Ooni: Arebgesola in closed-door meeting with Ife Royal Council

Osogbo—Members of Ife Royal Traditional Council, RTC, the umbrella body of all traditional title holCders from Ile Ife, yesterday met with Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State at the Government House, Oke-Fia, Osogbo behind closed doors following Tuesday rumoured death of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade.
The RTC, which had since dismissed the rumour, was led to the meeting that lasted about 10 minutes, by Lowa of Ife, Oba Joseph Ijaodola, with the secretary of the body, Chief Adetoye Odewole, also in attendance, among others.
Also present were top officials of the state government that are indigenes of Ile-Ife, led by Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Babajide Omoworare.
VISIT: Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State (right) with and Lowa of Ile-Ife, High Chief Joseph Olasoji Ijaodola (2nd left) and other members of Ife Traditional Council during their visit to the governor on the rumoured death of the Ooni of Ife at Govt House,Osogbo.
VISIT: Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State (right) with and Lowa of Ile-Ife, High Chief Joseph Olasoji Ijaodola (2nd left) and other members of Ife Traditional Council during their visit to the governor on the rumoured death of the Ooni of Ife at Govt House,Osogbo.
Others at the meeting were former member of Osun State House of Assembly, Hon. Adetilewa Sijuade, former Commissioner for Culture, Tourism and Home Affairs, Mr. Sikiru Ayedun and Special Adviser to the governor on Youth and Sports, Mr. Biyi Odunlade.
At the first meeting held in the presence of newsmen, Oba Ijaodola, who is next in rank to Oba Sijuade, reiterated their previous position that the Ooni was alive and in good health.
Oba Ijaodola told Governor Aregbesola that they came to update him on Oba Sijuade’s state of health and lamented that the Ooni was often a target of negative publicity with the press declaring him dead several times in the past.
According to him: “We were all shocked when we heard the rumour. If at all such an incident had occurred, the traditional council would be the first to know and break the news to the entire public. Sixteen of us are his chiefs and when he was travelling out, he did not look like he was going to die and should that have happened to him, we would have been informed even before anyone would hear about it. We pray that Ooni Sijuade will live long in good health.”
Responding, Governor Aregbesola commended members of the RTC for holding forth while Ooni Sijuade was away and prayed for sound health and long life for Oba Sijuade.
The governor and the chiefs later proceeded to another room within the Governor’s Lodge to hold another meeting.
The chiefs declined comment after meeting with the governor.
Meanwhile activities around the Ooni’s palace were at the lowest ebb when Vanguard visited yesterday unlike Wednesday when people converge to find the true situation of Oba Sijuade’s state of health.