The Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, has spoken candidly about the public scrutiny he faced before marrying his wives, revealing how people constantly pressured and questioned him about remaining single.
Speaking during the launch of Ojaja University in Osun State — an event held as part of his 10th coronation anniversary celebrations — the monarch recalled how individuals would tease him, urging him to “go and find a queen.”
“Some of them used to make fun of me, saying, ‘Kabiyesi, why are you single? What is your problem? Go and look for a queen now,’” he said.
Oba Ogunwusi explained that even after he married his first queen, criticism continued over the attention he gave her. He revealed that the queen later left, but by divine grace, he went on to marry seven more wives.
“Eventually, I got another queen by force by fire. Then they said, ‘You are always going around with this queen.’ The queen left me. To the glory of God, God blessed me with seven more. Did I not try?” he joked.
Three of his current wives — Olori Folasade, Olori Ronde, and Olori Temitope — were present at the ceremony and reacted with laughter and applause as he spoke.
The monarch also touched on his 2018 marriage to Queen Silekunola Naomi, a union that attracted public interest due to its blend of traditional royalty and Christian spirituality. Their marriage ended in 2021 when Naomi announced the separation publicly, adding to the scrutiny surrounding the royal household.
The Ooni’s remarks highlight his journey from enduring public criticism to building a large royal family, as he marks a decade on the throne.
