Fire guts Alaafin of Oyo’s palace

The palace of the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi has been gutted by fire.
The inferno razed down about 21 rooms of the ancient palace.

According to the Media Assistant of the monarch, Alhaji Azeez Fehintola, the fire started around 6am Wednesday  and razed uncontrollably before the arrival of fire fighters one hour later.

Immediately I got here and saw the extent of the damage done to the palace by this early morning conflagration, I could not but break down into tears. The fire, which broke out from electrical surge, started around 6 a.m and was contained after about three hours.

“The fire-fighters came at some minutes past seven and battled it till it was finally put out. Every part of the affected apartments were completely razed.

It was a really sad day for the Ayabas because many of their property were destroyed. They keep their monies in the palace. Plasma television, jewellery, clothes, bags and many other valuables yet to be ascertained”, he said.

Mostly affected parts are the flats of Princess Folasade (Iyaa Meta), Princess Rukayat, and Princess Abibat.

Vanguard gathered that some undisclosed amount of money was burnt.
Besides, some rooms known as Ile Ori, Ile Ifa where artifacts are stored, plasma television, clothes, shoes, jewellery and bags were destroyed by the raging fire.

Though no life was lost nor anyone injured, queens wore forlorn looks.
The monarch did not grant any interview as he was not in the mood to entertain any questions.

He remained indoors and refused to show up. It was learnt that electrical surge from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria ignited the inferno.

The fire fighters who later put out the fire said they could only confirm the incident but could not say what led to it.


Source: Vanguard

Alaafin wants fire safety valves in palaces

Ibadan – The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, on Friday in Oyo, advocated for the installation of fire safety valves in traditional rulers’ palaces to protect artifacts from destruction.
 
The monarch made the suggestion when the Speaker of Oyo State House of Assembly, Monsurat Sumonu, led the lawmakers to sympathise with him over the Jan. 9 fire at the palace. He suggested that palace buildings should be designed to prevent fire from reaching places where artifacts and other ancient values were kept.



The traditional ruler said the fire, which was caused by electrical spark, damaged 20 rooms of his wives and Ifa oracle because the rooms were on a roll. He said the current structure of the palace was designed by his fore fathers to reflect the communal life of the Yorubas.
 
The Alaafin said the structure also provided for the security of the people living in the palace because of its many exit routes. He said the exits made it possible for the wives to escape when the fire started. Adeyemi said though the damaged structures would be reconstructed with modern materials, “I will want to retain the pattern as designed by my ancestors to preserve our heritage”.
 
Earlier, the Speaker had sympathised with the monarch and thanked God that no life was lost to the incident. Former Gov. Omololu Olunloyo and other dignitaries from the state also commisserated with the Alaafin on the incident. (NAN)


Source: Vanguard