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Wednesday 29 July 2015

Ooni Of Ife Most Revered Royal Father Oba Sijuade Joins His Ancestors


The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, has died at the age of 85.
Oba Sijuwade, one of the country’s most revered royal fathers and custodian of Yoruba culture, died in a London hospital yesterday after a brief illness.
Although, there has been no official statement concerning his death, the online free encyclopaedia, Wikipedia, surmised that he was dead.
“Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade, or Sijuade (born 1 January 1930 – died 28 July, 2015)”, Wikipedia posted on its site late yesterday.
Enquiries at the palace met with stiff resistance as insiders said the death of a traditional ruler cannot be announced until certain rites were performed.
Highly placed Osun State government officials were also reluctant to confirm the demise of the royal father. However, there was noticeable apprehension and a mournful mood in the state.

Oba Sijuwade mounted the throne of the ancient city, regarded as the source of Yoruba race, on December 6, 1980, at the age of 50 as Ile-Ife’s 50th Ooni, in a ceremony attended by other first-class royalties including the Emir of Kano, Oba of Benin, Amayanabo of Opobo and Olu of Warri, as well as by representatives of the Queen of England. He reigned for over 34 years.
Oba Sijuwade’s eventful reign marked a remarkable turning point in the nation’s history.
During the monarch’s long reign, Nigeria experienced a great deal of turmoil with military coups and unrest, which often pulled the monarch out of his palace to mediate.
He had recently returned home from London, where he had been receiving treatment, to host former President Goodluck Jonathan along with other Yoruba obas during the last electioneering process.
Oba Sijuwade was born on January 1, 1930. He took the regal name, Olubuse II, on his ascension to the throne.

He hailed from a great royal family in the Ogboru House, Ilare, Ile-Ife. His predecessor from the royal house, Sijuwade Adelekan Olubuse I, was the first Ooni to venture out of his domain. At the invitation of the colonial governor, he visited Lagos in 1903 to give his ruling on whether the Oba Elepe of Epe was entitled to wear a crown which was earlier refused by Oba Akarigbo of Remo.
Sijuwade attended elementary education at Igbein, Abeokuta, and had his secondary education at the Abeokuta Grammar School and Oduduwa College, Ile-Ife in Osun State.
On leaving Oduduwa College, he joined his father’s business for about three years, after which he worked with Chief Obafemi Awolowo at The Nigerian Tribune as a reporter and later as a sales executive.
Sijuwade also studied Business Management at the Northampton Polytechnic in United Kingdom in the early fifties. He also participated in advanced business management training programmes with companies in Italy, Greece, Cyprus, Scotland, West Germany and Israel.
Urbane, relaxed and self-confident, Oba Sijuwade was a successful businessman and invested in real estate, construction, hospitality and he enjoyed travelling, swimming, horse-riding, table-tennis and having intellectual discussions with small groups.
For visiting Israel at a time Nigeria had no diplomatic ties with the country, the Oba was 
temporarily suspended and restricted under a military rule. The royal father bore the adversity with dignity and composure in keeping with age-long Yoruba tradition and dictates of his exalted office.

PAST OONIS OF IFE

1ST ODUDUWA
   
2ND OSANGANGAN OBAMAKIN
3RD OGUN
4TH OBALUFON OGBOGBODIRIN
5TH OBALUFON ALAYEMORE
6TH ORANMIYAN
7TH AYETISE
8TH LAJAMISAN
9TH LAJODOOGUN
10TH LAFOGIDO
11TH ODIDIMODE ROGBEESIN
12TH AWOROKOLOKIN
13TH EKUN
14TH AJIMUDA
15TH GBOONIJIO
16TH OKANLAJOSIN
17TH ADEGBALU
18TH OSINKOLA
19TH OGBORUU
20TH GIESI
21ST LUWOO (FEMALE)
22ND LUMOBI
23RD AGBEDEGBEDE
24TH OJELOKUNBIRIN
25TH LAGUNJA
26TH LARUNNKA
27TH ADEMILU
28TH OMOGBOGBO
29TH AJILA-OORUN
30TH ADEJINLE
31ST OLOJO
32ND OKITI
33RD LUGBADE
34TH ARIBIWOSO
35TH OSINLADE
36TH ADAGBA
37TH OJIGIDIRI
38TH AKINMOYERO
1770-1800
39TH GBANLARE
1800-1823
40TH GBEGBAAJE
1823-1835
41ST WUNMONIJE
1835-1839
42ND ADEGUNLE ADEWELA
1839-1849
43RD DEGBINSOKUN
1849-1878
44TH ORARIGBA
1878-1880
45TH DERIN OLOGBENLA- He was a powerful warrior!
1880-1894

46TH ADELEKAN (OLUBUSE I)- He was the first Ooni to travel outside Ile-Ife to Lagos in 1903 when he was invited by the then Governor General to settle the dispute involving Elepe of Epe. All Yoruba Kings including the Alaafin left their respective thrones as a mark of respect for the Ooni. They returned to their respective stools after Ooni returned to Ile-Ife from Lagos. Oba Adelekan Olubuse was nicknamed 'ERIOGUN'; Akitikori; Ebitikimopiri.
1894-1910

47TH ADEKOLA
1910-1910

48TH ADEMILUYI (AJAGUN)- He also was reputed to be a powerful Monarch.
1910-1930

49TH ADESOJI ADEREMI- Very intelligent with good foresight, he was invited to be minister without portfolio when he ruled from 1951 to 1955. He was the first indigenous governor of Western Nigeria. One of his most laudable achievements was the establishment of the GREAT University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) at Ile-Ife.
1930-1980
 
CURRENT OONI OF IFE

50TH
OKUNADE SIJUWADE- He is the grandson of Olubuse l (The 46th Ooni) from Ogboru Ruling Family. Some describe him as 'the Royal Eagle', Elegant, Self-confident, well-informed and hardworking.





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