LAGOS AUGUST 4TH (URHOBOTODAY)-The hide and seek game that have trailed the death of the Ooni of Ife continued over the weekend as the remains of Ooni, Oba Okunade Sijuade, was said to have arrived the ancient town of Ile Ife.Though the chief priest of the ancient town, Oba Olajide Farotimi Faloba, denied any such ‘thing’ as entering the town. In a chat with newsmen, Oba Faloba dismissed claims that Ooni’s body had arrived in the town,
insisting that Oba Sijuade is alive. “Ooni is hale and hearty, and that is to confirm to you that nothing has happened to him.
“If he is still alive, why the rumuor that his remains had arrived in the ancient town?
“Ooni’s death cannot be hidden. Assuming his reported death is true, you will notice crowd at the main palace gate, while the gate would be locked and no one would be allowed to enter.
“Also, the Oduduwa chief priest will announce the demise of the Ooni upon sounding of a bell at Enuwa square, located in front of the palace.
“After the announcement, all trees in the market would be cut; markets would be closed, while all forms of merrymaking such as drumming or partying would be suspended in town for a number of days.
“In fact, Ooni’s son, Adegbite is having his weeding in Lagos as we speak. If the rumour is true, we should be the one to announce it. We are the owner of our culture; Obaship in Ife kingdom is sacred and should be handled as such,” Farotimi said.
A palace source, who did not want to be mentioned, also said nothing was brought to the place, stressing that, if at all the remains of the monarch had been brought back, it must had been kept elsewhere and not within the palace.
“It is a taboo for anyone to see Ooni’s corpse when being brought. It is not true that it has been brought back to Ife. If it is true however that the corpse had been brought back, it is not within the palace yet,” the source said.
A source in Enuwa, however, informed our correspondent that the remains of the monarch might have, somehow found its way into the town.
During a visit to Ile Oodua, Ooni’s palace yesterday, no visible change was observed and the gate was open to guests.
Commercial activities were also on across the town despite ongoing Oro festival.
Meanwhile, an Ife based group, The Cradle Youths, has called on indigenes of the town not to be anxious on the circumstances surrounding the health of Oba Sijuwade, saying the Traditional Council knows the right thing to do.
The coordinator of the group, Mr. Kunle Elusayo, said this in a statement issued at Ile- Ife and made available to newsmen.
Elusayo, who commended the Traditional Council for their role, explained that there are guidelines and traditions to be followed when issues like this occur.
He explained that only information circulated by the council should be followed, arguing that there is a customary law regulating the selection of who becomes the next Ooni, if the need arises.
Elusayo added: “The Traditional Council is in the right position to say anything concerning the status of the Ooni. People should wait and respect the position of our tradition, history will not forgive anyone that betrays our tradition and law.
“If at all anything happens to the king, God forbid, the declaration made under section 4 (2) of the Chief Law 1957 of Customary Law Regulating the selection the Ooni of Ife should be followed strictly.”