The Royal Traditional Council of Ile Ife has debunked news reports that the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse II, has died in a London Hospital, saying the paramount ruler is alive, hale and hearty.
The Royal Traditional Council, made up of all traditional chiefs and title holders in Ile-Ife, 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.
It was earlier on reported that the Ooni joined his ancestors around 5pm on Tuesday after a brief illness.
But addressing newsmen in House of Chiefs located within the premises of Ile-Oodua, the Palace of the Ooni, Lowa of Ife, Oba Joseph Ijaodola, who spoke in Yoruba, said the report in the media that Oba Sijuade died of an undisclosed ailment was untrue.
Also speaking, Secretary, Royal Traditional Council of Ife, the Ladin of Ife, High Chief Adetoye Odewole, said the Ooni is hale and hearty and he even spoke to the chiefs on the phone few hours earlier.
He added “those behind the death story are enemies of Ife and as I speak with you, 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 Sijuade remains in sound state of health”.
Similarly, chairman, Ife Development Board, Prof. Muib Opeloye, said Ife as a town with rich tradition has its way of managing its affairs, reiterating the position that the royal father was preparing for his son’s wedding and urged the people not to panic but go about their normal daily activities.