Rites of Passage for Ooni Enter Final Stage

The rites of passage preceding the public pronouncement of the death and burial of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, may have reached its final stage, as the Isoros, a powerful  deity in Ife kingdom, are said to have procured the necessary materials for the burial as tradition demands.

Sources close to the Oodua palace disclosed that funds for the procurement of Ikaro had been made available to the Isoros to facilitate the rites.

Also deities in Ile-Ife, it was learnt, have to submit local materials to the palace as burial rites to enhance the smooth transition for a deceased monarch.

The palace was deserted yesterday save for the security men, palace guards on duty and traditional chiefs who came for meetings and consultations.

Normal commercial activities were  also observed yesterday in the ancient city of Ile-Ife.

It was  gathered that a convoy in which a limousine belonging to Oba Sijuwade was sited on Ife-Ibadan Expressway before noon yesterday was moving towards Lagos to attend the 80th birthday celebrations of the Aro/Asiwaju of the Source, Chief Alex Duduyemi.

Since the death of the Ooni was reported by the press, the Royal Traditional Council (RTC) of Ife has maintained that the Oba is alive and in good health.

The RTC, which comprises of all traditional chiefs and title holders in Ile-Ife said Oba Sijuwade was not only in sound state of health but added that the royal father was preparing for son’s wedding penultimate weekend.

However, the wedding came and went with the Ooni conspicuously absent at the event.