Ooni of Ife is still Alive, Says Chief Priest
Ooni of Ife is still Alive, Says Chief Priest
Following rumours on the arrival of the remains of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade at Ife palace, Osun State, in the early hours of Saturday, the Chief Priest of the ancient town, Oba Olajide Farotimi Faloba, has said the news was untrue, contending that the monarch is still alive.
The chief priest, who is also the kingmaker for the stool of Ooni of Ife, opined that should the news be true, access to the palace would have been denied as the palace main gate would be shut.
Faloba who spoke to newsmen today at the Ile Oduduwa, an ancient grove which is believed to house the first Ooni of Ile-Ife's palace, debunked the reported arrival of the monarch's corpse, saying Ooni was hale and hearty in the United Kingdom.
The chief, while speaking in Yoruba dialect, noted that: "I just came from the Ooni's palace and there was nothing that showed that he (Ooni) died. If truly he is dead, there would be restriction to the palace, the palace gate would be shut, market would be closed and some trees in the market would be brought down. These are signs that the Ooni has joined his ancestors.
"Ooni's son, Adegbite, is observing his wedding in Lagos as we speak. Does that show any sign of mourning? If the rumours are true, we (he and other chiefs at the grove) should be the one to announce it. We are the owner of our culture, and Obaship in Ife kingdom is sacred and should be handled as such."
Recently, the Ooni was reported dead in a London Hospital in the UK after a brief illness, but Ooni's chiefs have since debunked the report of the monarch's demise.
When newsmen visited the palace to confirm whether the body of the monarch had actually arrived, the palace was deserted as only the palace gate keeper was sighted.
However, there was nobody in sight to speak with at the palace..
Following rumours on the arrival of the remains of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade at Ife palace, Osun State, in the early hours of Saturday, the Chief Priest of the ancient town, Oba Olajide Farotimi Faloba, has said the news was untrue, contending that the monarch is still alive.
The chief priest, who is also the kingmaker for the stool of Ooni of Ife, opined that should the news be true, access to the palace would have been denied as the palace main gate would be shut.
Faloba who spoke to newsmen today at the Ile Oduduwa, an ancient grove which is believed to house the first Ooni of Ile-Ife's palace, debunked the reported arrival of the monarch's corpse, saying Ooni was hale and hearty in the United Kingdom.
The chief, while speaking in Yoruba dialect, noted that: "I just came from the Ooni's palace and there was nothing that showed that he (Ooni) died. If truly he is dead, there would be restriction to the palace, the palace gate would be shut, market would be closed and some trees in the market would be brought down. These are signs that the Ooni has joined his ancestors.
"Ooni's son, Adegbite, is observing his wedding in Lagos as we speak. Does that show any sign of mourning? If the rumours are true, we (he and other chiefs at the grove) should be the one to announce it. We are the owner of our culture, and Obaship in Ife kingdom is sacred and should be handled as such."
Recently, the Ooni was reported dead in a London Hospital in the UK after a brief illness, but Ooni's chiefs have since debunked the report of the monarch's demise.
When newsmen visited the palace to confirm whether the body of the monarch had actually arrived, the palace was deserted as only the palace gate keeper was sighted.
However, there was nobody in sight to speak with at the palace..
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