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Wednesday 29 July 2015

Ife Chiefs Debunk Ooni's Death Says “Media Reports of Ooni’s Death Against Ife Tradition”

Ile Odua, Palace of the Ooni of Ife.
Controversies has trailed the death of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse II as the Royal traditional Council 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 sound state of health but added that the royal father was preparing for son’s wedding holding next week Sunday in Lagos.


Also speaking, secretary Royal Traditional Council of Ife, the Ladin of Ife, High Chief Adetoye Odewole, said Ooni is hale and hearty and even spoke to the chiefs on phone few hours earlier.

He added “those behind the death story are enemies of Ife and as I speak with you, chiefs have not heard anything like that. This is not the first time such rumour will be carried about our father.

Commenting similar vein, chairman, Ife Development Board, Prof. Muib Opeloye, said Ife as a town with rich tradition has its way of managing its affairs.

Opeloye maintained 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 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 at entrance of the palace but were prevented from going inside by guards.

In another development Some persons within the palace who spoke to reporters, said the media report was a breach of the traditions of Ife.
They held that only an official statement by a designated High Chief within the palace could confirm the death of the Ooni.
As result of the apparent embarrassment, the Chiefs have denied the death of the traditional ruler in a London hospital on Tuesday.
High Chief Joseph Ijaodola, the Lowa Adimula of Ife and High Chief Adetoye Odewole, the Secretary of the Royal Traditional Council, jointly addressed journalists at the palace and insisted that the Ooni of Ife was alive.
Odewole said, “Ooni is hale and hearty, he spoke via the telephone to all the chiefs few hours before we came here.”
He said the death of the Ooni was the handiwork of rumour mongers and enemies of ife land.
“As I speak with you, high chiefs have not heard anything of such nature. This is not the first time such rumour will be carried about our father. The same thing happened in 1982 and 2004,” Odewole said.
“Hence, the High Chiefs want the whole world to discountenance the news as a mere rumour which is not the first time.”
The president of Ife Development Board, Muheeb Opeloyeru, later told a few journalists that Ife as an ancient town with its rich tradition, had its unique manner of managing its own affairs.
He said, “His Imperial Majesty is preparing for his son’s wedding and people should not panic.”
The same news was also conveyed to the crowd of visitors and sympathizers at the palace, urging to them to discard the news as a piece of rumour and go about their normal businesses.
But the people would not leave, instead they continued to pour in and massed at the gate, waiting for any piece of useful information.
Some of them said they were not sure if the Ooni was dead, but would gladly submit to the will of God if it had happened.

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