The marriage of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi to six women in quick succession recently set tongues wagging as many wondered why he decided to marry them almost at the same time, Daily Trust on Sunday reports.
Oba Ogunwusi’s harvest of queens raises concern, given the experiences of his past marriages. The 48-year-old monarch who ascended the throne in October 2015 had three publicly known crashed marriages.
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Before he was crowned Ooni, he had married Adebukola Bombata in 2008. Ooni had a daughter, Adeola Aanuoluwapo Ogunwusi, in 1994 from his former wife, Omolara Olatunbosun. The marriage crashed over unresolved issues. After becoming the Ooni, Oba Ogunwusi married Zaynab Otiti-Obanor from Edo State on March 16, 2016. In less than two years, the marriage crashed as the royal couple separated on August 30, 2017. Another wife, Naomi Oluwaseyi, was ushered into the palace in October 2018, 14 months after Zaynab’s exit from the palace. Ooni has a son, Tadenikawo, from Naomi before the marriage crashed in December 2021.
However, cheerful news rented the air on September 7 when Oba Ogunwusi married Olori Mariam Anako. She earned the exalted title of the Yeyelua of Ile-Ife – a title reserved for Ooni’s first wife. Within a short time, Ooni married five other women including Ashley Adegoke, Elizabeth Akinmudai, Tobi Philips, Aderonke and Temitope Adesegun.
Olori Mariam Anako
She hails from Ebira land in Kogi State. She was born in 1982 and raised under the care of a former Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Dikko, after she lost her father at a young age. Her mother is a retired police officer. She was an administrative manager at Nestoil Limited, Nigeria’s largest indigenous Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Commissioning (EPCC) Company in the oil and gas sector.
Olori Elizabeth Akinmuda
The Olori Elizabeth Akinmuda hails from Ondo town in Ondo State. She is a Scotland-based Electronic Data Processor and a successful business woman. There’s not much details about her as she is a private person.
Olori Ashley Adegoke
Olori Ashley Adegoke is a princess from Ile-Ife, who hails from the royal lineage of Lafogido ruling house, Adagba compound. She holds a master’s degree in Accounting and Finance from the University of Greenwich, United Kingdom. She is a member of Association for Accounting Technician, and Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in the UK. She is also the founder of Ashley Adegoke Foundation, a charity organisation established to help improve the lives of the underprivileged. She currently runs her businesses in the United Kingdom. She married Oba Ogunwusi as his fourth wife on October 14.
Olori Tobi Philips
Olori Tobiloba got married to Oba Ogunwusi on October 9. She is an ex-beauty queen who hails from Okitipupa in Ondo State. She was born on June 4, 1992. Philips also has won many pageants in the past including, World Miss University – Africa, World Miss University – Nigeria, Miss Personality – Sisi Oge and many more. She is a Marine Sciences graduate from the University of Lagos. She is a fashion designer at QT Luxury and has been a 3D artist since 2018.
Olori Aderonke
Olori Aderonke who was born in England is the great-granddaughter of the 48th Ooni of Ife, Ajagun Ademiluyi. She studied Law at the University of West London, UK. She is a fashion expert, entrepreneur, and the Chief Executive Officer of Africa Fashion Week which is held in London and Nigeria. Also, she is an author and cultural ambassador to the Ooni of Ife, who is now her husband. Their marriage took place on Thursday, October 20.
Olori Temitope Adesegun
Olori Temitope Morenikeji, the CEO of Hopes Alive Initiatives (HAI) is a princess from Adesegun Ibipe Royal Dynasty of Ago-Iwoye in Ijebu North Local Government Area of Ogun State. She got married to Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi on October 24. During the Babatunde Fashola administration as governor of Lagos State, she was the Personal Assistant to the late Secretary to the State Government, Princess Aderenle Adeniran-Ogunsanya. She also has experience with the media as she was the anchor and host of the Lagos State Ministry of Health Public Health Advocacy Program, ‘Health-Wise’ aired for four years. She bagged diplomas in Linguistics and Data Processing from the University of Lagos in 1998 and 2000, respectively, and a Bsc Degree in Business Administration from the same university. She is a certified alumnus of several universities, including the University of Oxford, United Kingdom; INSEAD Business School, Fontainebleau, France; University of Cambridge, Judge Business School, United Kingdom; and Harvard Kennedy School of Government in the United States.
The decision of the monarch to marry many wives was commended by most people who believe that he deserves many wives as a traditional ruler, while supporting him with prayers that the women would stay with him forever.
In a 16-second video that went viral, the king was seen in a joyous mood with his queens when he asked them if he was decent, reserved and good. They all chorused yes with laughter depicting a blissful atmosphere in the palace.
