Adetokunbo Sijuwade, the son of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, on Wednesday officially announced the death of the monarch, saying he would be buried on Friday.
Addressing journalists at the Government Office in Osogbo, the younger Sijuwade said the body of the late monarch would be flown in from London on Thursday and buried on Friday at 10 a.m.
Also speaking, Governor Rauf Aregbesola said the “late Ooni represented the Yoruba nation and has done a lot in uplifting the traditional institution in the state”.
Mr. Aregbesola, who read the last text message he received from the Ooni at the briefing, said the late monarch informed him of his frail health, adding that he was travelling to London for treatment.
He described the death of the Ooni as a great loss to the state and the Yoruba race, stressing, however, that a king could not die in Yorubaland.
Oba Solomon Omisakin, the Obalufe of Iromo and Vice Chairman of the Ife Traditional Council as well as High Chief Joseph Ijaodola, the Lowa of Ile-Ife, both corroborated what Mr. Sijuwade said.
They expressed gratitude to the people of Osun and prayed that God would provide another king who would excel as the late Ooni did.
The press briefing was also attended by the Ooni’s daughter, Aderounmu Fadeyi, and members of Ife Traditional Council.
(NAN)
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