Ooni of Ife's Wives and Family Barred From Seeing His Remains

 

The final burial rites of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II, was performed on Friday. However, his wives, children and family members were unable to pay their last respects as they were barred from the programme.

 

Other people who had expected to see the body of the monarch lie in state were also disappointed as his remains were neither brought out for people to see nor was any casket displayed during the burial service.

 

Traditional prayers were offered for the late Ooni  by Tadimole Awo Ilare, Chief Faloba, and the event was conducted in less than three hours.

 

A source at the palace revealed that no member of the royal family was allowed to see the remains of the monarch since he was brought back to the palace.

 

He said, “As we are holding this interdenominational service here, those concerned are performing their own rites inside the palace where the body is kept.

 

The source said those who saw the bodies of the previous Oonis were attacked by smallpox and did not survive the ailment.

 

A monarch in Osun State, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that traditional rulers of the town went to various shrines, including the Obalufon shrine in Ife to perform some rites for Sijuwade on Friday.

 

The monarch said, “Nobody can see the Ooni, not even the US President, Barrack Obama. We are with him. It’s only the initiates who can see him. His wives and children cannot see him.”

 

During the service, the Preacher, Bishop of Ife Diocese of Anglican Communion, Rt. Rev. Oluranti Odubogun, said despite his riches, Oba Sijuwade died when it was God’s time to take him away.

 

The bishop, who was represented by the Very Rev. Olusola Akanbi, said the Ooni brought fame and popularity to his domain.

 

He said, “Baba has gone. He will stand before the King of Kings who will judge what he did while here on earth.