Yoruba kings should consult Ifa before taking wives — Elebuibon

Ifayemi Elebuibon Yemi Elebuibon

Araba of Osogbo Ifayemi Elebuibon on Friday advised that kings in Yorubaland should reach out to the Ifa oracle before taking wives.

The 74-year-old Ifa priest stated this in an interview with journalists in the wake of the announcement of divorce by the wife of the Ooni of Ife Olori Silekunola Ogunwusi.

According to Elebuibon, divine directive is key to success in marriage.

He said, “Today’s Yoruba monarchs should follow tradition while choosing partners. But anything that has to do with marriage, whether for a monarch or an ordinary person, no one can be perfect or wise enough to completely avoid mistakes.

“It is only God that can make one choose rightly. Yoruba monarchs must consult the oracle before choosing wives. They should not allow modernity to dictate who to marry to them. Saying God has directed me to choose you, may not be enough.”

Elebuibon said the son Tadenikawo produced in the union between the Ooni Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi and Olori Silekunola can be raised anywhere with the approval of the father.

Elebuibon told Yoruba newspaper Alaroye on Thursday that the Olori can marry another man after certain rituals have been done.

“It is her choice to remarry or remain single. But nobody can just marry an ex-wife of the king.

“The king’s hands must first be removed from her before she can marry someone else. There are baths she must bathe and rituals she must perform, else there is danger,” he said.