Their fear was borne out of the tradition which requires that some rites must be performed anytime the Ooni dies. The rites, according to some elders, would be carried out for seven days before the news of the demise of the monarch would be formally announced to the public. Despite civilisation and change in many aspects of Aftican cultures, many still believe that some rituals which would be performed following the death of the Ooni could require human being to be used for sacrifice.
A student of the Obafemi Awolowo University who identified himself simply as Kunle told our correspondent that he and his colleagues are wary of going out at night because of the fear of the unknown especially at a time like this.
He said, “My friends and I were discussing the issue and I told them that anybody who likes could ignore the information in the media but as for me, I believe that the monarch is dead.
“ It is wise to be circumspect especially at a time like this. The Ooni was a great Oba and when somebody like this joins his ancestors, I believe some rituals or rites would be performed and one does not know what the rituals will require. So, I stay indoors from evening to around 7:30 in the morning because I live off-campus.”
A female student of the university, Tosin, also said that she was afraid of going out at night because of the situation in the town. She said many of her mates had also expressed similar fear following the news of the death of the monarch.
Entertaining the same fear, a 300 level male student, Timothy Agbor, who is Igbo from Enugu State said he had further restrained himself from going outside the campus. He said his self-imposed restriction could last a month or more. The student, who speaks Yoruba language fluently said he had stayed long enough in Yorubaland to know that when an important person such as the great monarch passed away, there will be rituals.
Agbor said, “I live on the campus and I don’t have to be afraid of anything ritual but I tell my friends to ensure that they don’t go to the heart of the town at night.
“It is not good to go out at night and I don’t do it but the situation at hand now calls for more restraints. There is a piece of information on the social media that rituals would be done for seven days. I don’t know if the information is true or not but I have to be careful,” he said.
Hannah Akinola, another 300 level student of OAU also expressed fear about going out late in the evening. She said although she was not used to attending parties or going out at night, she was a little bit afraid because she lived off-campus.
She said, “There is still confusion concerning the whole thing. We are not sure if the Ooni is dead as the media reported it or if he is still alive just like the chiefs have been saying but everybody must be careful in order not to fall prey of rituals.”
But an okada rider, who identified himself as Kehinde Ogunleye, said there was nothing to be afraid of because the revered monarch is not dead. He said he had been working and closing as late as 10:pm and he had not seen anything strange.
He said “There is nothing to be afraid of in Ife. Nobody is hunting for human beings to be used as sacrifice. The information on the social media is not true. I work late and I have not seen anything to suggest that. I have not been harassed by anybody.
“The chiefs are supposed to have cut trees at the palace and make an official announcement if it is true that Ooni is dead. Everybody is going about their businesses as usual.”
A retired teacher, who identified himself as Samuel Adejumo, told our correspondent that there was no need for anyone to be afraid that they could be caught and be used for rituals. He said the fear was unfounded while urging the public to ignore it.
He said, “We know that civilisation and technology have had some negative effects on our culture but as Africans, we should still have respect for the traditional institution. To me, the Ooni is alive and I believe what the chiefs have said. There is no reason to be afraid. Those who are afraid that they could be used as sacrifice are ignorant.”
Some of the youths in the town, including Yusuf Awokunle, said the Ooni could never die because he was the symbol of the throne and not a person who could die.
A farmer in Ife, Mr. Timothy Olawuyi, said although he believed the person who occupied the throne had died, he believes in the immortality of the Ooni, who he said never dies.
Olawuyi said, “ The person who occupied the throne might have died as reported by the media but the Ooni can never die. He is alive. The stool is there and those who would occupy it will come and go but the Ooni is there.”
Not ready to be caught napping, some residents told our correspondent on Thursday that they had bought some food stuff which could last them for days in case the official announcement is made anytime. They said they had to stockpile food since markets would be closed down in honour of the Ooni in case of his death.
Oro festival begins
The anxiety created by the demise of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, has continued to heighten as worshipers of Oro began the annual festival in Ife on Friday night.
Oro is a deity worshiped across Yorubaland. Worshipers of the deity usually come out at night and move round the town but while female folks are forbidden from seeing them, male of any age are permitted to see the activities.
Sources in Ife told our corespondent that the festival scheduled to start on Friday night had nothing to do with the demise of the Ooni.
They added that the festival which some persons were mistaken for the commencement of the rites of passage of the Ooni would last for seven nights.
The sources, who are conversant with the tradition of the ancient town also said Ooni was still alive contrary to the media reports that the monarch died in the United Kingdom.
Although some youths interviewed by our correspondent said they were not aware of the festival, they said the festival would force everybody to remain indoors at night throughout the seven-day period of the festival.
A former Commissioner for Culture and Tourism in Osun State, Mr. Sikiru Ayedun, when contacted confirmed to our correspondent that Oro festival would start on Friday night.
Ayedun, who is from Ife said, “ Yes, Oro will start tonight ( Friday). But it has nothing to do with the rumour of the death of Baba ( the Ooni.)
“It is an annual festival and it holds around this time. So, it has nothing to do with the rumour in town.”
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