Nigerian Current News, Headlines, Interviews, Politics, Business, Sports, Opinions, Special Report, Art, Nigeria, Africa, Foreign News
The official proclamation of the passage of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II will be made Wednesday during the Oro festival, as the final rites for the demise of Ooni of Ife.
Consequently, all residents of the ancient town are, therefore, urged to keep away from the streets between the hours of 9am and 4pm during which the Oro deity will be out.
The Awara of Iwara-Ife, Oba Layi Adereti, made this known to journalists while speaking on the ongoing preparations for the interment of the revered monarch who died in a London hospital about two weeks ago.
The traditional ruler who spoke for the first time on the reported death, said the Oro Festival is the final rite of passage for the Ooni, stating that between 9am and 4pm tomorrow had been fixed for the final pronouncement of the demise of Ooni.
Oba Adereti who is also the head of Oro Cult in the entire Ile-Ife said that all residents of the ancient town, males or females, would remain indoors during the Oro rites.
He declared that after the Oro rite and proclamation, subsequent rites will follow, appealing to all residents to heed the restriction order from the palace.
The monarch added that contrary to the usual practice where only females are barred when Oro festival is being observed, the restriction this time around, has no respect for any gender.
He said, “This is an official statement from the palace of Awara of Iwara-Ife who is the head of Oro deity that on Wednesday, 12th August, 2015, there would be official proclamation of the demise of the Ooni of Ife.
“The proclamation will be made public during the Oro festival, being the final rites on the demise of Ooni of Ife.
“The residents of the ancient town are, therefore, urged to keep away from the streets between the hours of 9am and 4pm during which the Oro deity will be out.
“With the announcement, people are advised to stay indoors for the period when the Oro will be out.”
Since Tuesday, 28th July, 2015 when the news of the demise of Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II was reported in the media, traditional chiefs in Ile-Ife have continued to deny the report, saying that the monarch is alive and well.
The traditional chiefs, even after the closed-door meeting with Governor Rauf Aregbesola on Wednesday, 29th July, 2015 at Oke-Fia Government House in Osogbo, denied the demise of Ooni, insisting that he was still alive.
Residents of Ile-Ife have expressed divergent views on the reason behind the ongoing Oro festival in the town. The festival, which has been held for about nine days now and which still continues in the town, had instilled fear in the minds of the people.
