Hundreds Storms Ooni-of-Ife's Palace in Confusion To the Announcement Of His Death

The Royal Traditional Council of Ile Ife(made of all traditional chiefs and title holders in Ile-Ife,) has debunked news reports that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse II, is dead.
They said Oba Sijuade is not only in sound state of health but is also preparing for his son’s wedding holding Sunday, next week, in Lagos.

Meanwhile, Nigeria’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK), Dr Dalhatu Tafida, yesterday visited the London home of Oba Okunade Sijuwade, the Ooni of Ife, to commiserate with his family on the passing of the first class monarch.

Tafida said he visited the family and at Oba Sijuwade’s home were his wives, children and an unnamed traditional ruler from Osun including Oba Sijuwade’s son Adetokunbo, and spent about one hour with them. The envoy condoled with the family on behalf of the Federal Government and told them they could ask for consular support should the need arise.

As early as 9am, yesterday,hundreds of people had gathered at “Ile Oodua” the sprawling palace of the monarch in Enuwa, Ile-Ife.

Relations of the monarch and reporters were allowed into the palace and received by members of the Royal Traditional Council, but many indigenes and residents were denied entry by the guards.

The chiefs said the Ooni “is alive and in good state of health”.

Speaking with reporters at the House of Chiefs within the palace, the Lowa of Ife, Oba Joseph Ijaodola, advised people to disregard the report in the media that the monarch had died in a London hospital of an undisclosed illness.

The Secretary of the  Council of Ife, the Ladin of Ife, High Chief Adetoye Odewole, also said the Ooni spoke to the chiefs on telephone few hours earlier.

He said: 

“As I am speaking to you now we, his chiefs, have not heard anything like that. This is not the first time such rumour will be carried about our father. They did it in 1984, also in 2004 and now these people are coming up with another rumour. Oba Sijuwade is in sound state of health.”

But contrary to the report that the Ooni died in St Mary's Hospital in London, Officials of the hospital have said the Oba was not it's patient as the King from their record was last admitted in July 2014.

Should the Ooni die,Nation gathered the following process should be followed on the announcement of his passing 

The announcement of the Ooni’s death is a traditional role conferred on his brother, the Oore of Otun and Mobaland, a son of Oduduwa and one of the 16 foremost monarchs in Yorubaland. The reigning Oore is Oba Adedapo Popoola, an economist and chartered accountant.

After ascertaining that the Ooni has waja (died), the palace chiefs are expected to inform the Oore. The Oore will mourn his passage in a traditional way. He will not waste time in breaking the news to other Oduduwa children, especially the Alaafin, the descendant of Oranmiyan Akinorun, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, the Oba of Benin, the Onipopo of Popo, the Onisabe of Sabe, and the Owa Obokun Adimula. The Oore will also carry along the Ajero Asotemaru, the Alara and the Obalufon Alayemore.

The foremost rulers will break the news to their towns and vassal towns. Days of mourning will be declared.