His reported demise on July 28, 2015 marks the end of an era in Yoruba history as the curtain falls on the reign of a very colourful and flambouyant monarch, Oonirisa, Adimula Olofin, Arole Oodua, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse 11.
Ile-Ife is the cradle of the Yoruba nation and the Ooni is the Arole Oodua and the keeper of the Household of Oduduwa, the founder and progenitor of the Yorubas. His demise has aroused the attention of people and monarchs across Yorubaland.
In death, Okunade Sijuade will be united with his colourful and powerful predecessors such as Oranmiyan Akinorun, the founder of Oyo Empire, Obalufon Alayemore, who was led by Ifa oracle to establish Efon Kingdom, Giesi, Ayikiti, who ascended the throne, based on the support of Are Ona Kankanfo Latoosa Asubiaro, Oba Derinola Ologbenla, who was ruler of Oke-Igbo before becoming the Ooni, Oba Abewela, who was attacked by Oyo rebels, Oba Adelekan Olubuse Eriogun, who re-assembled the dispersed people of Ile-Ife and fortified the town against onslaught by Modakeke, and Oba Ademiluyi Ajagunlaforikan, who brought the people of Modakeke back to Ife to boost the population of the kingdom so that he could earn a fatter allowance from colonial masters and of course his worthy predecessor and most glamourous and most successful Ooni ever reigned Alayeluwa Tadeniawo Adesoji Aderemi.
Oba Okunade Sijuade: End of an era
