Friday, October 16, 2015

Ooni’s deputy, Obalufe, dies at 85








Less than three months after the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, joined his ancestors, his second in command, Obalufe of Ife, Oba Solomon Folorunso Omisakin has also passed on.

Though one of the palace chiefs, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said yesterday that Omisakin was in an undisclosed hospital, one of his daughters, when contacted, confirmed that he actually died at 10a.m. yesterday.

The daughter, who also preferred anonymity emotionally said: “won ti ku o,” meaning “he has died.”
It was gathered that the late Obalufe, who was also the leader of Ife kingmakers, was on sick bed when  Sijuwade died in a London Hospital during a brief illness.

 Ife traditional chiefs, however, allayed fears about  Obalufe’s demise, insisting it  would not in any way affect  efforts to appoint a new Ooni. A source said the next in rank, Lowa of Ife, Oba Joseph Ijaodola, might perform the functions of the late Obalufe, whose duty it was to make official pronouncement of the new Ooni when appointed.

Another source from the Giesi Ruling House commiserated with the people of Ile-Ife and expressed shock over the development.

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