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Last week, reports filtered in that the Ooni reportedly passed on. The Ile-Ife Royal Traditional Council made up of the chiefs has since dismissed the reports as untrue. They had also met with the Osun State governor Gov. Rauf Aregbesola to brief him that the Ooni of Ife is hale and hearty.
Just last night, the Oro festival started in the ancient Ile-Ife town, a move that is expected to precede the formal announcement of the alleged demise of the Ooni of Ife. This traditional rite which begun on Friday(31st July 2015) night is expected to last for 7 days, and during this festival period which is from dusk to dawn, all females are not allowed to come out in the town until the festival is over.
But what happens then?
For at least 12 days — between his passing, the funeral and beyond — commercial activities in the town and neighbouring places will grind to a halt, while some markets will close for an indefinite period. To focus on the financial disruption doesn’t begin to describe the sheer magnitude of it. It will be an event unlike anything Ile-Ife has ever seen before.
It will be a strange, uncertain time till another Ooni of Ife ascends the throne. It is however expected that detailed plans will have been put in place for handling the announcement.
Once this announcement is made, all big celebrations that may be linked to the Ooni will be cancelled.
And there will be a resurrection of Ile-Ife culture and tradition.
Given the Ooni of Ife’s significance, it will almost certainly be the top news story all over the country and it will trend on social media.
What will happen inside the Palace?
A particular door at the backyard of Ooni’s palace that had been permanently closed since December 1980, when Oba Okunade Sijuwade ascended the throne, would be opened to indicate that the throne is vacant.
Flags in the state may be flown at half-mast.
A star-studded funeral will be planned and it will be led by the Primate of the Church of Nigeria(Anglican Communion), the most senior figure in the Anglican Church of Nigeria.
Once the funeral is concluded, it’ll be time for the interment. The king may well have already decided this.
After a certain appropriate period of mourning, there will be a coronation. It’s a highly ceremonial affair.
Expectedly there will be changes taking place in the state in weeks and months ahead.
But right now this is all academic — and hopefully a long way off yet. In December 2015, the highly-revered Ooni of Ife Oba Okunade Sijuwade would be 35 years on the throne!
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