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…
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