Controversy has trailed the death of the Ooni of Ife, Oba
Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse II as the Royal Traditional Council,RTC, of the town,
Wednesday, said the paramount ruler is
alive and in good state of health.
The RTC, which comprises of all traditional chiefs and title
holders in Ile-Ife, said Oba Sijuade is not only in a good state of health but
added that the royal father was preparing for his son’s wedding holding Sunday,
next week, in Lagos.
Addressing newsmen in the House of Chiefs located within the
premises of Ile-Oodua palace of the Ooni, Lowa of Ife, Oba Joseph Ijaodola who
spoke in Yoruba, said the report in the media that the monarch died in a London
Hospital of an undisclosed ailment,was untrue.
Also speaking, the secretary Royal Traditional Council of
Ife, who is also the Ladin of Ife, High
Chief Adetoye Odewole, said the Ooni is hale and hearty and he even spoke to
the chiefs on the phone few hours earlier.
He added “those behind the death story are enemies of Ife
and as I speak with you, the chiefs have not heard anything like that. This is
not the first time such rumour will be carried about our father.
“They did it in 1984, also in 2004 and now, these people are
coming up with another rumour. Oba Sijuade remains in sound state of health”.
Chairman, Ife Development Board, Prof. Muib Opeloye, said
Ife as a town with a rich tradition has its way of managing its affairs.
Opeloye maintained that the royal father was preparing for
his son’s wedding, urging people not to panic and go about their normal daily
activities.
Meanwhile, the entrance of the Ooni’s palace was shut to
visitors, as only newsmen, chiefs and relations of Oba Sijuade were allowed
into the premises.
Many indigenes and residents of Ife had converged on the
palace but were prevented from going in by the guards.
Meanwhile, the Osun state government is yet to make official
statement concerning the demise of the monarch.
But the Osun State House of Assembly has expressed its
sympathy to Governor Rauf Aregbesola, state council of Traditional rulers and
chiefs, the good people of ancient city of Ile Ife and the immediate and
extended families of the late Oba Okunade Sijwade Olubuse, the Ooni of Ife as
the great King joined his ancestors.
In a statement issued by the Speaker’s spokesman, Mr. Goke
Butika, the parliament “in a condolence message by the Speaker, Mr Najeem
Salaam “expressed his regret and shock over the transition of the natural ruler
to the silent land of his forebear, saying the engine room of royalty and the
custody of Yoruba cosmology has just been temporarily grounded by the clog of
death”.
“We celebrate the life and time of the great king, Oba
Sijuwade, attesting that the monarch exuded unique royalty almost equivalent of
imperial culture that could not be rivaled while he called the shot on the
revered stool of his fathers”.
“The parliament then sent its condolence to the governor
over the loss of the monarch and prayed that the Supreme Eludumare, the
Cherisher of Aiye would rest the late natural father”,the statement added. (VANGUARD)
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