Residents of Ile-Ife, yesterday said despite assurances by the traditional chiefs that the Ooni, Oba Okunade Sijuade, Olubuse II, is not dead, but alive in London, they are demanding a proof from them.
Some of the residents who spoke when Daily Sun went round the town for their reactions to the town criers message asking them to remain calm and continue going about their normal businesses, noted that the chiefs’ position had not allayed their fears about the condition of the monarch.
They said Oba Sijuade remains a loving monarch and their father, stressing that traditional chiefs should provide more concrete evidence to support their claim that the monarch is alive.
On Monday, speculations were rife that the body of Ooni, who reportedly died in a London hospital last week, might have been brought to the town, but the chiefs are insisting that the monarch is not only alive, but in sound health.
The residents said the absence of the royal father from the wedding of his son, Adegbite, in Lagos at the weekend had increased their fears because no word was mentioned about him throughout the event.
“We know that the traditional chiefs might be playing to the gallery concerning the status of our Oba in keeping with customs and tradition. What they don’t understand is the denial about the status of Oba Sijuade by the chiefs has raised more questions than answers they have provided to the public on the matter,’’ a resident who craved for anonymity, said.
Others said that the reasons given for the ongoing Oro festival declared by traditionalists in the town was not enough, insisting that the emissaries (town criers) they sent to the town on Monday to ask the residents remain calm had not totally ended their anxiety in respect of the status of the monarch.
Meanwhile, the situation in the outer courtyard of the palace remained calm yesterday. Also, the tension in and around the place has also reduced.
Traders were seen hawking their wares, while other people were going about their normal businesses, except the Oro Festival which has compelled many people, especially the female traders to close shops and return home before 7.00 pm when the festival begins everyday.
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