Members of Ife Royal Traditional Council (RTC) who visited the Governor of Osun State, Governor Rauf Aregbesola today has told the Governor that the Ooni of Ife is still very much alive, hale and healthy. They told the Governor that it is such a shame that it is only negative rumours that are always being spread about the Oba and if at all he has died they would be the first to know and make the news public. Others who were also at the meeting while they were giving the governor an update about the Oba were also top officials of the Osun State Government. Below is what the traditional chiefs told the state governor.
"we were all shocked when we heard the rumour. If at all such an incident had occurred, the traditional council would be the first to know and equally break the news to the entire public.
"Sixteen of us are his chiefs and when he was travelling out, he didn't look like he was going to die and should that have happened to him, we would have been informed even before anyone would hear about it. We pray that Ooni Sijuade will live long in good health."
Responding, Governor Aregbesola commended the chiefs for holding forth while Oba Sijade was away, just as he prayed for sound health and long life for the monarch.
