DG’s Message to Corps Members

In light of the recent news surrounding the passing of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuade, the Director General of the NYSC has a message to all Corpers, especially those serving in and around Ile-Ife, Osun State.
The DG, Brig-Gen Johnson Olawumi has always stressed the importance of corps members’ safety above everything. He sent out this message on Monday night to corpers in Ile-Ife to be security conscious during this period. This is a time when many rituals and rites of passage will be carried out as the Oba who died regarded as a deity.
It should be noted that the Oro rites, which is a male-exclusive ritual that is usually associated with the highest traditional authorities in Yorubaland, has commenced in Ife. If you have nothing to do around those areas, please keep off, esp. to our female readers.
THE DG’s MESSAGE:
“I wish to once again remind all corps members (CMs) especially those serving in Ile-Ife,Osun state of the need to strictly observe d culture & tradition of your host communities inline with d NYSC policy of integration of Corps participants to our communities. To this end, corps members in Ife, Osun state should constantly listen to their Zonal Inspector (ZI)/Local Government Inspector (LI) for further directives due to recent developments in that locality I have directed the State Coordinator to consult the Ife Traditional Council on the safety of CMs as lives of CMs are paramount to the Scheme.”
The Oba whose full name is Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade became the fiftieth traditional ruler or Ooni of Ife in 1980, taking the regnal name Olubuse II. The late Ooni, whose death will soon be officially announced, died at the London Clinic, located at 20 Devonshire Place in London. The Ooni was rushed to London on Friday July 24 and sources say that the body is already within the palace in Ile-Ife. Ife is a traditional Yoruba state based in the town of Ife in Osun State, Nigeria. He ruled for 35 years.
Ife Corpers should know that this is the best time to visit the market as they will be closed down after the announcement of the Ooni’s death. I wonder if they will cut down all the trees within the town as the custom is which signifies that the King has joined the ancestors.
Be Safety Conscious.