Anxiety
reigns in most parts of Osun State and Ile-Ife in particular, yesterday over
the state of health of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade. Checks
revealed that there was palpable fear in some quarters over the present state
of health of the first class traditional ruler who is also the president of the
Osun State Council of Traditional Rulers and Chiefs.
It
was gathered that the monarch had been flown abroad about a month ago due to
health related issues.
Oba
Sijuwade had been absent in most of the functions in the state and the country
at large in the recent times and his absence at state functions remained a
source of worry among his kinsmen.
The
monarch was conspicuously absent at the commissioning of the Omoluabi Garment
Factory in Osogbo last week where he was said to have been invited as a special
guest.
The
last official outing of the monarch in the state was the launch of the Tablet
of Knowledge (Opon Imo) by the state Governor, Rauf Aregbesola in Ilesa.
A
source close to the Ooni’s palace in Ile-Ife confided in Daily Sun that the
monarch was flown abroad about a month ago, adding that nothing much had been
heard of him since his journey abroad.
It
was gathered that the health of the 83-year-old monarch had deteriorated, hence
the decision to take him abroad for medical treatment.
Oba
Sijuwade had in 2010, celebrated his 80th birthday in grand style and also
conferred honourary chieftaincy titles on some individuals including President
Goodluck Jonathan.
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