Obasanjo pays condolence visit to late Ooni’s wives

FROM CLEMENT ADEYI, OSOGBO

Former Presi­dent Olusegun Obasanjo, on Fri­day, paid a condo­lence visit to the wives of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, who died in a London hospi­tal recently and buried in the ancient city of Ile-Ife, where he held sway as the paramount ruler of the town.

Obasanjo who arrived Ile-Ife around 9:30am amid tight security immediately headed for the private resi­dence of the late monarch on Osogbo Road, where he condoled the wives fondly referred to as Oloris in Yo­ruba parlance.

The former Head of State had signed the condolence register at the

entrance to the late Ooni’s sitting room before he went to the inner chambers where he met with two of the wives, Morisola and Ladun.

In a remark, Obasanjo de­scribed the demise of the late Ooni as a great loss to the entire nation and urged the widows to bear the loss of their husband with fortitude.

According to him, the late Oba Sijuwade contrib­uted meaningfully to the traditional institutions in the country and prayed God to grant the family, the people of Ile Ife as well as the entire Osun State the fortitude to bear the loss of the monarch, especially at a time he was needed most.

The ex-president was ac­companied by Chief Eb­enezer Babatope and other political bigwigs and met some of the children of Oba Sijuade and some traditional rulers.

Speaking on the successor for the late Ooni, Obasanjo appealed to the kingmakers of Ile- Ife to strictly follow the laid down procedures in tandem with the culture and tradition of the town.