Former Ooni of Ife’s Wife, Queen Naomi Silekunola, Opens Up on Bittersweet Experience in the Palace

Queen Naomi Silekunola, the former wife of Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, recently spoke about her time in the palace in a candid interview with The Punch.

 In the interview, Naomi who bore the king a son revealed that she had a bitter-sweet experience during her marriage to the revered monarch and that she entered the palace too innocent. She also disclosed that she had personal lessons that have shaped her and made her stronger.

Although hesitant to speak about her experiences in the palace, Queen Naomi who just turned 30 hinted at both sweet and bitter moments that she experienced during her time there. However, she stated that the details are meant to teach her personal lessons and that she may share them with the world when it is time.

 “I am hesitant about speaking on my experiences in the palace. But in my usual way of talking, it was a bittersweet experience. Details, I will not be sharing, but it was a bitter-sweet experience.

‘There were really sweet moments and there were really bitter moments. It is not yet time to talk about it because some things are meant to just teach you by yourself. I believe the messages are just for me at the moment, when God wants to enlarge and expand on it and make it a message for the whole world, then I will hear his words and talk about it.

“Lessons learned are personal and they have helped in shaping me. I am enjoying 30 so much; 30 makes me really strong. I am too innocent; I think I entered the palace too innocent and soft, but life is not like that, you have to be strong, bold and courageous.”

The Ooni of Ife has acquired six wives since his split from Queen Naomi in December 2021, making reconciliation nearly impossible.