The Ooni of Ife, Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade is dead. He died today in London at the age of 85.
The monarch was the fifth Ooni of Ife. He ascended the throne on December 6, 1980.
He presided over the Ife territory, in the South West Nigeria but his influence went far beyond the Ife territory.
He came into power at the height of the supremacy fight amongst Yoruba Obas. The crisis pitched him against the Alaafin of Oyo. It festered on until Osun state was
carved out of the old Oyo State.
He had his college education at Abeokuta
Grammar School and later at Northampton College in the United Kingdom before he became a manager at Leventis stores.
Oba Sijuwade’s term as Oba was characterised with political treachery, as he was one of the traditional rulers that meddled in politics. He was infamously
instrumental to the annulment of June 12, 1993, elections won by late Moshood Abiola.
The Ooni had also been severally fingered in the failed effort to have Senator Iyiola Omisore elected the governor of Osun state in 2011.
He is survived by wives and children.
Source: dailypost
His was a very colouful and flamboyant life, marked by intrigue. An enigmatic character who wielded enormous influence both on the social and political landscape. Another era begins...
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