The news of the death of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade
Sijuwade, broke late on Tuesday night in the United Kingdom
but the Internet which has made the whole world a global
village made nonsense of the tradition which gives the chiefs
the exclusive right of breaking the news of the demise of the
foremost Kabiyesi in Yorubaland.
Some of the chiefs, who were supposed to break the news to
the public were still sleeping when the story had filtered and
spread to all parts of the world. It is generally believed that
the situation would have been easier for the chiefs to manage
if the 85-year-old monarch had died inside the palace in Ile Ife
which Yoruba believe is the cradle of mankind.
Residents gathered at the entrance of the palace on
Wednesday morning to know to confirm whether what they
heard was true or not.
The Lowa of Ife, Oba Joseph Ijaodola, who led some other
chiefs to the palace as early as possible denied the news of
the death while briefing journalists. The Lowa also took the
rebuttal to the Government House on Thursday where he led
other chiefs to tell Governor Rauf Aregbesola that the Ooni
was alive. The chiefs held a brief meeting with the governor
behind closed doors but what was discussed was not made
available to journalists.
The Lowa said, “I hereby dispel the rumour that our baba, the
Olubuse is dead. As I speak with you, the chiefs have not
heard anything like that. This is not the first time such rumour
will be carried about our father.
“They did it in 1982 , also in 2004 and now, these people are
coming up with another rumour. Oba Sijuade remains in sound
state of health.”
The Secretary of the RTC, Chief Adetoye Odewole, who also
repeated most of what the Lowa had earlier said, debunked
the rumour that the monarch had passed away. He said the
monarch was alive and kicking while admonishing journalists
to ignore what he described as the rumour from the enemies
of the royal father.
To buttress their claim, the RTC secretary said the Ooni spoke
with some of the chiefs on the telephone some few hours
earlier before the briefing. He said the death rumour was one
of the sacrifices being paid by the monarch, who he claimed
was very much alive and in good health.
The Chairman of Ife Development Board, Prof. Muib Opeloye,
also said the monarch was alive and was planning for the
wedding ceremony of one of his sons.
But despite the denial of the news of the death of the
monarch, there is apprehension in some quarters in Ife
especially among the youths and students in the ancient
town.
Their fear was borne out of the tradition which requires that
some rites must be performed anytime the Ooni dies. The
rites, according to some elders, would be carried out for seven
days before the news of the demise of the monarch would be
formally announced to the public. Despite civilisation and
change in many aspects of Aftican cultures, many still believe
that some rituals which would be performed following the
death of the Ooni could require human being to be used for
sacrifice.
A student of the Obafemi Awolowo University who identified
himself simply as Kunle told our correspondent that he and
his colleagues are wary of going out at night because of the
fear of the unknown especially at a time like this.
He said, “My friends and I were discussing the issue and I told
them that anybody who likes could ignore the information in
the media but as for me, I believe that the monarch is dead.
“ It is wise to be circumspect especially at a time like this.
The Ooni was a great Oba and when somebody like this joins
his ancestors, I believe some rituals or rites would be
performed and one does not know what the rituals will
require. So, I stay indoors from evening to around 7:30 in the
morning because I live off-campus.”
A female student of the university, Tosin, also said that she
was afraid of going out at night because of the situation in
the town. She said many of her mates had also expressed
similar fear following the news of the death of the monarch.
Entertaining the same fear, a 300 level male student, Timothy
Agbor, who is Igbo from Enugu State said he had further
restrained himself from going outside the campus. He said his
self-imposed restriction could last a month or more. The
student, who speaks Yoruba language fluently said he had
stayed long enough in Yorubaland to know that when an
important person such as the great monarch passed away,
there will be rituals.
Agbor said, “I live on the campus and I don’t have to be afraid
of anything ritual but I tell my friends to ensure that they
don’t go to the heart of the town at night.
“It is not good to go out at night and I don’t do it but the
situation at hand now calls for more restraints. There is a
piece of information on the social media that rituals would be
done for seven days. I don’t know if the information is true or
not but I have to be careful,” he said.
Hannah Akinola, another 300 level student of OAU also
expressed fear about going out late in the evening. She said
although she was not used to attending parties or going out
at night, she was a little bit afraid because she lived off-
campus.
She said, “There is still confusion concerning the whole thing.
We are not sure if the Ooni is dead as the media reported it or
if he is still alive just like the chiefs have been saying but
everybody must be careful in order not to fall prey of rituals.”
But an okada rider, who identified himself as Kehinde
Ogunleye, said there was nothing to be afraid of because the
revered monarch is not dead. He said he had been working
and closing as late as 10:pm and he had not seen anything
strange.
He said “There is nothing to be afraid of in Ife. Nobody is
hunting for human beings to be used as sacrifice. The
information on the social media is not true. I work late and I
have not seen anything to suggest that. I have not been
harassed by anybody.
“The chiefs are supposed to have cut trees at the palace and
make an official announcement if it is true that Ooni is dead.
Everybody is going about their businesses as usual.”
A retired teacher, who identified himself as Samuel Adejumo,
told our correspondent that there was no need for anyone to
be afraid that they could be caught and be used for rituals. He
said the fear was unfounded while urging the public to ignore
it.
He said, “We know that civilisation and technology have had
some negative effects on our culture but as Africans, we
should still have respect for the traditional institution. To me,
the Ooni is alive and I believe what the chiefs have said.
There is no reason to be afraid. Those who are afraid that
they could be used as sacrifice are ignorant.”
Some of the youths in the town, including Yusuf Awokunle,
said the Ooni could never die because he was the symbol of
the throne and not a person who could die.
A farmer in Ife, Mr. Timothy Olawuyi, said although he believed
the person who occupied the throne had died, he believes in
the immortality of the Ooni, who he said never dies.
Olawuyi said, “ The person who occupied the throne might
have died as reported by the media but the Ooni can never
die. He is alive. The stool is there and those who would
occupy it will come and go but the Ooni is there.”
Not ready to be caught napping, some residents told our
correspondent on Thursday that they had bought some food
stuff which could last them for days in case the official
announcement is made anytime. They said they had to
stockpile food since markets would be closed down in honour
of the Ooni in case of his death.
Oro festival begins
The anxiety created by the demise of the Ooni of Ife, Oba
Okunade Sijuwade, has continued to heighten as worshipers of
Oro began the annual festival in Ife on Friday night.
Oro is a deity worshiped across Yorubaland. Worshipers of the
deity usually come out at night and move round the town but
while female folks are forbidden from seeing them, male of any
age are permitted to see the activities.
Sources in Ife told our corespondent that the festival
scheduled to start on Friday night had nothing to do with the
demise of the Ooni.
They added that the festival which some persons were
mistaken for the commencement of the rites of passage of the
Ooni would last for seven nights.
The sources, who are conversant with the tradition of the
ancient town also said Ooni was still alive contrary to the
media reports that the monarch died in the United Kingdom.
Although some youths interviewed by our correspondent said
they were not aware of the festival, they said the festival
would force everybody to remain indoors at night throughout
the seven-day period of the festival.
A former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Osun State,
Mr. Sikiru Ayedun, when contacted confirmed to our
correspondent that Oro festival would start on Friday night.
Ayedun, who is from Ife said, “ Yes, Oro will start tonight
( Friday). But it has nothing to do with the rumour of the
death of Baba ( the Ooni.)
“It is an annual festival and it holds around this time. So, it
has nothing to do with the rumour in town.”