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



Residents at the entrance of Ile Oodua during the inter-religious farewell service
in honour of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, in Ile-Ife, Osun State… on Friday. Inset: Late Oba Okunade Sijuwade.

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

Some 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.

The event was attended by the Vice-President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Rear Admiral Akin Aduwo (retd.), Gen. Alani Akinriande (retd.), Senator Babajide Omoworare, Ondo State Governor Olusegun Mimiko and many other dignitaries and government representatives.

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

A source at the palace told one of our correspondents 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.

“You can see that the gates of the palace are locked and nobody is allowed to go inside. Nobody can see him again except those who will bury him.

“The wives and children were not even supposed to see his corpse at all but tradition was broken this time around because he (Sijuwade) died in London. But no family member can see him again. Those performing the rites are there now and they will complete it today (Friday). He will be buried in the middle of the night, but nobody will be there apart from those who will lower him into the grave.”

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 to one of our correspondents that traditional rulers of the town went to various shrines, including the Obalufon shrine in Ife to perform some rites for Sijuwade on Friday.

He said the traditional rulers later went into Ooni’s palace shortly before an interdenominational burial service for the king commenced on the palace premises.

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.

His said the monarch’s demise demonstrated that every mortal man would die no matter their status.

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

“Some persons have started jostling to succeed him now but we must all remember the judgement day when we will give account of all that we did on earth.

“I urge you to make today a memorable one and give your life to Christ. Jesus is the only way, accept him today.”

But as the interdenominational service was about to take off, there was a mild drama as worshippers of Oro cult in Ife, also called Isoro, stormed the venue and attempted to stop the service. The worshippers claimed that it was a sacrilege to hold an interdenominational service for the departed king. And as the service went on outside the palace, the traditional worshippers sang and danced inside the palace.

Women barred

Also, our correspondents learnt that as part of the palace tradition and custom, women are forbidden from entering the palace while traditional rites are being performed for a passing monarch.

As the interdenominational service was going on, sounds of gunshots suddenly rent the air, making some of those present at the service to scamper for safety.

A reliable source told Saturday PUNCH that more gunshots would be fired later in the day, as from 5.00 pm, adding that curfew to last for seven days would start by 4.00 pm on Friday.

One of the palace chiefs, Sooko Adelugba, told one of our correspondents that many parts of the town had already been deserted by residents who were eager to comply with the curfew as announced by the palace.

One of the initiates told one of our correspondents who had tried to interview him that it was an abomination to speak publicly of traditional rites offered for a departed Ooni.

His final resting place

Meanwhile, fresh facts have emerged as to why the monarch would be buried beside the immediate past Ooni, Oba Adesoji Aderemi.

It was gathered that the cemetery inside the palace, where other Oonis were buried, was full, which informed the decision to build a mausoleum inside the palace for Oba Aderemi.

The mausoleum is said to be located at the rear end of the palace.

A palace source said the final resting place of Sijuwade had been constructed in the mausoleum, adding that the cemetery inside the palace is called Ile Nla (mighty house).

Traditionalists clash with residents

The worshippers of Oro cult in Ife, also called ‘Isoro’, clashed with residents who were erecting tents for the interdenominational burial service at the frontage of Enuwa Palace.

A prominent chief in Ife, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the ‘Isoro’ descended on the people who erected the tents because they (initiates) wanted to observe a seven-day burial rites for the departed king.

The chief said, “The ‘Isoro’ saw the erection of tents for an interdenominational burial service as a sacrilege against custom and tradition.

“They descended on the people erecting the tents and flogged them heavily. They destroyed the tents and swore never to allow anybody do any interdenominational service at the palace.”

The chief revealed that the state government had to wade into the crisis before the service was allowed.

He said, “It took the intervention of officials of the state government, who appealed to the ‘Isoro’ to allow the people to hold the interdenominational service before the issue was resolved. If not for the intervention of the state government, the interdenominational service would not have been allowed.”

Meanwhile, Saturday PUNCH learnt that Sijuwade’s family members flew to see his body immediately after he transited in a highbrow hospital in England.

Investigation by Saturday PUNCH revealed that Sijuwade’s eldest son, Tokunbo, and some other family members flew to England immediately the monarch breathed his last to join the king’s three wives, Morisola, Ladun and Odunola – who were already there.

Morisola is the eldest wife, Ladun is the second wife and Odunola, who is the daughter of the immediate past Orangun of Ila, is the youngest wife.

It was learnt that the family members flew down to England to pay their last respect to the departed monarch.

The Araba of Osogbo land, Chief Yemi Elebuibon, who spoke with one of our correspondents on Friday, disclosed that the corpse of the Ooni belonged to Ile-Ife and not his family.

He said, “The traditional burial rites of the kings of Ile-Ife and Oyo are strictly complied with and they are comprehensive.

“When the Ooni dies, the body becomes that of the town. The ‘Isoro’ cult group will take over. The ‘Isoro’ initiates are the ones who worship the ‘Oro’ deity.

“It is the ‘Isoro’ people that would inform the various deities, who were worshipped and appeased when the Ooni was crowned, that he (the monarch) is no more.

