Ife Traditional Council Visits Aregbesola, Keeps Mum on Ooni

The official silence on the death of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, continued thursday, when the Ile-Ife Traditional Council visited Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola for a closed-door meeting on the traditional monarch.

Osun government sources informed THISDAY that the council led by the Lowa of Ife, Oba Joseph Ijaodola, told the governor that the tradition of Ife on the announcement of the death of an Ooni should be paramount in the minds of the people, hence the need to wait for the traditional council who he described as the authority to release the necessary information on the true state of affair on Oba Sijuwade.

The state government has been silent on the Ooni since Tuesday when news broke on his “condition”, but the visit by the traditional council suggested that the monarch had indeed joined his ancestors.

Although further details on the closed-door meeting with the governor were not divulged, the sources cautioned that a matter of such magnitude needed to be handled with sensitivity in order not to break from the tradition and custom of the ancient city of Ile-Ife.
At the Ooni’s palace, the place remained under lock and key. Unlike Wednesday when crowds thronged to the palace to ascertain if the Ooni was dead, Ile Oodua was quiet thursday.

Apprehension over the news of the passing away of the Ooni, nonetheless, threw Ife into a frenzy, as residents stockpiled food items in anticipation of the government’s official declaration of a mourning period and work-free days in the state, reported online news medium Premium Times.

Traditionally, once the death of the Ooni is announced, the three major markets, namely: Oja Tutun, Oja Ife and the Goat Market, would be closed for at least seven days.

Besides the markets, shops within the vicinity of the palace and all the areas within Enuwa, which is the area bordering the palace, will be closed for business.

A trader at Enuwa, who identified himself as Fayemi, said his father was a traditional chief in Ife before his death and taught him all the traditional rites involved during the period of the passing away of any Ooni.

He said although markets would be closed and businesses would suffer, the importance of the Ooni of Ife removes any pain that might be suffered during the period of the traditional rites.

“We do not mourn our traditional ruler, we celebrate his passing away. That is why we say eku ayo, when we greet those affected,” Fayemi said.

“It will not be too much of a sacrifice to make if we have to close our businesses for a week or so for the Isoros to carry out their traditional rites,” he added.

Fayemi also said the residents were prepared, though the news of his death remained a rumour. He explained that it was because of such effects that brought about the shortening of the period for installing another Ooni.

“In ancient times, when the Ooni of Ife passes away, other Obas in Yorubaland vacate their traditional stools for the period a new leader was found and elected.

“That is why the period for installing a new Ooni is short compared to other traditional stools in the land,” he said.

Solomon Adebayo, who sells building materials right in front of the palace, said people have been buying food from the markets since information came that the markets may be closed for about seven days.

“Within the seven days, people will not move around and our businesses will be affected,” he said.

While the chiefs’ denial of the passing away of the Ooni was still maintained yesterday, the people did not want to be caught unawares and were preparing for a possible long draught.