The Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade, who reportedly passed on yesterday, July 28, in a UK hospital, died in the company of his two oloris (wives) – Olori Moni and Olori Odun, an Osun traditional ruler has told The Punch.

Though the spokesperson for the Ooni, Chief Funmilola Olorunnisolais, is yet to make an official announcement on the Oba’s death, sources in Osun confirmed to The Punch that Oba Okunade Sijuwade was flown out of the country on Friday, July 24,  after he slumped.

Another monach said: “Tokunbo, his eldest child, will probably leave for the UK this evening. There is nothing we can do but we take solace in the fact that he lived well. The proper announcement will be done later.”

The Sun reports that the Monarch who assumed the throne 35 years ago died at the St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, United Kingdom yesterday evening.

The newspaper gathered that the Ooni’s death would be officially announced any time soon by the by the palace,

A monarch in Ife, Osun state, who spoke to The Sun on the condition of anonymity explained that Oba Sijuwade had been ill for some time, but his condition deteriorated which necessitated him being flown abroad. He however stopped at disclosing the nature of the Oba’s illness.

The Nation reports that St Mary’s Hospital where the royal father was admitted is one of the four Major Trauma Centres (MTCs) in London.

The late Oba was expected to attend the wedding of one of his sons, Adegbite, at a traditional marriage billed for Sunday, the paper added.

According to Vanguard, Oba Sijuade ascended the throne in 1980 at the age of 50, in Ile – Ife to the Ogboru ruling house grandson of the Ooni Sijuade Adeleke Olubuse 1.

He studied at Abeokuta Grammar School, Ogun state and Oduduwa College in Ile-Ife. After working for about two years at the Nigerian Tribune, he enrolled at the Northampton College in the UK to study Business Management.