The ancient city of Ile-Ife was yesterday shaken to its foundation following the reported death of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade II.
This is coming at a time the Oodua Palace authorities in lle-Ife have denied that the Ooni was dead. According to the palace, the monarch is alive in the United Kingdom.
Yesterday, the palace of the Ooni was beseiged by thousands of people, who had come to confirm the news of the monarch’s death and identify with the family and the palace.
While the people gathered, the authorities addressed journalists, debunking the report, insisting that the Ooni, who ascended the throne in 1980 at the age of 50, is hale and hearty in the United Kingdom.
The Lowa of Ife, High Chief Joseph Ijaodola, who addressed pressmen at the palace yesterday, also claimed that Oba Sijuwade is alive.
The secretary of Ife Royal Court, High Chief Adetoye Odewole, as well as the president of Ife Development Board, Professor Muheeb Opeloye, while addressing journalists at the palace, also denied the report.
They maintained that the story of the Ooni’s death was a mere speculation, describing it as a figment of imagination of people peddling the rumour.
When probed further to confirm if they had spoken with Oba Sijuade, they declined further comments and maintained that the Ooni was still alive.
When our correspondent visited the palace yesterday, it was filled with people, who worse mournful faces. They sat in groups discussing in low voices.
The entrance to the palace gate was also filled with commercial motorcycle operators and armed policemen.
Unidentified personalities, including traditional rulers, were also seen driving in and out of the palace.
Efforts made by Daily Sun to get confirmation from St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington in the United Kingdom proved abortive.
Daily Sun sent a mail to Martin Greg, the hospital’s Head of Media & Public Relations, inquiring on the Ooni’s condition, but he declined to comment, referring the newspaper to the Foreign and Commonwealth office instead.
Daily Sun’s enquiry reads: “Please, I am a Nigerian journalist. We have information that a prominent traditional ruler in Nigeria, Oba Okunade Sijuade, the Ooni of Ife, was admitted in your hospital and died last night. I am writing to confirm if this is true.”
Greg replied thus: “I’m afraid I cannot help with this enquiry. I suggest you will be best served by approaching the Foreign and Commonwealth office.”
Meanwhile, there was confusion in Ile-Ife, especially in the light of delay in the official announcement of the Ooni’s demise by the Osun State government, which claimed that it was yet to be formally informed by the traditional council and palace in Ife. Consequently, while business and social activities were in full swing in various parts of the town, including Mayfair, Lagere, Apakin, Modakeke and Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), mourning mood prevaded the Ooni’s palace at Enuwa and the environs.
Yesterday, the palace gates were firmly shut, with the security men turning back inquisitive journalists and visitors. A crowd of commercial motorcyclists was seen at the frontage of the palace, which initially, witnessed a light traffic of traditional chiefs, who came for a meeting before the surge later in the day.
The situation, sources explained, indicated a clash between tradition and modernity, as represented by the custom of delaying the announcement of royal deaths until certain rites had been performed and certain arrangements put in place for the royal family in African culture, as against the speedy breaking of the news through independent modern communication technologies, especially the social and mass media as happened in this case.
The Lowa Adimula, the third in rank to the Ooni, High Chief Oba Joseph Ijadola, told Daily Sun that the reported death of the monarch was “a mere rumour” being spread by enemies of Ife. “This is the third time of its kind. They did it in1982 shortly after Kabiyesi ascended the throne. They did it again in 2004, I believe. In fact, that of 1982 was much more serious than this,” he said.
Reminded that the media was already awash with the news, Chief Ijadola said as far as the traditional cabinet was concerned, it was unaware of the Ooni’s alleged death, stressing: “If that kind of a thing really happened, we are supposed to be the first to be informe; and we are the only one with authority to announce it.”
He stated that the cabinet members were in touch with Oba Sijuade.
Asked when last they spoke with the monarch, he said: “We called him on phone to greet him yesterday, and this morning we have spoken with those who are with him.”
Apparently uncomfortable with the line of interrogation of the chief, one of Ijadola’s colleagues , Chief Adetoye Odewole, the Laadi Adimula of Ife, interrupted the interview, saying: “Don’t trouble baba, we had briefed the press people who were here and dispelled the speculation. There is nothing more to it. We stand by tradition.”
Another Ife chief, ex-diplomat and former chieftain of Social Democratic Party (SDP), Ambassador Olagunju Adesakin, who spoke with Daily Sun on phone said: “As far as we are concerned in Ile-Ife, the Ooni is still living. You won’t find anyone to confirm what you want unless the truth has been verified and passed through the appropriate channel. If such a thing indeed, happened, his traditional council and the palace were supposed to be the first to be informed and certain things need to be put in place before such information can go out.”.
Across Yorubaland, the news of the monarch’s death was greeted with cautious responses. The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III, considered to be the Ooni’s archrival, said he would not react until official announcement by the Osun State government.
Oba Adeyemi, who spoke through his Special Assistant, Prince Fehintola, said it would be irresponsible and rash to comment on media reports.
The same uncertainty pervaded the lower rank of the Yoruba society. Many Ile-Ife residents when approached, said although they had heard of the alleged death of the monarch in the media, they were not sure of what to believe, because a metropolitan radio station, Crown F.M, had debunked the report.
An Okada rider, Mr. Tunde Adeforiti, told Daily Sun: “As it is, we are not sure what the situation really is because it has not been confirmed.”
Otunba Iyiola Omisore (SAN) Chief Nathaniel Oke; National Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and other prominent indigenes of the town were unavailable for comments when Daily Sun visited their homes and called them on phone.
