Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II, Ooni of Ife (1930 -2015)

The news of the transition of the Ooni of Ife, Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuade even at the ripe age of 85 years did surprise quite a lot of Nigerians. It appears as if there are some human beings that have transcend the normal human living cycle. If there were legends that will turn out to be true about humans living forever, Olubuse II will proudly occupy the few spaces left. He was seen as an enigma, a cultural icon and a king who does not die. Because of the universalism of his reign, nothing was suspected even when it was reported that he embarked on a medical trip to the United Kingdom from where the story of his demise hit home.

To make matters worse, his traditional council refused to confirm what had hit Yoruba land. Traditional precepts does not permit the announcement of such news just by anybody or anyhow. There are traditional rites to be performed and that must be performed. You don’t tell the world that the owner of the world is no more. How do you turn around to announce to his subjects that the same person they had thought had conquered death is now dead? For that reason therefore, there must be a process of atonement that will lead to a seamless transition, both spiritual and temporal. An Oba does not die so says the Yoruba, so how do you now turn around to announce that the primus inter Peres of the Yoruba dynasty is gone, no! But the whole drama following Ooni’s passage is testament to his greatness while alive. Apart from the reverence of the throne of his forbears, the personal charm, authority and candour he brought to bear on the throne definitely separated him from the circle of traditional rulers. The Ooni was world renowned.

Sijuade’s coronation was in 1980, following the demise of the former king of Ife. At the ceremonies, several first grade traditional rulers attended, including the Oba of Benin, Emir of Kano, Olu of Warri, Amayanbo of Opobo and representatives of the Queen of England. He was from the Ogboru ruling house. He took the regal name of Olubuse II following the adoption of the same name by his grandfather, Ooni Sijuade Adelekan, who was Olubuse I. Sijuade attended the famous Abeokuta Grammar School and Oduduwa College. He worked for three years in his father’s business, then for two years with the Nigerian Tribune.

He was later to attend the Northampton College, United Kingdom to study Business management. He later worked with the conglomerate, Leventis where he became a manager at 30. He was to later work at the National Motors, Lagos, where he became the sales director in 1963. He also founded a vehicle trading company from where he made a fortune and invested heavily in real estate. By the time he was crowed Ooni in 1980, he had become a millionaire by his own rights. Ironically, Sijuade was a strong member of the Four Square Gospel Church. That did not stop him from his avowed traditional roles.

During his reign, like most highly rated rulers, he came into conflict with other Yoruba traditional rulers over supremacy battles. This supremacy spat was led by the Aalafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi. Ooni was quoted to have described the Oyo monarch as head of a dead empire. Of course, there is no love lost between the two stools in Yoruba traditional leadership. Each of the warring stools belief that it is superior to each other. However, history tells us that Ife is the bastion of Yoruba civilisation and even ancestry. Whether it is myth or not, that historical evidence trumps whatever other factors that may have elevated Oyo. Suffice it to say that Oyo’s pre-eminence is not in question as that empire is perhaps the only one that tried to unify the whole Yoruba elements. Its mighty military war chest and other feats endear the headquarters of that empire to those who believe that might is right. However, to the eternal gratitude of the Yoruba and Nigeria in general, this altercation was never allowed to degenerate into anything sinister as has been witnessed in other climes.

Ooni tried to ensure that Nigeria remained peaceful. He was a pacifist who did not mind to be called names so far as peace remained in our country. He deflated storms that could have caused a tsunami during the political crises of the 1990s. He remained a national bridge builder in his later years. His closeness and friendship with the late Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero was a master stroke that deepened conversations between north and southern Nigeria. As Nigeria continues its work towards greatness, Olubuse II will be sorely missed if tension comes along the way. May God continue to protect the family he left behind! And may peace continue to reign in Ife and the Ooni stool. Rest in peace Olubuse II.

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