources alleged that a new Ooni had been chosen by the kingmakers and the state governor, Rauf Aregbesola had approved his candidacy on Saturday, October 24, 2015, sparking tension in the town.

Heavy police presence has been noticed in areas that include Moore, Enuwa, Mayfair and Agbedegbede, while fully armed men of Department of State Security were also seen on streets across Ile Ife.