The Osun State government on Wednesday finally broke its silence by the demise of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.
The late monarch had died about two weeks ago in a London hospital but the Ife Traditional Council had repeatedly insisted that the monarch was hail and hearty.
In a statement signed by Semiu Okanlawon, Director, Bureau of Communication & Strategy, the state government finally announced that “our Royal Father, His Imperial Majesty, Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse 11, has joined his great ancestors.
“The Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, received the news today Wednesday August 12, 2015 through the Traditional Council.
“The Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, joins other sons daughters of Osun to celebrate the translation of this highly reverred monarch whose era brought prestige, honour and dignity to traditional institution in our clime, his reign brought tremendous development and increased global attention to his domain.
“Ooni Sijuade was a study and model in royalty. He embodied the best in traditional pomp and pageantry. He exalted the place of the royalty among our people. His contributions towards maintaining a place of pride for the Yoruba race on the world is huge.
“A loss though, we are, as a people, consoled by the fact that our Imperial Majesty lived a fulfilled life; one happily hallmarked by the great impact on his subjects, the entire state, region and nation.
“On behalf of my family, the great people of the Land of the Virtuous, I extend our heart-felt feelings to the immediate royal family of Oba Sijuade, the ruling houses of Ile-Ife, all the princes and princesses of Ile Ife, royalties far and near, and Yoruba people of the world.”
The late monarch’s remains is expected to be interred on Friday under a special traditional rites.
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