Ooni of Ife’s Wives Can Only Be Inherited by New Oba or Stay Widows

According to an unnamed palace chief in Ife, the wives of the late Oba Okunade Sijuwade cannot re-marry. They can only be ‘inherited’ by the next Ooni of Ife or remain widows.

The Nation reports,

“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 40s and 60s.

The first wife, Olori Yetunde, the mother of the first son, Prince Adetokubo, died some years ago, long before Oba Sijuwade.