THE REASON WHY HAUSAS, YORUBAS, EDO AND THE NIGER DELTA MAN WILL NOT TRUST THE IBO MAN AT THE CENTER AND WHY THE HAUSAS MAY NOT WANT TO RELINQUISH POWER IN NIGERIA

*Any historians in the house to vet this but no insults or character assassination please:*

*Forgotten History Of Igbo Tribe And Northern Alliance.*

*Do you know that when Tafawa Balewa was Prime Minister of Nigeria;*

*Chief of Army Staff was from SE*

*Chief of Naval Staff was from SE*

*IG of Police was from SE*

*Chief of Defence Staff was from SE*

*Internal Affairs Minister SE*

*External Affairs Minister SE*

*Education Minister South SE*

*Many other key ministries to SE*

*Parliament President SE*

*Unilag VC from SE*

*The University of Ibadan VC from SE*

*North resisted same at ABU!!!*

*Still, there was dissatisfaction by SE, the officers from the region killed this same Balewa!!!*

*Out of all the most senior officers in Nigeria, SE has 37, none was killed. 8 from the north, all of them were killed. 10 from the west, 2 were killed.*

*Then Ironsi imposed a unitary system of government on the country so that everything can belong to a region who snatched it!*

*We must know our history so that when we want to make corrections, we will not end up concealing the truth.* 

*This has nothing to do with tribalism but everything to do with the truth.....at times when lies litter the streets.* 

*There is a tendency to think those are truths and facts.*

*What follows are documented facts that can be cross-checked for authenticity!"*

*Thou shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free.*

* *“Prof. Ben Nwabueze was the man who drafted the constitution that took away powers from regions and handed it to the central government because his brother Aguiyi THEORY WOES IN NIGERIA TODAY:*

*The Igbo man is known to enjoy blaming the Hausa fulanis, Yorubas and indeed every other Nigerian tribe and Lord Luggard/Britain for their seeming claim of being in third class citizen status in Nigeria.* 

*In their perpetual attempts to play the victim card, they recount the political events of Nigeria from 1914 to the present in a half-baked and highly selective manner which cleverly avoids the mention of the roles played by their elite who by all natural laws of judgement were actually responsible for the woes that befell not only the Igbo race but the entire Nigeria nation.* 

*The story told in the post above is one of such selective and distorted accounts of history which the average Igbo man is fond of narrating.*

*However, the national archives have the complete and unedited history of Nigeria regarding the political events beginning way back from even before 1914.* 

*I will therefore proceed to furnish my readers with the complete story for all to read and be endowed with enough facts so as to judge and act from an informed position.*

*Shortly after the 1914 Amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates, it started getting clear that the country was bound to fail as the amalgamation in question was done with colonial fiat without the consent and consensus of the different tribes which were over 300.*

*This prompted the political leaders to start asking for de-amalgamation so as to forestall the future danger which the forced amalgamation portended.*

*To that end, Ahmadu Bello, speaking on behalf of the Northern protectorate in 1944 described the amalgamation as* *"The mistake of 1914 which if allowed to remain will ultimately lead to unstoppable bloodshed and a failed country".*

*Awolowo, speaking on behalf of the Yorubas and Western minorities, described Nigeria as a mere geographical expression not qualified to be called a country let alone a nation.* 

*Awolowo added that if the5 amalgamation could not be reversed, then Nigeria should be structured as a strictly federal state so as to enable each tribe enjoy autonomy this freedom from being dominated by any one single tribe.*

*But Nnamdi Azikiwe, speaking for the Igbos, denounced Awolowo and Ahmadu Bello, terming them ethnic champions.* 

*He accused them of nursing a sectional agenda against the unity of Nigeria, and he declared further that the Unity of Nigeria was non-negotiable.*

*After moving the motion for independece in 1953, Anthony Enahoro proposed that a secession clause should be incorporated into the future constitution of Nigeria so as to give legal backing for any tribe to peacefully exit the forced union if it feels marginalized in future.*

*According to Enahoro, such provision in our constitution would instill in all Nigeria's future leaders the fear of the consequences of misgovernance.* 

*But Azikiwe, speaking on behalf of Igbos, rose against him in the parliament and labelled him an agent of disunity, and enemy of Nigeria.* 

