Olubuse II
Encyclopedia
Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade, or Sijuade, (born 1 January 1930) became the fiftieth traditional ruler
Nigerian traditional rulers
Nigerian traditional rulers often derive their titles from the rulers of independent states or communities that existed before the formation of modern Nigeria...

 or Ooni of Ife
Ife
Ife is an ancient Yoruba city in south-western Nigeria. Evidence of inhabitation at the site has been discovered to date back to roughly 560 BC...

 in 1980, taking the regnal name
Regnal name
A regnal name, or reign name, is a formal name used by some monarchs and popes during their reigns. Since medieval times, monarchs have frequently chosen to use a name different from their own personal name when they inherit a throne....

 Olubuse II.
Ife is a traditional Yoruba
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...

 state based in the town of Ife
Ife
Ife is an ancient Yoruba city in south-western Nigeria. Evidence of inhabitation at the site has been discovered to date back to roughly 560 BC...

 in Osun State
Osun State
Ọṣun State is an inland state in south-western Nigeria. Its capital is Osogbo. It is bounded in the north by Kwara State, in the east partly by Ekiti State and partly by Ondo State, in the south by Ogun State and in the west by Oyo State. The state's current governor is Rauf Aregbesola, who was...

, Nigeria.
He was crowned on 6 December 1980 in a ceremony attended by the Emir of Kano, Oba of Benin
Oba of Benin
The Oba of Benin, or Omo N'Oba, is both the oba of the Edo people and the pretender to the defunct title of the king of the Benin Kingdom...

, Amayanabo of Opobo and Olu of Warri, as well as by representatives of the Queen of England.

Background

Sijuwade was born on 1 January 1930 in Ile-Ife to the Ogboru ruling house, grandson of the Ooni Sijuwade Adelekan Olubuse I.
He studied at Abeokuta Grammar School and Oduduwa College in Ile-Ife.
He worked for three years in his father's business, then for two years with the Nigerian Tribune
Nigerian Tribune
The Nigerian Tribune is an English language newspaper published in Ibadan in Nigeria.It was established in 1949 by Obafemi Awolowo and is the oldest surviving private Nigerian newspaper....

, before attending Northampton College
Northampton College
Northampton College, formerly known as Northampton College of Further Education, is a further education college in Northampton, Northamptonshire, England...

 in the United Kingdom to study business management.
By the age of 30 he was a manager in Leventis, a Greek-Nigerian conglomerate.
In 1963 he became Sales Director of the state-owned National Motor in Lagos.
After spotting a business opportunity during a 1964 visit to the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....

, he formed a company to distribute Soviet-built vehicles and equipment in Nigeria, which became the nucleus of a widespread business empire.
He also invested in real estate in his home town of Ile Ife.
By the time Sijuwade was crowned Ooni in 1980 he had become a wealthy man.

Sijuwade is a Christian. In November 2009 he attended the annual general meeting of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria accompanied by 17 other traditional rulers. He declared that he a was full member of the church, and said all the monarchs who accompanied him would now become members.
At his birthday celebration two months later, the Primate of the Anglican Communion described Sijuwade as "a humble monarch, who has the fear of God at heart".

Supremacy disputes

When Sijuwade became Ooni of Ife in December 1980 he inherited an ongoing dispute over supremacy between the oba
Oba (ruler)
Oba is a West African synonym for monarch, one that is usually applied to the Yoruba and Edo rulers of the region. It is also often used by their traditional subjects to refer to other kings and queens, such as Elizabeth I of England, in their native languages.-Edo account of the word's origin:The...

s of Yorubaland
Yorùbáland
Yorubaland, or Yorùbáland , is a cultural region in Nigeria, Benin, and Togo that includes the indigenous territory and cultural reach of the Yoruba people.- History :-Settlement:Oduduwa is regarded as the legendary progenitor of the Yoruba...

.
In 1967 a crisis had been resolved when Chief Obafemi Awolowo
Obafemi Awolowo
Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo was a Nigerian politician, trade unionist, author and statesman. A Yoruba and native of Ikenne in Ogun State of Nigeria, he started his career as a regional political leader like most of his pre-independence contemporaries and was responsible for much of the progressive...

 was chosen as the leader of the Yoruba.
In 1976 the Governor of Oyo State, General David Jemibewon
David Jemibewon
Major General David Medayese Jemibewon is a Nigerian military officer who was appointed governor of Western State from August 1975 until March 1976 during the military regime of General Murtala Muhammed....

