The official proclamation of the demise of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse II, will be made tomorrow, the Awara of Iwara-Ife, Oba Layi Adereti, has said.
He disclosed this yesterday while speaking with newsmen on the preparation for the burial of the monarch, who died at Saint Mary Hospital in London in the evening of July 25th.
According to the traditional ruler who spoke for the first time on the reported demise of the foremost monarch, the oro festival, which is the final rites of passage for the Ooni will hold between the hours of 9am and 4pm tomorrow.
Oba Adereti, who is also the head of oro cult in the entire Ile-Ife land said that all residents of the ancient town, both males and females will be required to stay indoors during the oro rite.
He declared that after the oro rite and proclamation, other rites will follow. He appealed to all residents of the community to heed the restriction order.
The monarch added that though only females were normally barred from the public this time around, it has no respect for gender.
“This is an official statement from the palace of Awara of Iwara-Ife, who is the head of oro deity that on Wednesday, 12th August 2015, there would be official proclamation of the demise of Ooni of Ife.
The proclamation will be made during the oro festival, being the final rites for the demise of Ooni of Ife.
“The residents of the ancient town are therefore urged to keep away from the streets between the hours of 9am and 4pm during which the oro deity will be out.
“With the announcement, people are advised to stay in-door for the period.
Since the news of the demise of Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade was reported in the media, traditional chiefs in Ile-Ife have continued to deny the report saying that the monarch was alive.
The traditional chiefs even after the close door meeting with Governor Rauf Aregbesola at the Government House in Osogbo still denied the demise of Ooni insisting that he was still alive.
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