Controversy has trailed the death of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse II as the Royal Traditional Council, RTC, of the town, Wednesday, said the paramount ruler is alive and in good state of health.
The RTC, which comprises of all traditional chiefs and title holders in Ile-Ife, said Oba Sijuade is not only in a good state of health but added that the royal father was preparing for his son’s wedding holding Sunday, next week, in Lagos.
Sources close to the foremost traditioner ruler told Vanguard at the palace that the traditional wedding of the new couple took place last weekend in London.
Addressing newsmen in the House of Chiefs located within the premises of Ile-Oodua palace of the Ooni, Lowa of Ife, Oba Joseph Ijaodola who spoke in Yoruba, said the report in the media that the monarch died in a London Hospital of an undisclosed ailment, was untrue.
Also speaking, the secretary Royal Traditional Council of Ife, who is also the Ladin of Ife, High Chief Adetoye Odewole, said the Ooni is hale and hearty and he even spoke to the chiefs on the phone few hours earlier.
Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade, or Sijuade, (1 January 1930 – till date) became the fiftieth traditional ruler or Ooni of Ife in 1980, taking the regal name Olubuse II. Ife is a traditional Yoruba state based in the town of Ife in Osun State, Nigeria. He was crowned on 6 December 1980 in a ceremony attended by the Emir of Kano, Oba of Benin, Amayanabo of Opobo and Olu of Warri, as well as by representatives of the Queen of England.
Sijuwade was born on 1 January 1930 in Ile-Ife to the Ogboru ruling house, grandson of the Ooni Sijuwade Adelekan Olubuse I. He studied at Abeokuta Grammar School and Oduduwa College in Ile-Ife. He worked for three years in his father's business, then for two years with the Nigerian Tribune, before attending Northampton College in the United Kingdom to study business management. By the age of 30 he was a manager in Leventis, a Greek-Nigerian conglomerate. In 1963 he became Sales Director of the state-owned National Motor in Lagos. After spotting a business opportunity during a 1964 visit to the Soviet Union, he formed a company to distribute Soviet-built vehicles and equipment in Nigeria, which became the nucleus of a widespread business empire. He also invested in real estate in his home town of Ile Ife. By the time Sijuwade was crowned Ooni in 1980 he had become a wealthy man.
Sijuwade is a Christian. In November 2009 he attended the annual general meeting of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria accompanied by 17 other traditional rulers. He declared that he a was full member of the church, and said all the monarchs who accompanied him would now become members. At his birthday celebration two months later, the Primate of the Anglican Communion described Sijuwade as "a humble monarch, who has the fear of God at heart".
Death controversy
He was reported dead on July 28, 2015 in London hospital at the age of 85 but the claim was refuted by the Royal traditional council who claimed that he is alive and in good health.
The RTC, which comprises of all traditional chiefs and title holders in Ile-Ife, said Oba Sijuade is not only in a good state of health but added that the royal father was preparing for his son’s wedding holding Sunday, next week, in Lagos.
Sources close to the foremost traditioner ruler told Vanguard at the palace that the traditional wedding of the new couple took place last weekend in London.
Addressing newsmen in the House of Chiefs located within the premises of Ile-Oodua palace of the Ooni, Lowa of Ife, Oba Joseph Ijaodola who spoke in Yoruba, said the report in the media that the monarch died in a London Hospital of an undisclosed ailment, was untrue.
Also speaking, the secretary Royal Traditional Council of Ife, who is also the Ladin of Ife, High Chief Adetoye Odewole, said the Ooni is hale and hearty and he even spoke to the chiefs on the phone few hours earlier.
Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade, or Sijuade, (1 January 1930 – till date) became the fiftieth traditional ruler or Ooni of Ife in 1980, taking the regal name Olubuse II. Ife is a traditional Yoruba state based in the town of Ife in Osun State, Nigeria. He was crowned on 6 December 1980 in a ceremony attended by the Emir of Kano, Oba of Benin, Amayanabo of Opobo and Olu of Warri, as well as by representatives of the Queen of England.
Sijuwade was born on 1 January 1930 in Ile-Ife to the Ogboru ruling house, grandson of the Ooni Sijuwade Adelekan Olubuse I. He studied at Abeokuta Grammar School and Oduduwa College in Ile-Ife. He worked for three years in his father's business, then for two years with the Nigerian Tribune, before attending Northampton College in the United Kingdom to study business management. By the age of 30 he was a manager in Leventis, a Greek-Nigerian conglomerate. In 1963 he became Sales Director of the state-owned National Motor in Lagos. After spotting a business opportunity during a 1964 visit to the Soviet Union, he formed a company to distribute Soviet-built vehicles and equipment in Nigeria, which became the nucleus of a widespread business empire. He also invested in real estate in his home town of Ile Ife. By the time Sijuwade was crowned Ooni in 1980 he had become a wealthy man.
Sijuwade is a Christian. In November 2009 he attended the annual general meeting of the Foursquare Gospel Church in Nigeria accompanied by 17 other traditional rulers. He declared that he a was full member of the church, and said all the monarchs who accompanied him would now become members. At his birthday celebration two months later, the Primate of the Anglican Communion described Sijuwade as "a humble monarch, who has the fear of God at heart".
Death controversy
He was reported dead on July 28, 2015 in London hospital at the age of 85 but the claim was refuted by the Royal traditional council who claimed that he is alive and in good health.