, had decreed that the Ooni of Ife would be the permanent chairman of the State Council of Obas and Chiefs. Other Obas led by the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi said the position should rotate.
The dispute calmed down when Osun State
Osun State
Ọṣun State is an inland state in south-western Nigeria. Its capital is Osogbo. It is bounded in the north by Kwara State, in the east partly by Ekiti State and partly by Ondo State, in the south by Ogun State and in the west by Oyo State. The state's current governor is Rauf Aregbesola, who was...

 was carved out of Oyo State in August 1999, but ill will persisted.
In January 2009 Sijuwade was quoted as saying that Oba Adeyemi was ruling a dead empire (the Oyo Empire
Oyo Empire
The Oyo Empire was a Yoruba empire of what is today southwestern Nigeria. The empire was established before the 14th century and grew to become one of the largest West African states encountered by European explorers. It rose to preeminence through its possession of a powerful cavalry and wealth...

, which collapsed in 1793).
Adeyimi responded by citing "absurdities" in Sijuwade's statements and saying the Ooni "is not in tune with his own history".
Adeyemi, Permanent Chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Chiefs, was conspicuously absent from a meeting of Yoruba leaders in April 2010.

Towards the end of 2009 a more local dispute between the Ooni, the Awujale of Ijebuland and the Alake of Egbaland was finally resolved. Sijuwade traced the dispute back to a falling out between Obafemi Awolowo
Obafemi Awolowo
Jeremiah Obafemi Awolowo was a Nigerian politician, trade unionist, author and statesman. A Yoruba and native of Ikenne in Ogun State of Nigeria, he started his career as a regional political leader like most of his pre-independence contemporaries and was responsible for much of the progressive...

 and Ladoke Akintola during the Nigerian First Republic
Nigerian First Republic
The First Republic was the republican government of Nigeria between 1963 and 1966 governed by the first republican constitution.-Founding :...

, which had led to a division between the traditional rulers. He noted that the traditional rulers were an important unifying force in the country during the illness of President Umaru Yar'Adua.

In February 2009, Sijuwade helped mediate in a dispute over land ownership between the communities of Ife and Modakeke
Modakeke
Modakeke is a town in Osun State, South West Nigeria, with a population of close to three hundred thousand people.The Modakekes are also known as the "Akoraye" and have a history of valor at war and are prosperous farmers.- History :...

, resolved in part through the elevation of the Ogunsua of Modakeke as an Oba.
The new Oba, Francis Adedoyin, would be under the headship of Sijuwade.

Political activities

In July 2009 Sijuwade said he was concerned that Yoruba socio-cultural groups such as Afenifere
Afenifere
Afenifere was formed as a socio-cultural organization for the Yoruba people of Nigeria, with Abraham Adesanya as its leader and Chief Bola Ige as deputy leader. Other founding members were Pa Onasanya, Chief Reuben Fasoranti, Adegbonmire, Okurounmu Femi, Ganiyu Dawodu, Olanihun Ajayi, Olu Falae,...

 and the Yoruba Council of Elders were taking partisan positions in politics.
In January 2010 he attended a meeting of the Atayese pan-Yoruba group, which issued a call for a truly federal constitution in which the different nationalities in Nigeria would have greater independence in managing their affairs.
Celebrating his 80th birthday in January 2010, Sijuwade conferred Chieftainship titles on a number of politicians and their wives, including Imo State
Imo State
Imo State is one of the 36 states of Nigeria and lies to the south of Nigeria with Owerri as its capital and largest city.-History:Imo State came into existence in 1976 along with other new states created under the leadership of the late military ruler of Nigeria, Murtala Muhammad, having been...

 governor Ikedi Ohakim
Ikedi Ohakim
Ikedi Ohakim is a Nigerian businessman who became governor of Imo State in the Niger Delta region in May 2007, standing for the Progressive Peoples Alliance .He later switched to the People's Democratic Party .-Background:...

