The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, yesterday died at the age of 85 in a London hospital after a brief illness.
Although there was no official confirmation from the traditional ruler’s palace yesterday, THISDAY gathered that the news on the death of the Oba, whose official title was His Imperial Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II, was communicated to the Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola yesterday.
According to sources, “The state governor, Rauf Aregbesola, has just been briefed on the development that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, is dead.”
Officially, Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade was born on January 1, 1930. He became the 50th traditional ruler or Ooni of Ife at the age of 50 in 1980, taking the regnal name Olubuse II.
According to Wikipedia, the late Ooni was crowned on December 6, 1980 in a ceremony attended by his close friend and business partner, the late Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero; the Oba of Benin, Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Erediauwa I; the Amayanabo of Opobo; and Olu of Warri, as well as by representatives of the Queen of England.
He is traditionally considered the 401st spirit (Orisha), the only one that speaks. In fact, the royal dynasty of Ife traces its origin back to the founding of the city more than 2,000 years ago.
Following the formation of the Yoruba Orisha Congress in 1986, the Ooni acquired an international status, the like of which the holders of his title had not held since the city’s colonisation by the British.
The late Oba left behind his wives, his first son Prince Tokunbo Sijuwade, and several other children.
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