Ataoja |
A Chief Priest in Osun state, Ifayemi Elebuibon has disclosed that the Ataoja of Osogbo, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji was among the princes chosen by the Ifa oracle before he was installed as a monarch.s
Elebuibon was reacting to a news trending on social media in the state that the Oracle (Ifa) did not choose Oba Olatunji to become the Ataoja in 2010 when he was installed.
However, Elebuibon, who is head of the traditional priest in the state capital, during a press conference at the Ataoja’s palace on Monday, said the monarch was among the princes the oracle selected to ascend the throne.
His words, “I remember in 2010, the kingmakers sent emissaries to the priests with names of nominated princes from the ruling house. We consulted Ifa oracle and some names were selected and forwarded back to the kingmakers, one of those names is Oba Jimoh Oyetunji.
“After he was eventually elected, we did the propitiation recommended by Ifa for the prosperity of the town and its inhabitants. So, I am affirming here that Oba Oyetunji was properly nominated and chosen by Ifa oracle before he was installed as Ataoja of Osogbo in September 2010”.
Similarly, the head of the kingmakers, the Ajagunna of Osogbo, Chief Gabriel Oparanti disclosed that out of the 13 princes from the four royal families of the ruling house, six were presented to the priests for Ifa consultation.
“We pruned the 13-man list down to six and forwarded the six names to the high priests who after consultation with the oracle chose Oba Jimoh Oyetunji and we sent a letter to the state government for approval and his eventual installation 13 years ago”, he added.