…As Etsu Nupe, SPA visit Ile-Ife, Aregbesola

By Ola Ajayi & Gbenga Olarinoye

Ile-Ife—COUNCIL of chiefs  in Ile-Ife have sought divine intervention in the choice of the next monarch in the ancient town after the death of Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade. The chiefs led by Obalufe, Oba S. Omisakin and Lowa of Ile-Ife, High Chief, J. O Ijaodola yesterday prayed that God will crown another monarch of late Oba Okunade Sijuwade’s pedigree.

condolence visit: From left; Oba Aderemi Adedapo, Olojudo of Ojudo; Oba S. F. Omisakin, Obalufe of Ife; Prof. Muiz Opeloye, President, Ife Development Board and Ahaji Abubakar Yahaya, Etsu Nupe and leader of the delegation, during a condolence visit to Ife Chiefs by the National Traditional Council of Nigeria, yesterday. Photo by Dare Fasube.

They said this during a condolence visit by the National Traditional Council of Nigeria led by Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar. Also yesterday, representatives of the Southern Peoples Assembly,  SPA, led by former military administrator,  Air Commodore, Indogensit Nkannah (retd) visited the kingmakers in the ancient city.

The monarchs’ council with a large entourage arrived Ile-Ife around 7pm on Tuesday and visited the families of the Late Sijuwade. The chiefs described Oba Sijuwade as a bridge builder who used his towering image to bring all zones in the country together. According to them, Oba Sijuwade, who was a co-chairman of the council with Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, lived a worthy and exemplary life,  especially in strengthening the cord of unity.

Obalufe said,”Remember that it was Sijuwade that died. Ooni can never die. All legacies he left behind are still very much alive. If good people die, the good they have done will never die. Look at people like Nnamdi Azikwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Aminu Kano and others. Their good works live on.

“There is a bridge that Sijuwade built from here to Kano and from Kano to Onitsha. Sijuwade linked all these bridges together. We need to strengthen the unity cord that binds us together, irrespective of where you come. If a Yoruba or Igbo man or woman goes to the North, he should feel at home.”

He advised that all ethnic groups in the country should cherish their languages and culture, adding that they  should not allow the two to go into extinction. “To further strengthen the unity cord that keeps us together, the government should make Hausa Language compulsory in schools in Yoruba and Igbo lands and also make Yoruba and Igbo compulsory in schools  in Hausa land.

“Like Lowa has said, the God that chose Oba Sijuwade is still on the throne and he will give us another king of his status”. Earlier, the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Abubakar, who said he represented Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, the chairman of the traditional council read a condolence letter  signed by him. He said,” We are here as the coordinating committee of the council comprising six geo-political zones.”

The letter stated how the news of the demise of Oba Sijuwade was received, describing him as a “pillar that will be greatly missed.” Those in attendance from the traditional council included; His royal highness, Alhaji (Dr) Mohammadu Abali Ibn Jarissa, Emir of Fika, Dr. Eze Ilomuanya, his royal highness, Timothy Omonobare Okumagbe among others.

In the same vein, the Southern Nigeria Peoples Assembly led by Bishop Bolanle Gbonigi also paid condolence visit to the palace. While speaking, Bishop Gbonigi said the assembly was pained to the marrow losing Oba Sijuwade at this time. He said now that the assembly was looking forward to celebrate the centenary birthday of Chief Mrs. Hannah Dideolu Awolowo , one could imagine how painful it would be when the monarch who had been looking forward to the birthday died suddenly.

However, he thanked God that the monarch died at a ripe age. He called on all citizens in the country to work together for mutual love, cooperation and unity. Also speaking, Air Commodore, Indogensit Nkannah, who said he spoke the mind of  Chief Edwin Clarke said, Oba Sijuwade had made many bridges than imagined. He described the monarch as a pillar of strength for South South and Southern Nigeria.

Support Buhari, Aregbesola urges visiting monarchs

Meantime, the governor of Osun State, Mr  Rauf Aregbesola, has implored all members of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria to give their unalloyed support and cooperation to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari as they did to his predecessors. Governor Aregbesola, who was represented by his Chief of Staff, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola made the request while addressing the delegation of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria who paid him a condolence visit over the demise of the late Ooni of Ife.

Oyetola stated that the visit of the traditional rulers symbolized the existing unity, peace, harmony and co-habitation between and among the traditional rulers in Nigeria regardless of socio-cultural, ethnic and religious differences.

Reading the condolence letter sent by the Chairman, National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria and Emir of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, the leader of the delegation who doubled as the Chairman, Coordinating Committee of National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria, HRH, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar said the death of the late Ooni was received with rude shock as it came to the Council at the time his (Okunade) role was needed most.

Alhaji Abubakar said the late Ooni was a father and astute leader to the traditional rulers in Nigeria, Africa and the entire world. Abubakar described his death as painful and a monumental loss to the Yoruba race and beyond. He sympathized with immediate family of the late monarch, Governor Aregbesola, people of the State of 0sun and the entire citizens in Nigeria.

He prayed God Almighty to grand the soul of the departed monarch the benefit of paradize and give the bereaved the strength and fortitude to bear the irreparable loss which the vacuum created by his death might have caused.