The reported death of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, took another dimension on Wednesday with the claim by the town’s traditional council that the monarch is alive.

The foremost traditional ruler was said to have died in a United Kingdom hospital Tuesday night.

Reports said Ooni died of an undisclosed ailment at Saint Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, London.

But the Ife Royal Traditional Council said at a press conference on Wednesday that the monarch’s death was “a mere rumour.”

The Lowa of Ifeland, Joseph Ijaodola, who spoke in Yoruba, said the report about the monarch’s death in a London Hospital was “untrue.”

The Secretary, Royal Traditional Council of Ife, the Ladin of Ife, High Chief Adetoye Odewole, confirmed that the monarch is hale and hearty, saying he spoke to the chiefs on phone few hours earlier.

“They did it in 1984, also in 2004 and now, these people are coming up with another rumour. Oba Sijuade remains in sound state of health,” Odewole added.

Yet no one has come out with an actual recording of him mentioning the date then denouncing naysayers.

Waiting for his public address, or it happened.