The Ooni of Ife, Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade, is dead.
He died Tuesday in London at the age of 85.
Born into the Ogboru ruling house on January 1 1930, he was the grandson of the Ooni Sijuwade Adelekan Olubuse I.
He was the fiftieth traditional ruler of Ife, taking the regal name Olubuse II.
He climbed unto the throne on December 6, 1980. As the Ooni of Ife, he presided over the Ife territory, in the South West Nigeria but his influence went far and beyond.
He came into office at the height of the supremacy fight amongst Yoruba Obas. The crisis pitched him against the Alaafin of Oyo. It festered on until Osun State was carved out of the old Oyo State.
Before he became an Oba, he studied at Abeokuta Grammar School and later at Northampton College in the United Kingdom before he became a manager at Leventis stores.
A major force in the life of Oba Sijuwade was Yeyeluwa of Ife, Olori Oyetunde Sijuwade, whom he described as a remarkable woman, always cheerful and hospitable. Her death in August 1986 was a major blow.
He is survived by several wives and children.
More details later
