remains of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade
Sijuwade, Olubuse II, must have been buried
on Friday, the town’s chiefs have said.
The spokesperson for the chiefs, Chief Dejo
Adejobi, told our correspondent on the
telephone on Thursday that the restriction of
movement for the rites would start from 4pm
today and would past for the next seven days.
But asked what the chiefs would do to ensure
that the curfew would not affect visitors who
would attend the burial, Adejobi said, “I
understand you. Yes, we cannot invite people
for the burial service and still restrict their
movement. But you should understand that
the service will start by 10am and the
restriction of movement will start from 4:pm.”
Meanwhile, the burial rites which would herald
the interment of the late monarch continued
on Thursday as town criers from the palace
moved round the town to enforce the chiefs’
order.
A resident, who witnessed the scene, Wunmi
Adeoye, told our correspondent that the town
criers beat their gongs as they moved round,
warning residents not to come out tomorrow
because movement would be restricted to
enable the chiefs to carry out the remaining
rites.
The town criers, according to him, warned
violators of the order to be ready to face the
consequences of their action.
He said, “Around 9.30am some persons from
the palace came to Oja Titun and started
beating traders and driving away traders. They
said the people knew the burial rites still
continued but came out to dare them.
“They have shut down the market and they
said the rites would continue for seven days.”
Speaking with our correspondent, a resident
who said she had visited Itakogun Market to
buy some things, said some palace
messengers went round ordering traders to
immediately close their shops and vacate the
markets in compliance with the order.
At Sabo Market, which is mostly populated by
non-indigenes, traders hurriedly closed their
shops as the news of the closure order of
markets reached the place.
Some residents frown on the way the palace
messengers flogged traders and those who
crossed their path, saying they palace chiefs
ought to have gone to the radio station to
inform everybody that markets would be
closed for seven days.
The announcement of movement restriction
may confusion among those who were invited
for the interdenominational service which
would be held for the monarch before his
remains would be interred at the palace.
The interment, which would take place inside
the palace, it was gathered, would only be
witnessed by some traditional chiefs.
The gates of the Ooni’s place were ajar when
our correspondent visited the place on
Thursday. This, the chiefs said, was one of the
signs that the Ooni had left the world.
Preparations were also in top gear for the
burial as workers were seen clearing the bush
from Ife Junction to the main gate of the
Obafemi Awolowo University on Thursday.
