Ife chiefs seek divine intervention

                                                                                 OOni of Ife Oba Okunade Sijuwade

Ile-Ife – COUNCIL of chiefs in Ile-Ife has sought divine intervention in the choice of the next monarch in the ancient town after the death of Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.

The chiefs led by Obalufe, Oba S. Omisakin and Lowa of Ile-Ife, High Chief,  J. O Ijaodola prayed earnestly to God Wednesday that another monarch of late Oba  Okunade Sijuwade’ s pedigree should emerge.

They said this during a condolence visit by the National Traditional Council of Nigeria led by Etsu Nupe, Alhaji (Dr) Yahaya Abubakar.

After the burial of Oba Okunade Sijuwade, so many interested candidates have been struggling to ‎assume the throne.

The council with a large entourage arrived the city on Tuesday around 7pm and visited the families of late Sijuwade.

The chiefs described Oba Sijuwade as a bridge builder who used his towering image to bring all zones in the country together.

According to the chiefs, Oba Sijuwade who was a co-chairman of the council with Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, lived a worthy and exemplary life ‎especially in strengthening the cord of unity.

Obalufe said,”Remember that it was Sijuwade that died. Ooni can never die. All legacies he left behind are still very much alive. If good people die, the good they have done will never die. Look at people like Nnamdi Azikwe, Obafemi Awolowo, Aminu Kano and others. Their good works still live on.”

“There is a bridge that Sijuwade built from here to Kano and from Kano to Onitsha. Sijuwade linked all these bridges together. We need to strengthen the cord of unity that binds us together. Irrespective of where you come‎ from. If a Yoruba or Ibo man or woman goes to North, he should feel at home.”