Ooni Of Ife Confirmed Dead,To Be Buried On Friday

Ooni of Ife

Rumours surrounding the death of Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Ooni of Ife, was yesterday finally cleared out when the Ife Traditional Council announced the demise of the paramount ruler.

The Obalufe, Oba Solomon Omisakin, led the traditional council to Government House Osogbo to meet with Governor Rauf Aregbesola, telling him that monarch has passed on.

He stated that the delay in the announcing the death of Oba Okunade Sijuwade was due to strict adherence to Yoruba tradition of announcing the death of a monarch.

Oba Omisakin was quoted to have said :

“We, the Ife Traditional Council have come here to brief you, the governor and the government of Osun about the passing-on of our royal majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Ooni of Ife.

“The breaking of the news of the demise of the king must follow traditional ways and rites that is why it is coming at this time.

“The news of the transition to glory of any Yoruba monarch is not pedestrian news that one can just announce at a market place or a social gathering.

“The announcement of the death of a great man like our royal monarch is great news that must be announced in a grand style.

“On behalf of the entire Sijuade family, the Ife Traditional Council and the entire Ife indigenes, we hereby announce the passing on to glory of His Imperial Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse the II.”

Governor, Rauf Aregbesola recounted the last message he received from the late monarch on the 23rd of July when he notified him of his proposed medical trip abroad.

Gov. Rauf described Oba Sijuade as a person, who during his lifetime did everything humanly possible to uplift the Yoruba tradition the world over.

In the course of Gov. Aregbesola’s response, he read word for word the message the Late Oba Okunade Sijuwade sent to him when he was leaving for medical trip abroad; “I am still not feeling good, so I am travelling abroad for further medical treatment this week.

“I place you and your government in the hand of God and under His continuous guidance.

Stating that it was the last conversation he had with the late monarch; we dearly miss his charisma, demonstration of loyalty and his position as a rallying point for all Yoruba people and a bridge builder across all ethnic groups in Nigeria.

“Indeed, he was a great man and he left an indelible mark on the sand of history, not only in Yoruba land, Nigeria but across the world,” He said.

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