*At a later date, Awolowo too made a case for secession clause, but Azikiwe again resisted him and instigated the colonial authorities to threaten him and Enahoro with charges of treasonable felony if they didn't stop proposing secession clause for the future constitution.* 

*While Azikiwe did all these, Igbos cheered and urged him on because they felt the future Nigeria was theirs to dominate and lord it over every other tribe.*

*Before independece, Tafawa Balewa too had in a public speech described Nigeria as a British experiment and Nigeria's unity as a British intention which Nigerians themselves don't believe in. But Azikiwe kicked and demonized him too.* 

*Had Azikiwe co-operated with Enahoro, Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello and Tafawa Balewa about the secession clause, Nigeria perhaps would not have been this misgoverned.*

*For those in doubt, here is a link of one of the numerous instances in which Nnamdi Azikiwe fought against the secession clause proposal for the future Nigeria constitution.*

*It should be noted that there were many Igbo members of the parliament in which Azikiwe fought against Awolowo's secession clause proposal in the link above, but not a single one of them rose against Azikiwe or condemned him.*

*Igbos initially never wanted to hear anything like secession in Nigeria because they so much believed, though falsely, that they were the most educated tribe. (The first Nigerian tribe to produce a university graduate is the Binis).* 

*As an evidence of Igbo domination agenda hence their initial resistance to the idea of secession; here are some quotes:*

*"From all indications, the god of us Igbos have destined us to rule the whole of Africa"..... Nnamdi Azikiwe (1945).*

*"It is getting clearer each day that Igbo domination of Nigeria is just a question of time"... Oscar Onyeamma. (1949).*

 *As at 1900, the whole of the present Benue State, Kogi East Senatorial District and some southern parts of Taraba State called Munchi District back then; were all in the Southern Protectorate.* 

*Whoever doubts this should consult MacMillan Atlas for secondary schools in Nigeria. With that situation the South had a higher population than the North hence always had an upper hand in any democratic bargain.*

*But as at the early fifties when the regions were being created, common sense dictated clearly that these areas should fall in the future Eastern Region.* 

*But against common sense, the colonial masters decided to gerrymander them into the Northern Region.* 

*While they did that, Azikiwe who was supposed to be in Enugu fighting against it as the leader of the East, was far away in Ibadan struggling with Awolowo to rule the Western Region and also playing the spoiler role against Awolowo's attempts to have Kwara and present Kogi Yorubas carved into the Western Region from the North which was already too large by landmass.*

*While he abandoned his burning house and was far away in Ibadan struggling against Awolowo for his own (Awolowo's) region, Igbos saw absolutely nothing wrong with that. Rather they applauded him as a nationalist.* 

*A nationalist whose house was burning yet busy chasing rats in a far away land.*

*When opinions became unanimous that Lord Luggard and his government must be forced out of Nigeria and indeed the whole of Africa, it was still the Igbos that frustrated the attempts.* 

*Here is how:*

*In 1948, Anthony Enahoro organized an anti-colonization symposium in Lagos for which Azikiwe and some other Igbos had agreed to deliver the keynote address.* 

*But when the D-day came, Azikiwe was nowhere to be found as he deliberately disappeared into thin air for fear of being arrested and dealt with by Lord Luggard.* 

*Anthony Enahoro then quickly replaced Azikiwe with another person who did the job improptu but perfectly well as he lambasted and lampooned Lord Luggard and the British Government.* 

*However, the British soldiers invaded the symposium venue, arrested the speaker and Enahoro and jailed them for treasonable felony. Ironically, the next day Azikiwe came out of hiding and granted a radio interview in which he accused Enahoro and the other organizers of suffering from youthful exhuberance.*

*On regaining his freedom few weeks later and being told of Azikiwe's radio interview, Enahoro resigned from his post as Editor of Azikiwe's newspaper - The West African Pilot.*

*Then he wrote a book titled "Nnamdi Azikiwe: Sinner of Saint". After launching the book, Enahoro left Azikiwe's party - the NCNC, and moved over to Awolowo's Action Group.*

*The first military coup in Nigeria was carried out by majority of Igbo army officers.* 

