Modernity characterised by the social media and citizen journalism
clashed with Nigerian tradition, when the Royal Traditional Council of
Ile-Ife categorically denied news reports of the death of the Ooni of
Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II, adding that the paramount Yoruba
traditional ruler was “alive and well”, and preparing for his son’s
wedding this weekend.
Despite the denial, disbelieving residents of Ife and its environs
thronged the Oba’s palace, which was shut to the public, to sympathise
with the traditional council and his family, even as his first son,
Prince Adetokunbo (Tokunbo) Sijuwade, arrived London onboard a British
Airways flight yesterday morning.
Tokunbo had departed Lagos Tuesday night the minute he got word of his father’s “condition”.
He joined other members of the family comprising Olori Mori Sijawade,
the Ooni’s most senior wife; Olori Odun Sijuwade; Olori Ladun Sijuwade;
Erelu Abiola Dosunmu, who had a daughter – Oyinade Ademide – for the
Ooni; and his nephew Prince Rasak Adewole.
Other children from across the world and Nigeria, as well as close family members had also all converged in London wednesday.
Upon his arrival, Tokunbo, THISDAY gathered, took full charge of the
situation in London, and all members of the family were said to have
deferred to him as the their new head.
However, addressing journalists in the House of Chiefs located within
the premises of Ile-Oodua Palace of the Ooni, the Lowa of Ife, Oba
Joseph Ijaodola, said the reports in the media that the monarch had died
in a London hospital from an undisclosed ailment was untrue.
Also speaking, the Secretary, Royal Traditional Council of Ife, the
Ladin of Ife, High Chief Adetoye Odewole, said the Ooni was “hale and
hearty” and even spoke to the chiefs on the phone a few hours earlier.
He said that those behind the death story were enemies of Ife,
adding: “As I speak with you, chiefs have not heard anything like that.
This is not the first time such a 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 a sound state of health.”
Commenting in a similar vein, Chairman of Ife Development Board, Prof.
Muib Opeloye, said Ife as a town with rich tradition has its way of
managing its affairs.
Opeloye maintained that the Ooni was preparing for his son’s wedding and urged the public not to panic.
Despite their assurances to the public, the entrance of the Ooni’s
palace was firmly shut to visitors and 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 entering by the palace guards.
The Osun State Government on its part, kept mum on the death of the
Ooni, as the state governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, did not issue a
statement nor did he pay a visit to the ancient town of Ife to confirm
the truth of the traditional monarch’s death.
Also, at the family house of the Ooni, the Ogbooru Olubuse compound,
there was no sign that the monarch had died as people were seen going
about their normal duties.
The denial by the traditional council and refusal to confirm his
death by the state government, notwithstanding, a renowned Christian
cleric, Mr. Toluwase Akeredolu, said if indeed the Ooni was dead, it
meant he died as a born again Christian, having confessed his sins
recently.
Akeredolu said he was privileged to have ministered to the monarch a
few weeks ago, adding that the Ooni, a staunch Christian, confessed all
his sins to God after the ministration.
The Christ Apostolic Church (CAC) pastor, who hails from Ido-Ani in
Ondo State, said he lived as a youth in Ile-Ife and got to know Oba
Sijuwade during a revival programme he organised in the ancient town.
He recalled that the monarch, at one of the last crusades he attended
publicly, announced his acceptance of Jesus Christ as his Lord and
saviour.
According to him, “Oba Sijuwade told the congregation at the last
crusade we organised in Ile-Ife that he had forsaken sin and accepted
Christ as his Lord and personal saviour. He confessed publicly that he
will live the rest of his life to serve the Almighty God.”
Oba Sijuwade who was said to have died in a London hospital on Tuesday
evening, had in 2010 dropped the title of “Alayeluya”, meaning
omnipresent, saying he took the decision out of reverence and fear of
God.
Meanwhile, more facts have emerged on how the Ooni, who fell ill last Thursday, was whisked away to the United Kingdom.
According to close family sources, the Ooni had suddenly collapsed in
Ife and was rushed to the Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital,
where a team of doctors led by Dr. Tony Akintomide attended to him.
A quick decision, said the sources, was taken to fly him to the UK the next day from Ibadan airport.
Accordingly, a private jet, which was given special immigration
clearance to depart for the UK from Ibadan, which is not an
international airport, was leased to fly him, a few family members and
Dr. Akintomide to London.
However, a source said there was insufficient aviation fuel in
Ibadan, which compelled the pilot to make a detour to Abuja, where the
airplane refuelled and departed for London.
On arriving the London Luton Airport, he was taken by ambulance to
The London Clinic, one of the UK’s largest private hospitals with
premises across Harley Street and Devonshire Place in the centre of
London.
The family source said Akintomide, alongside specialists at the
hospital who had the Ooni’s medical history, succeeded in stabilising
him at the weekend.
Up till Tuesday morning, the Ooni was said to be in high spirits and
was talking with family members who had come to visit him, but suddenly
his situation took a turn for the worse and despite spirited efforts to
revive him, he was said to have joined his ancestors by the evening of
that day.
His body, the source confirmed, was moved to a morgue in London.
Given the situation, the family source disclosed that two major problems
have arisen, the first being the marriage of his son, Prince Adegbite
Sijuwade.
“Ife tradition forbids any form of celebration when an Ooni ascends
to his ancestors, so we are waiting for Tokunbo’s directive on the
matter.
“However, there are others who believe that the wedding could go
ahead since it is not scheduled to take place in Ife and Ooni had lived
to a ripe old age of 85, which calls for celebration. So there is no
basis for unnecessary prevarication,” the source said.
The second issue has to do with one of the Ooni’s closest friends and an
Ife high chief, Chief Alex Duduyemi, who is the Asiwaju of Ile-Ife.
Duduyemi, he divulged, was meant to start his 80th birthday
celebrations with a book launch at the Lagos Metropolitan Club in
Victoria Island today.
“And the grand finale of the celebrations was billed for the ancient
city of Ile-Ife on August 9. Now it is uncertain if this will be
cancelled or shifted to another location,” he said.
Culled from THISDAY
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