, Oyo State governor Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, Niger State
Niger State
Niger State is a state in the western part of Nigeria and the largest state in the country. The state capital is Minna, and other major cities are Bida, Kontagora, and Suleja. It was formed in 1976 when the then North-Western State was bifurcated into Niger State and Sokoto State.The state is named...

 governor Babangida Aliyu, Abia State
Abia State
Abia State is a state in southeastern Nigeria. The capital is Umuahia, although the major commercial city is Aba, formerly a British colonial government outpost. The state was created in 1991 from part of Imo State and its citizens are predominantly Igbo people...

 governor Theodore Orji
Theodore Orji
Theodore Ahamefule Orji was elected Governor of Abia State, Nigeria on May 29, 2007. Prior to his election, Orji, a career civil servant, served as the Chief of Staff to former Abia Governor, Orji Uzor Kalu.In 26 April 2011 he was reelected as Governor....

, Senators Jubril Aminu
Jubril Aminu
Jibril Muhammad Aminu is a professor of cardiology. He was Nigerian Ambassador to the USA and was elected Senator for Adamawa Central constituency of Adamawa State, Nigeria, taking office on 29 May 2003. He is a member of the People's Democratic Party .-Birth and academic career:Aminu was born in...

 and Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello
Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello
Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello was elected as a Nigerian Senator representing Ogun Central Senatorial District of Ogun State in April 2007....

 and others. Guests at the ceremony included former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, president of the Republic of Benin
Republic of Benin
The short-lived Republic of Benin, in Nigeria's coastal Bight of Benin, was named after its capital Benin City. It was known as Mid-Western state in Nigeria until August 1967 when it was occupied by Biafra as its forces advanced towards Lagos...

 Dr Thomas Boni Yayi and King Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, the Asantehene of Kumasi
Kumasi
Kumasi is a city in southern central Ghana's Ashanti region. It is located near Lake Bosomtwe, in the Rain Forest Region about northwest of Accra. Kumasi is approximately north of the Equator and north of the Gulf of Guinea...

, Ghana.
When Peter Obi
Peter Obi
Peter Obi was governor of Anambra State in Nigeria from 17 March 2006 to 2 November 2006, when he was impeached and from 9 February 2007 to 29 May 2007 after his impeachment was overturned...

, controversial governor of Anambra State
Anambra State
Anambra is a state in south-eastern Nigeria. Its name is an anglicized version of the original 'Oma Mbala', the native name of the Anambra River. The Capital and the Seat of Government is Awka. Onitsha and Nnewi are the biggest commercial and industrial cities, respectively. The state's theme is...

, was reelected on 7 February 2010, Sijuwade congratulated him, saying his victory was the will of God.

In August 2010 he mediated in the ownership dispute between Oyo and Osun states concerning Ladoke Akintola University, calling a meeting attended by Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, governor of Osun State
Osun State
Ọṣun State is an inland state in south-western Nigeria. Its capital is Osogbo. It is bounded in the north by Kwara State, in the east partly by Ekiti State and partly by Ondo State, in the south by Ogun State and in the west by Oyo State. The state's current governor is Rauf Aregbesola, who was...

, Otunba Adebayo Alao-Akala, governor of Oyo State
Oyo State
Ọyọ State is an inland state in south-western Nigeria, with its capital at Ibadan. It is bounded in the north by Kwara State, in the east by Osun State, in the south by Ogun State and in the west partly by Ogun State and partly by the Republic of Benin....

 and the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Education which resulted in an action plan.

Sijuwade and Governor Oyinlola were said to have the power to decide who became the next Osun State governor.
In February 2010 Sijuwade and 16 other traditional rulers endorsed Senator Iyiola Omisore
Iyiola Omisore
Iyiola Omisore, alias Otunba, is a Nigerian politician who served as deputy governor of Osun State from 1999–2003, and represented the People's Democratic Party as a member of the Nigerian Senate for Osun East from 2003–2009, when his election was annulled by an electoral appeal...

 as candidate for Osun State governor in the 2011 elections.
Later there were allegations that Senator Omisore had fallen out with Sijuwade due to his failure to maintain support for Omisore's bid to become governor. Omisore denied the allegations, saying that the relationship was cordial and that "Ooni is our king and we should preserve and respect him as well".
In June 2010 Sijuwade and other traditional rulers endorsed the candidature of Fatai Akinade Akinbade
Fatai Akinade Akinbade
Alhaji Fatai Akinade Akinbade is a Nigerian politician who became Secretary to the State Government in Osun State. He was a contender to become the People's Democratic Party candidate for governorship of Osun State in the April 2011 elections.-Birth and education:Fatai Akinade Akinbade was born...

for governor.
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