Oni of Ife, Oba Sijuwade dies at 85

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, has passed away.

The monarch died at the age of 85 in a London hospital on Tuesday, Punch reports.

A source told the newspaper that Oba Sijuwade was flown out of the country from Ibadan about five days ago in an unconscious state.

“Kabiyesi was flown out of the country about five days ago in an air ambulance. He was unconscious; his situation was critical.

“As a matter of fact, some people have been weeping in the palace since the weekend because of his situation when he was flown out from Ibadan in that air ambulance,” he said.

Oba Sijuwade became the fiftieth traditional ruler or Ife in 1980.