JUST IN: Ooni of Ife marries new wife Mariam Anako

Ooni and new wife Mariam Anako

Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi has taken a new wife following the collapse of his marriage to Evangelist Silekunola Naomi.

His new wife Mariam Anako, an oil and gas executive, was welcomed into the palace on Tuesday night.

She is seen in videos and pictures kneeling before the Ooni as he blesses her. The new Olori later took her place beside him.

It was gathered that the family introduction took place in the first quarter of the year where the Ooni’s in-laws met with him.

Qed.ng also learnt that renovation works were done in the chalet that once accommodated former queen Naomi and her family.

This is the fourth marriage for the 47-year-old monarch.

Oba Ogunwusi was previously married to Adebukola Bombata in 2008, before he ascended the throne in 2015.

He also had a short-lived teenage romance with Omolara Olatunbosun who bore a child, Adeola Anuoluwapo, for him in 1994.

His marriage to Zaynab Wuraola Otiti, a Bini princess, in March 2016 failed due to irreconcilable differences.

Ooni married Naomi in October 2018. But three years later, just before Christmas, she announced her separation from the Ooni.

According to her, she did not leave the monarch because of the other women in his life but because his public image was at variance with his real self.

Their union produced a son, Prince Tadenikawo, who celebrated his first birthday in November 2021 before Naomi left the palace.

She wrote in her Instagram post, “I did my best to endure and make it work; many times, I smiled through the struggle, but I have finally realised I had just one assignment, my son, and when God is done, He is done.”

Meanwhile, the new queen is from Ebira ethnic group in Kogi State.

She works at Nestoil Limited, an engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning company in the oil and gas sector.