Residents of Ile-Ife, Osun State have expressed displeasure over announcement by town criers, who asked them to be calm following the “death” of the Ooni, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.
They also condemned the way the Council of Ife Chiefs were handling the matter.
The residents said rather than being specific, the town criers’ message was evasive and put them “in an unnecessary suspense”.
While many of them refused to talk until they were assured that they would not be named, few that spoke said the “hide and seek game” over the matter would eventually be put to rest soon.
One of them, who said: “Despite the persistent assurances by the traditional chiefs that the monarch was not dead, but in a healthy condition in an unidentified London hospital, the people of Ife deserve to know the condition of our traditional and spiritual symbol”.
He said evidences abound that it was not well with Oba Sijuwade, even if the people were not sure whether “he is dead or alive”.
Another indigene, who was warned not to comment on the matter because of the “spiritual implications”, advised the traditional chiefs to give proof “that Oba Sijuwade is healthy and alive”.
But traditional and palace chiefs continued to say Oba Sijuwade was hale and hearty.
The security around the palace remained very low yesterday, as only few guards and four policemen man its main gate.
