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Oba Okunade Sijuwade
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The Ooni of Ife: The body of Oba Sijuwade
will be buried today, according to the eldest son of the monarch, Prince
Adetokunbo, with thousands of
people expected to attend his funeral. BBC Africa reports Oba Okunade Sijuwade - the
monarch of the Yoruba, one of the biggest ethnic groups in Nigeria - will be
buried in the ancient city of Ife in the south-west. His death was announced on
Wednesday. He was aged 85.
The Nation reports:
Markets were yesterday
ordered by Ife traditional chiefs to be closed for seven days. The development
followed the official announcement of the death of Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade
Sijuwade, the Olubuse II.
As early as 10am
yesterday, town criers went to the market places to deliver the messages to
market men and women.
The town criers were seen
at Oja Ife, Oja Sabo, Lagere and others, warning traders to comply with the
order or face dire consequences.
Commercial banks within
the town did not open for transaction, except for a long queue of customers at
many Automated Teller Machines points, waiting to make withdrawals.
The state government
yesterday ordered clearing of bushes on the road sides from Ife-Ibadan
expressway to the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU) area.
Commercial buses plying
the university campus yesterday were busy conveying many students in and out of
the university, unlike on Wednesday when the students remained on campus all
day in compliance with the restriction order during the Oro rituals for the
departed monarch.
Some of the prominent
citizens that came to commiserate with the people of Ife yesterday, include the
factional leader of the Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC), Chief Gani Adams and
another leader of the group, Dr. Fredrick Fasheun.
Adams described Oba
Sijuwade as symbol of the stool of the Yoruba people. Fasheun, who expressed
shock at the news of the death of the traditional ruler, said he was one among
millions.
Fasheun enjoined Yoruba
sons and daughters not to allow his demise to cause disunity among them.
A former Osun State Governor,
Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, described Oba Sijuwade as a father, confidant,
mentor, nationalist and a rare patriot.
He prayed for the repose
of his soul.
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