*That was the coup that truncated democracy just six years post Independence and led to a succession of coups which put the country on the reverse gear for 33 years.*

*Through that first coup, those Igbo army officers who accused the politicians and government of the day of monumental corruption, killed the political leaders of the Northern, Western and Midwestern Regions but allowed all Igbo political figures to escape by tipping them off prior to the D-Day.* 

*In addition to the killing of political figures, they also killed a total of 27 innocent high ranking military officers from every region except their Eastern Region.*

*In the end an Igbo man called Aguiyi Ironsi, who was supposed to have been killed alongside other military officers, ended up becoming the new military ruler of Nigeria. Rather than immediately arrest and punish the coup plotters, he kept them in detention where they were treated as heroes.* 

*This was actually what sowed the seed for the eventual Biafra War. On the 23rd of February 1966 (i.e. a month and 8 days after the first coup porpularly but wrongly known as Nzeogwu coup, an Ijaw born Army officer called Isaac Adaka Boro who hailed from Kaima town of present Bayelsa State, declared the secession of the Niger Delta Republic in an attempt to free his Ijaw people from the monumental marginalization they had been suffering under Igbos in the old Eastern Region.*

*But Aguiyi Ironsi immediately ordered Colonel Odumegwu Ojukwu to arrest him and hand him over to the military high command under him in Lagos. Ojukwu went all out against Isaac Adaka Boro with federal military might and within 12 fighting days killed 150 Isaac Boro's soldiers, arrested him, stripped him naked, and had him driven to Lagos and handed to Ironsi who immediately charged him to court and within two months secured against him a conviction of treasonable felony for which he was sentenced to death by hanging fixed for December that year by the Supreme Court. His 'crime' was that he declared secession of The Niger Delta Republic from Nigeria. Meanwhile the Igbo coupists who shed innocent blood of other tribes and even sprayed bullets into the bellies of the pregnant wives of Ahmadu Bello and Brigadier Shodeinde were not charged to court or arraigned before any military tribunal.*

*Isaac Adaka Boro was in detention waiting for December to come for him to join his ancestors. But God so kind, a revenge coup happened on July 29 by Northern soldiers and Ironsi was overthrown and killed. Gowon took over and released Isaac Adaka Boro unconditionally, reinstated him into the Army with his previous rank.*

*Then on May 30, 1967, Ojukwu too declared secession of Biafra Republic from Nigeria and without consulting or apologising to Isaac Boro, drew a Biafra map which included the very areas that made up Isaac Adaka Boro's earlier declared Niger Delta Republic for which he fought against him and killed his soldiers. Seeing such level of arrogance in Ojukwu, Isaac Boro asked Gowon to provide arms for him to crush Biafra by fighting on the Nigerian side in vengeance for Ojukwu's frustration of his own secession declaration 15 months earlier.*

*Isaac Boro, as an Ijaw man conversant with the waterways, led the Nigeria Army through the coastal areas into Igboland to finish off thousands of Ojukwu's soldiers thus leading to the crushing defeat of Biafra. But today, Igbos accuse Ijaws of betraying them in the war. But from the facts as above, who really betrayed the other in all honesty? Be the judge. Why Gowon fought against Ojukwu's declaration of Biafra was as follows:*

*After Ironsi and Ojukwu successfully crushed Isaac Boro's Niger Delta Republic declaration, Ironsi immediately proceeded to promulgate the Anti-secession Decree which made the mere mention of secession from Nigeria punishable with death by hanging.*

*Ojukwu openly supported and endorsed the decree despite disapproval of it by the general public. So when Ojukwu later declared Biafra secession, he was reminded of the Anti-secession Decree made by him and his brother Ironsi.*

*Igbos frequently reference Aburi Accord to create the impression that the rest of Nigerian tribes don't honour agreements. This is a very dishonest narrative from Igbos.*

*First and foremost Aburi Accord was organized by soldiers and unelected civil servants who should not participate in political exercises like making laws due to the civil service anonymity principle. Secondly, those civil servants and military men in attendance were not elected by their federal constituencies to the Aburi summit. In the philosophy of democracy the only universally acceptable way of making laws is through duly elected representatives of the people. But in going to Aburi the peoples' representatives duly elected in the 1965 elections were all sidelined for soldiers to hijack the process. Where on earth do soldiers make laws for the people? Rather, the civilian populace makes laws that guide the military. Aburi Accord therefore had no seal of the people's sovereignty hence it was an illegality which shouldn't have been allowed to stand.*

