Aregbesola: My Last Conversation With Ooni

Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola yesterday spoke on his last conversation with the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade.
It was the first time the governor was making a public statement on the paramount ruler.
Aregbesola said he received a touching short text message from the Ooni shortly before the monarch left for London.
He simply said: “When the time is ripe I will let you (the public) know the content of the letter.”
The governor however did not reveal the content of the message.
The governor, who spoke at a special sitting at the Osun State House of Assembly to mark the 50th birthday of the Speaker of Osun Assembly, Hon. Najeem Salaam, explained that he discussed the message with the palace chiefs during their visit last week at the Government House, Osogbo about situations in Ife.
Aregbesola also prayed for the Speaker, who turned 50 yesterday, saying he deserved the prayers of the people for his contribution to the state.
He said: “The effective leadership we have provided in this state with the massive delivery of people oriented programmes could not have been without the appropriate cooperation of the House under the Speaker.
“It is therefore pertinent to note that the Speaker has been a major factor in the delivery of good governance and this we are optimistic will continue.”
It was learnt at the weekend that the body of Sijuwade has been moved from Ile’gbo to Obatala House otherwise known as Ile Ase, literally meaning the House of Authority.
Oba Sijuwade’s body, which has been laid in Ile’gbo since mid last week, was said to have been embalmed locally by traditionalists.
The Ile Ase is believed to be where the late paramount ruler got the spiritual decree to assert authority during his lifetime.
Investigation also revealed that traditionalists will carry out a new round of rites on the Ooni’s body at the Ile Ase after the conclusion of the ritual at Ile’gbo.
Ooni’s body is expected to spend few days at Ile Ase before it is moved to the Inner Sacrificial House within the palace.
According a palace source, the Inner Sacrificial House is symbolic because of its power to claim from the Ooni’s body all the authorities he had acquired from the gods.
It is from there, it was learnt that the body will be finally laid to rest.
OSUN DEFENDER