The Unauthorised Biography: Oba Okunade Sijuwade in the eye of history

A modern housing estate which he built in one of the quieter and newer parts of the town was to provide housing for senior staff of the University of Ife, and help relieve the University’s acute staff housing shortage. It was for prince Sijuwade not only a business investment but a contribution to the development of the University and his home town.

It was the same thoughts that inspired his decision to build a first class motel for V.I.P. visitors to Ife, the Motel Royal. This also turned to be a far-sighted decision because at his coronation a few years later, when the town played host to thousands of guests, the accommodation problem was not nearly as chaotic as it might have been. With his business now firmly established internationally, he decided to establish a stronger footing in his home town, Ile-Ife.

He embarked on two major projects in the town which turned out to be a wise decision both from a business angle and as a means of enhancing his image in his community and among many Ife indigenes. It is widely believed that this was the bedrock for him ascending the throne of his fore fathers in 1980.
Oba Okunade Sijuwade: a modern ambassador of peace in contemporary Yoruba history

Ever Since he ascended the throne, Oba Sijuwade has been a worthy ambassador-at-large in Nigeria and a symbol of pride for the Yoruba. The Ooni has ever since been in the forefront of the vanguard of traditional rulers whose foremost pursuit is geared towards sustaining the stability, unity and peaceful existence of every single component of the Nigeria nation.

In fact, the Ooni, the Emir of Kano and the Obi of Onitsha for almost three years were being referred to as the three musketeers who have fought tooth and nail to bring the country together where every Nigerian can sleep in any part of the country other than his own town.

Oba Okunade Sijuwade has done a whole lot more than any other ruler in Yorubaland. For example, he is reputed to have personally forged unity and peace among the people and helped the Yoruba in Diaspora to stay in touch with their cultural roots. For the sake of history, in 2009, His Royal Majesty, Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II, the Ooni of Ife, led about fifty traditional rulers from the South West on a five-day visit to the neighbouring Republic of Benin.

The visit of the Ooni with the traditional rulers and chiefs was aimed at promoting cultural link and unity among traditional rulers in West African countries, some of who shared cultural link and origin with the Yoruba. Oba Aderemi Adedapo, the Olojudo Alayemore of Ido-Osun who doubles as Chairman, Protocol, Public Relation, Culture and Tourism Committee of  the Osun State Council of Obas, said the visit of the Ooni and the Yoruba traditional rulers to the Republic of Benin was to  promote cultural lineage and peace in West Africa. Eminent traditional rulers on the entourage of the Ooni on this fateful day were Oore of Otun-Ekiti, Obalufon Alayemore of Efon Alaaye, Owa Ooye of Okemesi, Elemure of Emure-Ekiti, Timi of Ede, late Aloko of Iloko Ijesa, Olufon of Ifon, Olobu of Ilobu, Aragbiji of Iragbiji, Olowu of Owu, Olumoro of Moro, Akesin of Ora, Asaoni of Ora, Olojo of Ojo and Onisan of Isan-Ekiti. Others were Owamiran of Esa-Oke, Olororuwo of Ororuwo, Olufi of Gbongan, Elerin of Erin, Oluwo of Iwo-Oke, Adimula of Ifewara, Salu of Edunabon and Olukoyi of Ikoyi Ile.

Oba Okunade Sijuwade and other traditional rulers visited Seme, a border town between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin and given a warm reception by Dr. Thomas Boni Yayi, the President of the Republic of Benin, who was represented by Professor Moufoutau Laleye, the Ambassador of Benin Republic to Nigeria and other prominent rulers comprising Alaketu of Ketu, Onisabe of Sabe, Onikoyi of Ajase, Ajahute Dode of Alada, the king of Abomey and a host of others. 

The five-day visit took the traditional rulers to Cotonou, Ajase/Porto-Novo, Ouidah, (a former slave camp) Alada, Abomey, Sabe and Ketu. Three of the seven sons of Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yoruba race, are residents in Benin Republic. They are Alaketu of Ketu who was the first born, Onipopo of Popo and Onisabe of Sabe. The President of Benin Republic, Dr. Yayi, who organised a civic reception for Oba Sijuwade, said that the Ooni should feel more at home since the country is made up of Yoruba and other tribes.