Ooni Of Ife,Oba Sijuade Dies At 85

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.