First of all, remember that we told you that Eze Chima, who was the founder of many Anioma/Lucumi kingdoms in the Niger Delta was originally an Obatala prince of Ile Ife at the time when Ife’s Igbo Aborigines hadn’t been displaced by Oduduwa’s emergence.
We told you that Eze China was also titular Prince of Benin (the way Prince Charles of England is also titular Prince of Wales.
Today, we bring you the story of a more recent Igbo royal of Ile Ife whose ancestors left Ife and settled in Benin on the request of the Benin monarchy.
We are talking of the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi. Her name is Wuraola Otiti.
Wuraola Otiti’s ancestor was Ezhoe from Oluyare compound in Ife. Remember we told you the Igbo Aborigines of Ile Ife are also called Oluyare or Igare.
Now, in times past, Ezhoe’s presence in Benin was requested for by the Oba of Benin – King Oguola. The Ife throne honoured the request. Ezhoe was a skilled royal artisan.
At the completion of his assignment in Benin, Ezhoe returned to Ife. But he left his son Ighueghae, who naturally became the head of the family in Benin. It is from that family that the future queen Wuraola Otiti originated from.
