Despite the strident denials by the Ife Royal Traditional Council on the transition of Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, traditional authorities in the ancient town have begun the rite of passage for the monarch. A palace source told New Telegraph yesterday that about 201deities in Ifeland, including traditional hunters, were said to have been placed on the alert in preparation for the final rites of Oba Sijuwade. It was also gathered that only members of the monarch’s fraternity and the “Isoro Priest” would be allowed to see Oba Sijuwade’s body.
However, the transition of the monarch yesterday cast a shadow on the traditional engagement of his son, Adegbite, to Oludolapo Afolasade, daughter of a former Director General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Remi Olowu.
The Ooni was represented at the event by the Asiwaju of Ile-Ife, Chief Alex Duduyemi. The palace source told New Telegraph in Ife that he was surprised that many people were awaiting the arrival of Ooni’s body. He said when the body would arrive in the town, nobody including family members and close associates, would be able to see him again except the “Isoro Priest” and his those who belong to the same fraternity with the monarch. He said “Isoro” is the custodian of all other traditional priests in the land and that the arrival of the monarch’s corpse would not be announced to the public for it is dangerous for them to see.
“If at all the corpse would arrive, it would be in the midnight and whosoever that came cross it without being members of his fraternity group is in danger,” he added. It was learnt that cows and rams had been reportedly slaughtered by traditional worshippers as a form of propitiation before the arrival of the corpse. The blood of the cows and rams were said to have been sprinkled on the grounds of some sensitive places in the ancient town while those to communicate with deities in the sky, land and sea had respectively performed their duties. Sources said the blood propitiation was done to appease the deities to avert sudden death for those to receive the monarch’s body.
“The traditional worshippers took the step to avert a repeat of what happened in July 1980 when the predecessor of Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Oba Adesoji Aderemi, joined his ancestors. “After Oba Aderemi joined his ancestors then, some of those traditionalists that wanted to perform his final rite died untimely as they were struck with “chicken pox” due to the spiritual powerfulness of the monarch before his exit from the surface of the earth,” one of the sources said. But the rite of passage for the monarch could be slowed down due to the ill health of the Obalufe of Ife, Chief Samuel Omisakin, the traditional prime minister of Ile-Ife and second in command to the Ooni. Sources said Omisakin had undergone surgery, adding that “Akogun” of the town, Chief G.A. Owoyemi, who equally has a prominent role to play in the final rite of passage for the monarch had also died.
However, amid the raging controversy on the monarch’s death, the Chief Priest of Ife, Oba Olajide Farotimi Faloba, has dismissed the rumour that the body had been brought to the town. He insisted the he monarch is still alive. He said: ” Ooni’s son, Adegbite, is having his engagement in Lagos as we speak.
Does this show any sign of mourning? If the rumour is true, we (he and other chiefs at the grove) should be the one to announce it. We are the owner of our culture, Obaship in Ife kingdom is sacred and should be handled as such. “I just came from the Ooni’s palace and there was nothing that showed that he (Ooni) died. If truly such happened, there would be restriction to the palace; the palace gate will be shut, market will be closed and some trees in the market will be brought down. These are part of signs that Ooni has joined his ancestors.”
But despite last week’s promise by the Ife chiefs that Oba Sijuwade would attend his son’s engagement yesterday, his absence was noticeable while Duduyemi stood in for him. But guests managed to conceal the pains of the monarch’s transition and none of them, including the bride and the groom as well as their parents were willing to take any question on the monarch’s absence.
The couple was clad in white with a touch of red signifying royalty. The bride’s friends wore see-through-red –lace with silver and red head gear while the groom’s friend wore white caftan and trouser with red cap. The couple did not seem perturb by the death of the monarch. Dolapo said she couldn’t have wished for other moment like that of yesterday. She described the day as overwhelming and God’s ordained day. “I feel blessed by the loving friends and family members that graced my occasion. I feel honoured indeed,” she said.
According to her, they courted for four years after they met through a mutual friend. Adegbite said they courted that long because he believed that time was needed for the best things in life. Mrs. Olowu, the bride’s mother, described the day as beautiful. “There is nothing I can compare to the day, it is very bright,” she added. It wasn’t an arranged wedding, it was divine,” she said. The groom’s mother , Olori Morisola Sijuwade, also described the day as great and miraculous. She described Dolapo as a simple and humble girl.
“She is not the kind of person that relies on the parents’ riches. She prefers to work and make her own money as it’s already reflecting in TV shows,” she said. Duduyemi also described the day as God’s anointed. He urged the couple to love each other the more, adding: “they should learn from experience and faith in each other.”
-New Telegraph
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