Tributes as Ooni is buried

From Olanrewaju Oyedeji, Ile-Ife

The Vice President of the Federal Re‎public of Nigeria, Prof.Yemi Osinbajo has disclosed that the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade,Olubuse II lived an exemplary life and deserves to be honoured.

Osinbajo made this disclosure in Ile-Ife on Friday at the inter-religious farewell service in honour of the departed Oba Okunade Sijuwade,Olubuse II, the Ooni of Ife who died in a London Hospital on July, 28,2015.

 The burial service was witnessed by a mammoth crowd most of whom are indigenes of Ile-Ife. The Vice President admonished the people of Ife and Osun state not to mourn but rather celebrate the monarch for his great achievement when alive.

He said: “we are celebrating because the Baba’s (Ooni) life was full of achievements and we should remember him for that. There is no Yoruba person that would say with the fact that Baba did not do well when he was alive. We thank God because Ooni lived a good life and lived long.”

Speaking in the same vein, Osun state governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola described the 85-year old monarch as a pacesetter and astute monarch who presided over the affairs of Ife with the fear of God. The governor who was not present at the burial service but spoke through the Secretary to the state government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti said he received with rude shock the demise of the late monarch.

According to Aregbesola, who described the late monarch as a business mogul and industrialist, “the monarch will be remembered for his giant strides.” In his sermon, the Bishop of Anglican Communion in Ife, Right Rev. Oluranti Odubogun represented by Pst.Oluranti Akanbi, eulogised the monarch saying he brough fame and popularity to Ile-Ife. He said “everything that has a beginning must have an end. Sijuade had wealth but could not escape death. There is time for everything, a time to be born and a time to die. The Oba has died and will face judegement in heaven, its now left for those of us that are still alive to watch the way we live our lives.”

The preacher urged those at the service held at the main gate of the palace in Ile-Ife to turn to God and live a good life. Also preaching during the Muslim sermon at the service, a Muslim cleric, Mufutaudeen Yusuf paid tribute to the late monarch describing him as a philanthropist who contributed immensely to the lives of the less privileged in Ife.

Traditionalists also gave dirges in honour of the memory of the departed monarch describing his life on earth as fruitful and productive.

In his remarks, the eldest son of the departed Oba, Prince Adetokunbo Sijuade,expressed his profound gratitude on behalf of the Sijuade family to the Vice president,Governors and all others for attending the religious service in honour of the late monarch. Other dignitaries at the service included the governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko,Senator Babajide Omoworare, Secretary to the Osun state Government, Moshood Adeoti, Chief of Staff to the governor of Osun state, Gboyega Oyetola, Senator Iyiola Omisore and Gen. Adeyinka Adebayo, retd.