Ife Stands Still As Ooni Goes Home

THE ancient town of Ile-Ife, Osun State stood
still, yesterday, as dignitaries across the world
came in droves for the burial of His Imperial
Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, who joined his
ancestors July 28 but who was officially
pronounced dead only on Wednesday.

For the second day, commercial activities were
grounded to a halt as all shops, stalls, banks and
markets were closed down in honour of the
highly revered monarch.
At the venue of the inter religious service
organised for the monarch, notable people
started trooping in as early as 8am.Cross section of people at the entrance of the
Ife Palace.
By Ola Ajayi & Gbenga Olarinoye
THE ancient town of Ile-Ife, Osun State stood
still, yesterday, as dignitaries across the world
came in droves for the burial of His Imperial
Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, who joined his ancestors July 28 but who was officially pronounced dead only on Wednesday.
       For the second day, commercial activities were grounded to a halt as all shops, stalls, banks and markets were closed down in honour of the highly revered monarch.
At the venue of the inter religious service
organised for the monarch, notable people
started trooping in as early as 8am.
Aides of Osinbajo, Aregbesola fight over sitting arrangements Before the commencement of the programme, there was a little misunderstanding between aides of the Vice President, Professor Yemi
Osinbajo (SAN) and Governor of Osun State,
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, over sitting
arrangement.The organisers of the programme said the front
row in the middle had been reserved for
Governor Aregbesola and that any other person
who comes should take the back seat.
These comments did not go down well with the
VP’s aides who said the sitting arrangements
were not in order and insisted that the VP,
because of his position, would not sit at the
back of the governor.
This exchange of words continued and was about
boiling over when some elders from Ife moved in
and settled the matter. But eventually,
Aregbesola did not attend. He sent his Secretary
to State Government.
Wives, children must not see corpse
This came as some Ifa priests in the ancient city
revealed that wives and children of the monarch
must not set their eyes on his corpse before
interment.
If this is not adhered to, they said such children
and wives could die prematurely.