Ooni is alive, Oodua Chief Priest insists

The Chief Priest of the ancient town of Ile-Ife, Chief Olajide Farotimi Faloba has described as untrue the news of the demise of Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade.

He also described a report (not in Vanguard) that the remains of the foremost royal father had been secretly brought home as untrue insisting that the monarch was still alive.

Speaking with Vanguard yesterday at the Ile Oduduwa, an ancient grove believed to have housed the first Ooni of Ile-Ife, Chief Faloba debunked the reported arrival of the monarch’s corpse, saying Ooni was hale and hearty in the United Kingdom.

 The Chief priest, who spoke in Yoruba language said: “I just came from the Ooni’s palace and there was nothing that showed that he (Ooni) is dead. If truly such happened, there would be restriction to the palace, the palace gate will be shut, market will be closed and all trees in the town would be cut down; these are part of signs that Ooni has joined his ancestors.

“In fact, Ooni’s son, Adegbite is having his weeding in Lagos as we speak. Thus it did not show any sign of mourning. If the rumour is true, we (himself and other chiefs at the grove) should be the ones to announce it. We are the owner of our culture, we are the owner of Oba Sijuwade.

”Obaship in Ife kingdom is sacred and should be handled as such,”, he added.

The Yoruba paramount ruler reportedly gave up the ghost in a London Hospital in the United Kingdom after a brief illness last Tuesday, but Ife chiefs have persistently debunked the report.

When Vanguard visited the palace yesterday to confirm whether the remains of the monarch had actually arrived, the palace was desolate as only the gate keeper was sighted.

People were also seen moving freely in and out of the palace with little restriction.

When journalists were allowed into the palace, there was nobody to speak with.

When asked why the palace was desolate, Chief priest contended that it was because of Ooni’s absence and the fact that it was  a weekend.

Activities remain normal

Business and social activities in Ile-Ife continued as usual yesterday as people were seen carrying out one activity or the other without any hindrance.

When Vanguard visited the town yesterday, places like Lagere, OAU campus, Mokuro, Ilare and others witnessed beehives of activities.

Some of the residents who spoke with Vanguard feigned ignorance of the king’s demise.

Shops at various locations including drinking joints and eateries within the city remained open to customers.

Commercial drivers and motorcyclists popularly known as okada riders were busy plying their routes in and out of the city.

Successor: Traditional Council must follow 1979 declaration – Youths  

A group, The Cradle Youths, has urged indigenes of Ile-Ife not to be  anxious over the circumstances surrounding the health of Ooni of Ife, Oba Sijuwade Okunade II, saying that Traditional Council knows the right thing to do.

The co-ordinator of the group, Mr. Kunle Elusayo, in a statement yesterday commended the Traditional Council, ladding that there are traditions to be followed when issues like this occur.

He explained that “only information circulated by the traditional council should be followed, arguing that they have a customary law regulating the selection of who becomes the next Ooni, if the need arises”.