*Thirdly, in 1957, Nigerians from all federal constituencies democratically elected representatives whom they sponsored to London, paid their flight tickets and hotel accommodation for the Independence constitutional conference.* 

*Those representatives all resolved and agreed on federalism marked by regional autonomy and resource control in the Independence Constitution which they brought back home and everyone accepted it.*

*In that constitution, Nigerians all agreed that on no account shall the military take over power. It was also clearly stated in it that ammendments to it could be done by only democratically elected representatives.*

*That constitution was the first ever agreement between all Nigerians.* 

*On the day of his inauguration as the Army GoC, Aguiyi Ironsi stood before the whole world and with his own mouth swore to protect and defend that sovereign Independence constitution regardless of the circumstances that may later arise.*

*But just six years after he manufactured an excuse to clinch power against the clear provisions of that constitution we all agreed to, unilaterally began to amend its provisions with his very offensive Decrees, and ended up dismantling the federalism and resource control therein, and ultimately subverted that constitution we all painstakingly sacrificed to draft. That was the height of Irresponsibility and the dishonoring of sacred agreement. That was how Igbos breached the first agreement, all Nigerians, ever all mutually consented to, thus laying the foundation for violation of future agreements.*

*So Aburi Accord was only treated exactly the same way Igbos treated the Independence constitution agreement.*

*Obasanjo removed history from the school curriculum hence the reason why many of what we know of the eventualities in Biafra war were altered to suite their narratives.*

*Anytime i hear or watch NNAMDI KANU talk i never take it serious but only as a noisemaker.*

*Thank God for this author. The Lord will bless him for us all! Everyone needs to know this for real. Knowing the truth sets free. We need  we as a Nation.* 

*We need to face facts, admit the stupid errors of history and eventual forgive ourselves for the sins, enormous sins committed by our forefathers. Love covers a multitude of sins.*

*Very important history please read, understand and also share and encourage others to know.*

By Prof. Ihechukwu Madubuike

THE RISE AND FALL OF THE OLD OYO EMPIRE

The Old Oyo Empire was a notable Yoruba empire composed of what is today known as Benin and Western Nigeria. It rose through the outstanding organisational and administrative skills of the Yoruba people. Wealth was gained from trade and its powerful cavalry. It was one of the foremost and powerful political states in the entirety of West Africa from the mid-7th century to the 18th century. It holds sway not only over most of the other kingdoms in Yoruba land but also over nearby African states, notably the Fon Kingdom of Dahomey in the Modern Benin Republic.

The origin of the Old Oyo Empire lies greatly with Oranmiyan, the last Prince of Oduduwa. He was the last born of the Yoruba kingdom of Ile Ife. Going back memory lane, the Yoruba race is said to have originated from Oduduwa. According to legend, Oduduwa had only one son ‘OKANBI’ who in return gave birth to seven children out of which proceeded Oranmiyan, the last prince of Oduduwa, who became the ancestral father of the Old Oyo empire.

The Old Oyo Empire had its headquarters stationed at Oyo-Ile between (1300-1535) and (1600-1896). The common language of the people of the Old Oyo Empire was mainly the Yoruba language while the main religion was Traditional religion, Christianity and Islam. The Empire was ruled by Alaafin Oranmiyan, Oba Adeyemi Alowoloda 1.

The Old Oyo Empire had a strong legislative government comprising the Oyo-Mesi and Ogboni who both checkmate the activity of the Alaafin. Its landmass spread across 150,000 km2 (58,000 SQm)

The history of the Old Oyo empire cannot be complete without mentioning its mythical origin.

MYTHICAL ORIGIN

The mythical origin of the Old Oyo Empire lies with Oranmiyan as earlier noted, who was the last prince of the Yoruba kingdom of Ile-Ife. In an attempt to launch a punitive raid on their neighbours for insulting their father Oduduwa the first Ooni of Ife, Oranmiyan and his brothers launched an attack against them. However, in the course of the attack, a quarrel ensued between them and this led to a split up between their armies which led Oranmiyan to wander about the wilderness of the southern shore until reaching Bussa.

