The New Ooni Of Ife Can Inherit The Late Ooni’s Widows, Says Tradition (Photo)

The wives of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba
Okunade Sijuwade, the Olubuse II, by
tradition cannot re-marry after the
demise of their husband, according
to a palace chief.
The chief, who preferred not to be
named, said the order was
prescribed by the Ife tradition since
the Ooni is not considered dead but
to have transited to a higher realm.
Maintaining that the Ooni still lives,
he said it is forbidden for wives left
behind by Oba Sijuwade to re-marry.
He said: “The rules is general and
applies to all Ooni that has passed on
and not peculiar to the wives of Oba
Sijuwade, the immediate past Ooni.
There may not be a clearly defined
repercussion against the tradition
but it is advisable that the order is
obeyed at all times and for all
generations.
The best that can happen to the
oloris left behind by any late Ooni is
for them to remain single or be
inherited by the reigning Ooni.”
He added that it does not matter
whether the wives are young or old,
“what matters is that the tradition
must be sustained in the overall
interest of the society.”
The late Ooni’s wives are Oloris
Morisola, Ladun, Odunayo,
Adedolapo and Linda and their ages
are between 40’s and 60’s.
The first wife, Olori Yetunde, the
mother of the first son, Prince
Adetokubo, died some years ago, long before Oba Sijuwade.

Source: TheNation