Tag: Ooni Of Ife

The PUNCH reports that a building which is located within the premises of Ile Oodua Palace of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has been burnt.

The building was razed down by fire, destroying valuables.

According to a source at Enuwa, Ile-Ife, where the palace is located, the incident happened around 11:30 pm Friday.

It was also learnt that when the smoke was noticed, the entire premises was thrown into panic, as those within the vicinity rallied efforts to prevent the fire from spreading to other parts of the palace.

A statement by the monarch’s spokesperson, Moses Olafare, obtained in Osogbo on Saturday, said no casualty, no loss of any cultural item or injury was recorded in the inferno and blamed the incident on a power surge.

It further read in parts, “A building apartment within the courtyard of the Palace Of The Ooni Of Ife was at about 11:30 pm yesterday engulfed in flames of fire incident triggered by a power surge which exploded through electrical appliances in the affected apartment.

“The inferno did not spread beyond the affected building located at a section of the palace premises, as it was swiftly put off through the combined efforts of the Government Fire Service, OAU Fire Service & Palace Emergency Control Unit.

“No casualties, no injuries recorded, no cultural items lost,” Olafare said.

Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife has a message for Nigerian politicians.

He told politicians to allow the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to conclude the ongoing collation of presidential election results.

While suing for peace, the monarch said Nigerians have suffered enough, stating the low-income earners were eagerly waiting for the electioneering period to be over so they can resume normal activities.

In a statement at the Ile Oodua Palace, Ile-Ife on Tuesday, the Ooni, who is the Co-Chairman of the National Council of Traditional Rulers of Nigeria (NCTRN), said: “The imbroglio developing from the Presidential election of Saturday is unnecessary, distracting and totally unacceptable. The nation does not need it at the moment.

‘’All over the world, elections are known to be disputed. And the tension must be addressed in a way in line with law of the land and in accordance with the best global practices.

“All politicians involved and their respective political parties without exception not to do anything capable of heating up the polity as this dangerously amounts to torching up a simmering fire of Nigerian cohesion.

“Nigerians have suffered enough and any form of uproar will add to the already harsh condition of living for Nigerians especially the poor and vulnerable amongst us. I equally urge our youths to resist all pressure to be utilized by unpatriotic elements as thugs.’’