While at Bussa, the local chief there entertained him and his armies and later provided a large snake with a magical charm attached to its throat. The chief instructed Oranmiyan to follow the snake wherever it leads and stops. The snake led him to a place and stopped there then disappeared after seven days.

Consequently, this was the site where Oranmiyan founded Oyo and thereafter made a new kingdom there then he became the first ‘Oba’ which means king or paramount ruler with the title ‘Alaafin of Oyo’.

NOTABLE PERIODS OF THE OLD OYO EMPIRE

The following are notable periods of the old Oyo empire;

1. THE EARLY PERIOD（12th-1535）

At this period Oranmiyan who was the first king was succeeded by Oba Ajaka who was deposed of the throne because of a lack of Yoruba military virtue. The leadership was then conferred on Ajaka’s brother ‘Sango’ who later became the deity of thunder and lightning. Ajaka was later restored after the death of Sango but this time his rule was more oppressive and warlike.

2. THE IMPERIAL ERA

Under this era, the Yoruba of Oyo went through an interregnum of 80 years as an exiled dynasty after being defeated by the Nupe. They later re-established Oyo as a more centralized and expansive government, spreading over a vast empire. The Old Oyo empire spread tremendously and thus became the most populous kingdom in Yoruba history.

3. ZENITH ERA

By 1680, the Oyo Empire spanned across over 150,000 square kilometres. It reached the height of power in the 18th century. It was held together by mutual self-interest.

4. DECLINE ERA

The Oyo empire began to decline in early 1754 with the dynastic coup sponsored by the Oyo Prime Minister ‘’Gaha‘’. Gaha in his quest for absolute power, conspired with the Oyo-Mesi as well as the Ogboni to force four successive Alaafins to commit ritual suicide after they had been presented with the symbolic parrot’s egg.

THE RISE AND FALL OF THE EMPIRE

From 1650 onward, the old Oyo empire entered a period of expansion, where it extended its rule over most communities between the Volta River in the west to Benin and the Niger River in the east. The height of Oyo’s militaristic expansion was in 1748 following the subjugation of the kingdom of Dahomey, which occurred in two phases (1724-30 and 1738-48). The empire then began trading with European merchants on the coast of the port of Ajase (Porto-Novo).

The increase in wealth brought about conflicts among the political leaders. A bitter civil war took place during the reign of Alaafin Abiodun, who after defeating his opponents pursued a policy of economic development based primarily on the coastal trade with European merchants. His sole focus on the economy weakened and neglected the military, causing in effect a weakening of the central government.

During the colonial period, the Yoruba were one of the most urbanized groups in Africa with about 22 percent of the population living in large areas with a population exceeding 100,000 and over 50 per cent living in cities. The collapse of the Old Oyo Empire also allowed for former Protectorate states such as Ibadan, Osogbo and Ogbomoso to flourish and develop as independent entities.

Culled:  Gossip House fb

Dein of Agbor, Obi Benjamin Ikenchukwu Keagborekuzi 1

The youngest King and up till today  Dein of Agbor,Delta State Obi Benjamin Ikenchukwu Keagborekuzi 1,

He was crowned at the age of 2years and 4 months in 1979 after the unexpected death of his father same year.

He's was taken away immediately to study abroad before coming back to begin ruling at an advance age.

He returned in 2000 at age 22.

BRIEF HISTORY  OF AGBOR/IKA.

Geographically, the Ika speaking people are found in the north west of Delta State. They share borders  in the west with the Edo speakers, in the north with the Ishan speakers, in the East with the Aniocha language speakers and in the south with the Ukwuani speakers.

Politically, Ika speakers are mainly found in two local government areas, Ika North East and Ika South local government areas, both created in 1991 from a single Ika Local Government Area, in Delta State. Ika South and Ika North East local government areas, occupy a land area of 117.45 square kilometres (Delta State Government website, 1999) with a total population of about 240,000 people. There are other Ika speaking people that are political outside the Ika North east and Ika South local government areas. 

Agbor is an Igbo kingdom in Ika South, Delta State, Nigeria. The indigenes of Agbor town are Ika.

