The Ife Royal Traditional Council on Thursday had a closed door meeting with Osun state Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola at the Government House in Osogbo, the state capital.

Source told CEOAfrica that the meeting was in connection with the death of the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade who died in a London Hospital on Tuesday.

The Lowa of Ife, Oba Joseph Ijaodola led the RTC to the meeting, while the secretary of the body, Chief Adetoye Odewole was also in attendance with other chiefs.

Also present at the meeting is the Chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Babajide Omoworare and other top officials of Osun state government that are indigenes of Ile Ife.

Others Ife indigenes at the meeting include a former member of Osun state House of Assembly, Hon. Adetilewa Sijuade, former commissioner for Culture, Tourism and Home Affairs, Mr. Sikiru Ayedun and former Special Adviser to the governor on Youth and Sports, Mr. Biyi Odunlade.

A reliable source told CEOAfrica that the governor was unaware of the death of the monarch but he has continued to keep sealed lips even though he was discussing the burial arrangement with the chiefs and the families of the late Ooni.

However, Ijaodola who is next in rank to the late Ooni still insisted that Oba Sijuwade was alive and in good state of health. He explained that the Ife Royal Traditional Council came to Osogbo to update Governor Aregbesola about happenings around Oba Sijuade.

 "We were all shocked when we heard the news. If at all such an incident had occurred, the traditional council would be the first to know and equally break the news to the entire public”.

“Sixteen of us are his chiefs and when he was travelling out, he didn’t look like he was going to die and should that happened to him, we would have been informed even before anyone would hear about it. We prayed God to give the monarch long life in good health”. Ijaodola said