Ooni's Death:OAU Students', Others Scared Of Rituals

The news of the death of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, broke late on Tuesday night in the United Kingdom but the Internet which has made the whole world a global village made nonsense of the tradition which gives the chiefs the exclusive right of breaking the news of the demise of the foremost Kabiyesi in Yorubaland.

Some of the chiefs, who were supposed to break the news to the public were still sleeping when the story had filtered and spread to all parts of the world. It is generally believed that the situation would have been easier for the chiefs to manage if the 85-year-old monarch had died inside the palace in Ile Ife which Yoruba believe is the cradle of mankind.

Residents gathered at the entrance of the palace on Wednesday morning to know to confirm whether what they heard was true or not.

The Lowa of Ife, Oba Joseph Ijaodola, who led some other chiefs to the palace as early as possible denied the news of the death while briefing journalists. The Lowa also took the rebuttal to the Government House on Thursday where he led other chiefs to tell Governor Rauf Aregbesola that the Ooni was alive. The chiefs held a brief meeting with the governor behind closed doors but what was discussed was not made available to journalists.

The Lowa said, “I hereby dispel the rumour that our baba, the Olubuse is dead. As I speak with you, the chiefs have not heard anything like that. This is not the first time such rumour will be carried about our father.

“They did it in 1982 , also in 2004 and now, these people are coming up with another rumour. Oba Sijuade remains in sound state of health.”

The Secretary of the RTC, Chief Adetoye Odewole, who also repeated most of what the Lowa had earlier said, debunked the rumour that the monarch had passed away. He said the monarch was alive and kicking while admonishing journalists to ignore what he described as the rumour from the enemies of the royal father.

To buttress their claim, the RTC secretary said the Ooni spoke with some of the chiefs on the telephone some few hours earlier before the briefing. He said the death rumour was one of the sacrifices being paid by the monarch, who he claimed was very much alive and in good health.

The Chairman of Ife Development Board, Prof. Muib Opeloye, also said the monarch was alive and was planning for the wedding ceremony of one of his sons.

But despite the denial of the news of the death of the monarch, there is apprehension in some quarters in Ife especially among the youths and students in the ancient town.

Their fear was borne out of the tradition which requires that some rites must be performed anytime the Ooni dies. The rites, according to some elders, would be carried out for seven days before the news of the demise of the monarch would be formally announced to the public. Despite civilisation and change in many aspects of Aftican cultures, many still believe that some rituals which would be performed following the death of the Ooni could require human being to be used for sacrifice.

A student of the Obafemi Awolowo University who identified himself simply as Kunle told our correspondent that he and his colleagues are wary of going out at night because of the fear of the unknown especially at a time like this.

He said, “My friends and I were discussing the issue and I told them that anybody who likes could ignore the information in the media but as for me, I believe that the monarch is dead.

“ It is wise to be circumspect especially at a time like this. The Ooni was a great Oba and when somebody like this joins his ancestors, I believe some rituals or rites would be performed and one does not know what the rituals will require. So, I stay indoors from evening to around 7:30 in the morning because I live off-campus.”

A female student of the university, Tosin, also said that she was afraid of going out at night because of the situation in the town. She said many of her mates had also expressed similar fear following the news of the death of the monarch.

Entertaining the same fear, a 300 level male student, Timothy Agbor, who is Igbo from Enugu State said he had further restrained himself from going outside the campus. He said his self-imposed restriction could last a month or more. The student, who speaks Yoruba language fluently said he had stayed long enough in Yorubaland to know that when an important person such as the great monarch passed away, there will be rituals.

Agbor said, “I live on the campus and I don’t have to be afraid of anything ritual but I tell my friends to ensure that they don’t go to the heart of the town at night.

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