Only The New Ooni Of Ife Can Inherit The Late Ooni’s Widows, Says Tradition(Photo)

The wives of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade,

the Olubuse II, by tradition cannot re-marry after the

demise of their husband, according to a palace chief.

The chief, who preferred not to be named, said the order

was prescribed by the Ife tradition since the Ooni is not

considered dead but to have transited to a higher realm.

Maintaining that the Ooni still lives, he said it is forbidden

for wives left behind by Oba Sijuwade to re-marry.

He said: “The rules is general and applies to all Ooni that

has passed on and not peculiar to the wives of Oba

Sijuwade, the immediate past Ooni.

There may not be a clearly defined repercussion against

the tradition but it is advisable that the order is obeyed at

all times and for all generations.

The best that can happen to the oloris left behind by any

late Ooni is for them to remain single or be inherited by

the reigning Ooni.”

He added that it does not matter whether the wives are

young or old, “what matters is that the tradition must be

sustained in the overall interest of the society.”

The late Ooni’s wives are Oloris Morisola, Ladun,

Odunayo, Adedolapo and Linda and their ages are between

40’s and 60’s.

The first wife, Olori Yetunde, the mother of the first son,

Prince Adetokubo, died some years ago, long before Oba

Sijuwade.

Source: TheNation