Agbor remains the largest of Ika communities with close geographical proximity to Benin City. Its constant wars with Benin are well-known. This may have also accounted for its consideration as the “most politically and militarily powerful of all Ika clans as recorded by Chukwu Ebuka and Iwueze Awele Success. The wars which lasted until the 19th century may have also swelled the military prowess of the community and helped to make it a force to reckon with within the Ika nation (Simpson, 1936).The headquarters of Agbor has been moved several times until the recent in 1935 to Ime-obi.. The reasons for the movement of the headquarters several times have been given as farming convenience and wars of succession. Since the old Agbor had always faced threats from the old Bini kingdom, it is also possible that the security of the headquarters from external invaders was an important consideration in the constant relocations of the headquarters.

Ika Structure: Clans, villages (Ogbe,an Ika igbo dialect for village), quarters (Idumu) and family units (nmunne).

The following are the eleven clans and a metropolis that make up the Ika community:

1. Agbor clan,

2. Owa clan,

3. Abavo clan,

4. Ute-Okpu clan,

5. Ute-Ogbeje clan

6 Umunede clan,

7. Akumazi clan,

8. Igbodo clan,

9. Otolokpo clan,

10. Mbiri clan,

11. Idumuesah clan

12. Orogodo/Boji-Boji

The origin of the town, as most African histories is traced  by oral tradition .The people of Agbor/Ika do not trace origin to a single place..the Two prominent narratives being igbo(Nri) and Benin origins.It is possible  that the few true Benin migrants lost there identity via language  attrition to the dominant aboriginal igbos on ground.However,the villages of Alisor, Alilehan and Ozanogogo are not Ika speaking. They speak an Edoid language known especially to Ika speakers, as Oza or Ozara”. Its also important to note that a migration from Benin Kingdom doesn't imply Benin ancestry, as Benin kingdom as it were was of  multiethnic composition where different tribes fled from its vicinity for safety.Despite the proximity of the town to Benin ,Agbor has largely remained  an igboid community indicating an earlier igbo footing.The monarchy also shows features of Benin cultural  influence due to proximity, hence a borrowing of cultural traits and monarchy by the  aborigines. 

 Agbor as narrated by chief A.E Iduwe is an ancient  settlement. According to Iduwe “Our ancestors had long established an autonomous kingdom based on Eze title before our contact with Benin”.

There are two communities that go by the name "Owa" today: one in the present Delta State and the other in the present Edo State. Both are however Igbo-speaking of Ika dialect extraction. It is important to note here that even though the later Owa is located within Edo-speaking territory, it remained Igbo in language and other elements of its culture, like Igbanke, Ogan and other Igbo-speaking communities in the present Edo State.

𝙃𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚,𝙢𝙤𝙨𝙩 𝙞𝙜𝙗𝙤𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙖 𝙝𝙞𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝘽𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣, 𝙞𝙣𝙘𝙡𝙪𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘼𝙗𝙤𝙝,𝙊𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙨𝙝𝙖,, 𝙊𝙝𝙖𝙛𝙞𝙖, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙖 𝙛𝙚𝙬 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙄𝙜𝙗𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝘿𝙚𝙡𝙩𝙖 𝙣𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙡𝙚𝙛𝙩 𝙛𝙧𝙤𝙢 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙜𝙗𝙤 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙢𝙪𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝘽𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣,𝙬𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙞𝙡  𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣  𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙤𝙛 𝙞𝙜𝙗𝙤 𝙨𝙥𝙚𝙖𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥𝙨 in the Delta  North area 𝙖𝙩 𝙖 𝙩𝙞𝙢𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖𝙣𝙩𝙞𝙦𝙪𝙞𝙩𝙮, 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚  𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙞𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙮  𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚𝙘𝙖𝙢𝙚 Benin 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙙𝙤𝙢.𝙞𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙪𝙣𝙙𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙚  𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙣𝙙𝙖𝙣𝙩  𝙝𝙤𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙘𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙮 𝙞𝙢𝙥𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙖𝙡 𝙧𝙪𝙡𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝘽𝙚𝙣𝙞𝙣 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙙𝙤𝙢 𝙖𝙡𝙨𝙤 𝙨𝙖𝙬 𝙖 𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨𