As the world awaits the official announcement of the death of Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, there are reports that the rites of passage preceding the public pronouncement of the death and burial of the monarch may have reached its final stage.
Isoros, a powerful deity in Ife kingdom, are said to have procured the necessary materials for the burial of the Ooni as tradition demands, This Day reports.
It was gathered from sources close to the Oodua palace that Isoros have been provided with funds for the procurement of Ikaro to facilitate the final rites.
It was also learnt that deities in Ile-Ife, have to submit local materials to the palace as burial rites to enhance the smooth transition for a monarch that passes on.
On Sunday, August 9, the palace was said to be deserted except for the security men, palace guards on duty and traditional chiefs who came for meetings and consultations.
Report has it that a limousine belonging to Oba Sijuwade was sited among a convoy on Ife-Ibadan Expressway before noon yesterday. The convoy was moving towards Lagos to attend the 80th birthday celebrations of the Aro/Asiwaju of the Source, Chief Alex Duduyemi.
The palace is yet to officially announce the monarch’s passing away. The Royal Traditional Council (RTC) of Ife has maintained that the Oba is alive and in good health, ever since reports about his death surfaced.
Explaining the controversy that greeted the death of Ooni of Ife, the Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom, Oba Fredrick EnitiOlorunda Obateru Akinruntan, Okoro Ajiga 1, said, no other person or organisation has the right to announce the death of a monarch other than the kingmakers, Vanguard reports.
He added that neither the chiefs nor the media that broke the news of the demise of the king could be blamed, but asked that the issue be managed by the whole Yoruba race, whose tradition is at stake.
Report had surfaced last week that members of a fraternity entered into Oduduwa shrine and other sacred forests on Thursday, August 6, to perform further rites on the Oba’s transition.
All the heads of the fraternity groups in the town which the monarch belonged to, had also been asked to start invoking their gods and also perform necessary rites for the royal father.
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