“It’s a rite. Nothing must stop it.”

The Araba dispelled the belief that the heart of the late king would be fed to the next Ooni.

He said, “The eating of the heart of a departed King by an incoming one belonged to the past. It no longer exists. People still make this insinuation because many are barred from witnessing the burial of a king.

“What the incoming king will eat is the heart of an animal and not that of a human. Nobody would be buried with the Ooni. Nobody would be killed for any form of sacrifice.”

Elebuibon explained that animals are now used for the burial rites of Yoruba Obas because of modernisation, noting that Christianity and Islam also stopped the use of humans for sacrifice when God stopped Abraham from sacrificing his son, Isaac.

Let Sijuwade rest

As the guests who attended the interdenominational service departed, a man in white robe and a white cap appeared at the palace entrance and told some of the people around the gate to leave the vicinity of the palace and allow the monarch to rest.

He said, “The service is over, it is time for you all to start going. Leave the palace and let Sijuwade rest. You are warned to leave.”

Meanwhile, a cleric, Evangelist Toluwase Akeredolu, had disputed insinuations that Sijuwade, as a prominent monarch, was in the cult. Akeredolu had said that Oba Sijuwade died as a born-again Christian.

Akeredolu said this on July 29 after the transition of the monarch was announced by the media.

The cleric, an evangelist with the Christ Apostolic Church, said the monarch had few weeks before his transition, confessed all his sins to God after he preached the gospel of Jesus Christ to him.

Akeredolu said he was privileged to have ministered to the monarch few weeks before his death.

He said, “Oba Sijuwade told the congregation at the last crusade we organised in Ile-Ife that he had forsaken sins and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and personal saviour. He confessed publicly that he would live the rest of his life to serve the Almighty God.

“During the revival, Oba Sijuwade said he had committed the rest of his lifetime to Christ, the saviour of all and had sung the popular song ‘All to Jesus, I surrender.’”

It will be recalled that the late monarch dropped the title of ‘Oluaye’ (owner of the universe) in 2010 in deference to the Almighty God.”

Cc: Lalasticlala

^{http://www.punchng.com/news/drama-at-oonis-palace-wives-children-barred-from-oonis-burial/}

Tradition ni koko

Isoriat.....hmmmm..STC

Tradition. This usually happens in high profile African royal burials, but I wonder what kind of rituals they're doing. Will he be buried sitting?

Even as an Ife prince and later the anointed Ooni,I know that the departed Ooni knew all these before accepting to be on the throne of his forebears.
All members of such families have equally had their orientation ahead of this kind of situation. They know that the corpse of their father,as descendants of Oranmiyan, belongs to the whole of Yoruba kingdom.

im sure it was a brutal burial of slaughter, bloodshed, nasty gory severed head arrangements, baby limbs, heart eating cannibalistic blood drinking rites.

the blackman and useless cultures. the dead are given more attention than the living. everythinhg about these cultures are in reverse. if only all these efforts in preserving these mundane traditions can be channeled to science and technology or farming.

Africans and their yeye way of life sef pesin no understand


Sha




RIP

I doubt anything was buried...rather it was...

See essay writing

I thought they said the Ooni was a Christian and abolished barbaric acts during his reign. Why all the barbarism? Why can't he be buried normally?

We have seen even presidents die and buried without all these secret and archaic rites.

I actually hope these old chiefs and their beliefs will be replaced by younger and exposed chiefs in the future and everyone can be on the same page. Should things still be done same way in this era?

ooni, den no want make this man rest abi.

ooni, dem no want make this man rest abi.

“Oba Sijuwade told the congregation at the last crusade we organised in Ile-Ife that he had forsaken sins and accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and personal saviour. He confessed publicly that he would live the rest of his life to serve the Almighty God.

Is there a video recording of the Ooni at the crusade? If he confessed publicly before he died I'm sure someone in the crusade must have captured it on their smartphone and uploaded it on youtube and it would have made headlines. Reason: Seeing the Ooni when he was alive was a task. I tried several years ago and everyone at the Ooni's palace looked at me like I was stupid for even thinking about it. Not to talk of him confessing publicly.
Another pastor already said Ooni asked him to take care of his family after he dies. Proof?
Why are pastors capitalizing on this great man's death for their personal gain?

And the Abobaku finally escaped sha! Lol. I am not from Ife, but I would politely turn down this oba's traditional stool if I was offered.

I like the simple and uncomplicated things of life. No oro, no isoro,no seven-day curfew, no abobaku, no retinue of wives and no barring my children from my burial.

Okay

Wow he who puts his legs in a cute shoe should be ready to enjoy the pain and cuteness in the shoe

Imagine burying king by midnight and barring his family and u tell me human heads are not buried with him

Continue with this barbaric culture, one day monkey will go market and not come back

revolt:
im sure it was a brutal burial of slaughter, bloodshed, nasty gory severed head arrangements, baby limbs, heart eating cannibalistic blood drinking rites.

the blackman and useless cultures. the dead are given more attention than the living. everythinhg about these cultures are in reverse. if only all these efforts in preserving these mundane traditions can be channeled to science and technology or farming.

