depression as the possible cause for Dr Allwell Oji’s tragic suicide.
However, two renowned Ifa priests have maintained a different stance.
They believe that the likely cause of Dr Allwell Oji’s decision to
commit suicide was either because he was controlled using an African
traditional technique or the lagoon is hungry and angry.
In an attempt to solve the mystery of what really caused Dr Oji’s
demise, NewTelegraphonline consulted Ifa priests, Chief Omo-Oba Olorunwa
Ayekonilogbon and Chief Yemi Elebuibon, another well-known Ifa priest.
Chief Omo-Oba Olorunwa Ayekonilogbon:
“Considering that it was after Oji received the call that he took his
life in such a cruel manner, speaks volume. That a bird cried at night
and a child died in the morning could not be wished away as a mere coincidence.
“It is either he was controlled using an African traditional technique or the lagoon is hungry and angry.
If he was controlled through African traditional way, no matter how he
tried to evade it, he could still have looked for or waited to get near
water before taking his life. You also know that our religion believes
in destiny, it could have been his destiny as well.
Again, if you look at the rate of deaths in the lagoon in recent time,
via suicide mostly, it is equally possible the water is hungry and
angry.
What His Royal Highness, Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos, needs to do now and
urgently too, is to assemble credible traditionalists, I mean Ifa
priests, to find out why the lagoon has suddenly become angry. All what
the Babalawos need do is get close to the water, take a little for
consultation. Ifa is capable and would surely reveal why all these
things are happening.
Until that is done, we might be chasing shadows.”
Chief Yemi Elebuibon spoke in a manner that suggests that Oji could have been ‘programmed’ (hypnotized) to do what he did:
“It is a great offence for a person to commit suicide; an abomination.
Whoever does that is considered to have brought dishonor to his/her
family.
“Yet, the traditional belief behind suicide is that some people do not
just commit the act on their own, but for some mystical interventions.
However, some people could find themselves in critical and unpleasant
situations, and opt for suicide as the last resort instead of living to
face the problem.
Whenever it happens proper inquiry is set up by the king or head of the
community where it occurred to find the cause of the problem and an Ifa
priest is mostly called upon to prescribe atonement to cleanse the
city.”