Alaafin’s death: It is normal to deny monarch’s passage – Palace source

A reliable source at the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Atanda Olayiwola Adeyemi has said that it is normal for the palace to deny…

A reliable source at the palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Atanda Olayiwola Adeyemi has said that it is normal for the palace to deny the passage of the monarch.

The reliable source, a prince and a member of Adeyemi family in Oyo, spoke to newsmen Saturday morning.

Oba Adeyemi, who ascended the throne 52 years ago, died late Friday.

The monarch passed away at Afe Babalola University Teaching Hospital in Ado Ekiti at the age of 83.

But the Media and Publicity Director to the monarch, Bode Durojaiye, has denied the death of the monarch.

Durojaiye, in the statement obtained by newsmen, said that the monarch has neither fallen sick nor rushed to the hospital for any serious ailment.

He advised the general public not to entertain any fear at all, saying that the monarch is healthy, physically fit and mentally stable.

But, a source at the palace has said that it is normal for the media aide to the monarch to deny the death of the monarch in the first instance.

The source, who confirmed the passage of the monarch on Saturday morning, explained that official statement on the death would be made when all the belongings of the monarch are moved out of the palace.

The source, who is a member of Adeyemi family, added that the palace cannot announce the death of the monarch until the property which belonged to him are evacuated.

He added that similar thing was done when the late Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade joined his ancestors few years ago.

The palace soure said, “What they did is normal. They did the normal thing. They can’t just announce it like that. If they announce it formally like that, that means they cannot move anything from the palace again.

“If you remember, the time of the late Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Sijuwade Olubuse, they first debunked it. They cannot just announce it. They have to first debunk the news.

“They will debunk it until they pack all his property from the palace, that is when they will announce it officially.

“I told you, it is confirmed. One of my brothers called me in the midnight. Don’t mention my name, just say a palace source. It is okay like that”.