The Adesogba family, an arm of the Giesi ruling house of Ile Ife, has backed the candidacy of a renowned educationist and businessman, Dr. Ramon Adegoke Adedoyin, for the Ooni throne.
The family, in a statement issued in Ile-Ife yesterday, declared Adedoyin, proprietor of Oduduwa University Ipetumodu, The Polytechnic Ife, Hilton Hotels and other business concerns, as its sole candidate for the exalted stool. It became vacant following the demise of the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II on July 28, this year.
The statement, jointly signed by eight princes and two princesses on behalf of the family, said Adedoyin, who hails from the Agbedegbede lineage of the dynasty was eminently qualified to succeed Oba Sijuwade by virtue of his pedigree, stature, investments, philanthropic activities and immense contributions to the human, physical and industrial development of the town.
They listed the aspirant’s investments as including First Access Microfinance Bank Ltd; Hilton Hotels; Odududwa University and The Polytechnic, Ife – all located within the four local governments areas of Ifeland – as well as Oduduwa Polytechnic, Idimu, Lagos State and Our Saviour’s University, Delaware, USA.
Adedoyin, they said, was “a bonafide son of the Agbedegbede compound, where he has been involved in all developmental projects” and possessed the knowledge and skills as an astute and effective manager of men and resources needed to make a success of the office of the Ooni.
The signatories to the statement are: Princess Kehinde Sijuwade Elugbaju (Nee Adewole); Princess Adekanmi Adelugba; Princeess Olufunmilayo Busayo; Princess Adedokun Adedoyin; Prince Gabriel Adedire Adewole.
Others include: Prince Adebolu Adewole; Prince Adekola Adewole; Prince Adekunmi Adewole and Prince Tilewa Bimbo Adewole.