Just like the mummies of Egypt.

SmartMugu:


I actually hope these old chiefs and their beliefs will be replaced by younger and exposed chiefs in the future and everyone can be on the same page. Should things still be done same way in this era?

That is not gonna happen in a 100 years. There are always new initiates that are made to swear death oaths during initiation.

SmartMugu:

Is there a video recording of the Ooni at the crusade? If he confessed publicly before he died I'm sure someone in the crusade must have captured it on their smartphone and uploaded it on youtube and it would have made headlines. Reason: Seeing the Ooni when he was alive was a task. I tried several years ago and everyone at the Ooni's palace looked at me like I was stupid for even thinking about it. Not to talk of him confessing publicly.
Another pastor already said Ooni asked him to take care of his family after he dies. Proof!
Why are pastors capitalizing on this great man's death for their personal gain?

All those pastors are liars. If only they know what it even takes to become an Ooni, I can't even imagine the amount of oaths swearing and initiation to different traditional cults.

Soon they would come and tell us how the Oba of Benin received christ at their revival or holy ghost night after his demise must have been announced. Also, all these ritual stuffs would be child's play compared to what will happen in Benin when their Oba crosses to the other side. Sijuwade still allowed some modernity in his reign.

It's was not difficult to see the late Ooni if you were good friends with him or his family.

Is there nobody with surveillance drone in ife, who could have spied the rituals?

saxywale:

It's was not difficult to see the late Ooni if you were good friends with him or his family.

I didn't even know who he was until I was seeking direct entry into OAU back in 2001. A friend suggested we went to see the Ooni for help. He said he knew a few friends that were helped to get admission into Ife by the late Ooni. We got there and people were looking at us like who are u to ask for the king. One even asked me whom my father was and if anyone knew him in Yorubaland. Then I knew you just can't see certain kings like the Ooni like that.
Another experience with a highly respected king was when we went on a NANS convention in Oyo in 2004, and branched the Alaafin's palace to pay homage, we were told people like us can't just see the Alaafin.
So, when a pastor says the king came to his event and publicly confessed already proved that was a lie.

Chiefpriest1:
And the Abobaku finally escaped sha! Lol. I am not from Ife, but I would politely turn down this oba's traditional stool if I was offered.

I personally don't believe the abobaku escaped or the culture was abolished like they try to make us believe. He may have been held for the purpose he was intended for, but would the king makers publicly say that he was buried with the king?

We are left with beliefs that certain things must tradionally be the same way it was and the barbaric ones have been removed, yet the burial is in secrecy. Even the princes, princesses and queens are not allowed to see the body. Sure anyone would like to pay their last respect to their parents after they pass on, in this case it's impossible because of some irreversible beliefs.

The same man that said that the Ooni was not dead is the same person saying animals are now used for rituals. Why would we believe anything he says?

The same barbaric culture has been maintained and is intended to remain the same forever.

I won't in any way condemn their tradition,whatever that pleases them...

We all shouting backwardness,even in civilised world,there are certain protocol followed in the burial of certain personalities..if this is the best way it can be done to Ooni,let them be.

After all,we are still in Africa.

Yomieluv:
I won't in any way condemn their tradition,whatever that pleases them...

We all shouting backwardness,even in civilised world,there are certain protocol followed in the burial of certain personalities..if this is the best way it can be done to Ooni,let them be.

After all,we are still in Africa.

abi ooo. The indians still worship their hindus, cows, rats, snakes, fishes e.t.c The chinese and asian tigers still worship their buddah too. Yet their economies are developing at a fast rate. Whatever makes them sleep at night.

fr3do:
Is there nobody with surveillance drone in ife, who could have spied the rituals?

Lol. Very smart idea. Not sure if anyone wouldn't be scared of the aftermath. We are talking serious juju here. If u don't believe in juju, I can spare you my drone to try with. Tell me about the aftermath a few decades afterwards.

All them Isoro society men don share that one chop tey tey. But do these people realise this is 2015 not 1975?

some tribe are still serving devil

kkk

saxywale:

abi ooo. The indians still worship their hindus, cows, rats, snakes, fishes e.t.c The chinese and asian tigers still worship their buddah too. Yet their economies are developing at a fast rate. Whatever makes them sleep at night.

Makes sense. Which religion or culture do we now believe? It appears all of them contradict one another in some areas.
Hope someone won't talk about the ones we read about in books unless they knew or can defend persons that wrote the books and have some ways of proving it outside the books.

I learned India has over 70 religions, each with its beliefs and probably its own book, yet folks impose other religions and beliefs on others. Mind you, each of them try to make subjects believe they are #1. Hinduism is India's major religion, and that is not a religion recognized in Nigeria. Does that mean everyone is Nigieria is going to hell if Hindu is the right one and we preferred other religions or cultures? Are we saying folks that believe in any one of about 69 religions in India are doomed because they didn't believe in the correct #1 religion that God really prefers?

I personally see some elements of brainwashing around religions and traditions if they all cannot conclusively agree with one another and come up with the actual religion proven to be absolute and accepted by God.

Y