Intense lobbying to whom succeeds the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade has taken a new dimension with one of the contestants, Prince Ogunwusi Adeyeye oiling his campaign machinery with a car gift he presented to former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo to aid his interests.

Those in the know claimed that the car gift, a 2015 Toyota Landcruiser was delivered to the politician’s Ota home as a ‘token’ of what to come if he supports the bid of the rich prince who has been dubbed ‘Ooni-in-waiting’ by the people who have benefited immensely from his ambition and the price that comes with it.

Sources revealed to Papermacheonline that one of the Prince’s handlers mooted the idea of Obasanjo’s influence and how he could help in winning some of the kingmakers thus explaining how the idea of a car gift to the elder statesman was conceived.

Some days after the secret presentation of the car Chief Obasanjo visited Ile-Ife where he tasked the kingmakers of the town to strictly follow the laid down procedures for the appointment and selection of the new Ooni.

A source who witnessed Obasanjo’s visit stated that the former President didn’t campaign for any candidate but that he had meetings with some of the kingmakers with the belief that he indeed passed across the message of his choice candidate.

Prince Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Managing Director of Grand Imperio Group was reported to have also bribed some kingmakers with car gifts with promises of supports here and there.

Adeyeye is claimed to be the favorite of many but he has a big contender in Prince Adedamola Aderemi, another strong contender and a grandchild of late Ooni Adesoji Aderemi.

Prince Adedamola was said to have also sought the support of the Awolowo family with a recent visit he paid to Ikenne and the knowledge of how the family was instrumental to the installation of the last Ooni, Okunade Sijuwade.