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The palace fire was caused by PHCN’s actions.The Oyo monarch, Lamidi Adeyemi, has said the palace had the premonition of the fire outbreak which destroyed property and artefacts during the week.
The Alaafin, who was speaking during the sympathy visit of the caretaker chairmen of local governments under his domain, said Ori, one of the deities affected by the inferno, had told them that there would be a fire incident in the palace and told them to disconnect the wires connecting its room.
“We were told that there would be fire and we actually didn’t take the warning for a joke. But we thought we were going to do the disconnection the following morning. That following morning never came,” he said.
Recalling the significance of damage done to the palace, Mr. Adeyemi said while the property and other material lost to the fire could be replaced, the artefacts, which tell about the culture and history of Yoruba race, have gone for life.
“Apart from coming here to sympathise with the Oyo palace, I think we should see this incident as a colossal hit to the Yoruba race. It means that most of the things that the generations succeeding us would point to as identity of their history have gone,” said the monarch.
How fire started
The palace has officially stated that the fire was caused by an electrical surge.
According to the Alaafin, the PHCN took off electricity supply from the palace the night preceding the inferno. So, a generator was used to supply power to the palace through the night.
When the PHCN restored electricity supply early in the morning, the voltage was too high, igniting fire which wrecked monumental havoc to the palace.
Since the incident, the Oyo monarch has been receiving visitors, who throng his palace to sympathise with him. Among the first callers was the Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi, who promised to assist in rebuilding the burnt portion after he was taken through the affected premises.
Culled from Ynaija
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