Anxiety trails as last rites for ooni commence

Residents of the ancient town of Ile-Ife,
have been warned to remain indoors for the
Oro deity to observe the final funeral rite
for the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade
Sijuade.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on
Saturday in Ile-Ife, Osun state, observed
that the palace town criers were going
round the town announcing that residents,
especially commercial drivers and
motorcyclists should stay indoors between
7 a.m. and 6 p.m.
NAN reports that this will enable the Oro
deity perform necessary rite for the
departed monarch.
It was gathered that the Head of Oro Cult in
Ife, the Awara of Iwara, Oba Layi Adereti,
had ordered the curfew, warning that
anyone who flouted the order, irrespective
of age or gender would face its
consequences.
However, residents were apprehensive of
the stay-at-home order as many of them
rushed to the few available markets to get
essentials that will last them for the day.
It would be recalled that major market
places in Ife had been shut since last week
Friday when the burial rites started.
Although, some markets in Mayfair and its
environs have been in operation.
As a result of the curfew, some Heads of
Departments in the Obafemi Awolowo
University, Ile-Ife cancelled the continuous
assessment tests for their students earlier
scheduled to hold on Saturday.
Some students, who reside off campus,
have been advised to remain indoors in
compliance with the Oro cult order.
Also, hundreds of commercial
motorcyclists, popularly known as “Okada
riders” were seen on Friday distributing a
hand bill to their colleagues, warning them
against operating in Ife on Saturday.
The Vice President of the Okada Riders
Association, Ile-Ife chapter, Idowu Akamo,
told NAN that the fliers became imperative
because some members of the association
were always busy and might not have heard
the town criers while making the
announcement.
He said that many of the residents as well
as the Okada riders had thought the
mourning period would end on Aug. 21,
adding that many residents were surprised
when they heard the stay-at-home order.
According to him, the Oro people should
not be dared because the consequences
might be disastrous, saying the association
will not like to lose its members because of
disobedience.
It would be recalled that the Oro cult had
penultimate Friday, after the inter-religious
farewell service for the monarch in Ife,
asked residents of the town to stay indoors
from 4 p.m. till dawn for the next seven
days in continuation of the final rites of the
late Sijuade.
Many residents had obeyed the order and
were thinking it had ended on Friday but
got a shock when the curfew order came on
Saturday.
(NAN)