The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade is dead

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, has died
at the age of 85 in a London hospital.
The monarch was said to have died around 5pm
on Tuesday (today).
Relevant officials, who spoke to our
correspondent on Tuesday night, however, refused
to confirm the monarch’s death, saying they did
not want to be quoted on the death of the
foremost traditional ruler, who was said to have
passed away on Tuesday.
“I have heard but please, I don’t want to be
quoted on this. People have been calling but
nothing has been made public. You see, another
person is calling me from London,” the source
said before picking the other call.
Another source, who spoke on condition of
anonymity to our correspondent, explained that
Oba Sijuwade was flown out of the country from
Ibadan about five days ago in an unconscious
state.
“Kabiyesi was flown out of the country about five
days ago in an air ambulance. He was
unconscious; his situation was critical.
“As a matter of fact, some people have been
weeping in the palace since the weekend because
of his situation when he was flown out from
Ibadan in that air ambulance,” he said.
Oba Sijuwade became the fiftieth traditional ruler
or Ife in 1980.
Just last week, the Ooni resolved the industrial
dispute between the management of the Obafemi
Awolowo University and some staff of the
institution, who had embarked on an indefinite
strike.
Details later…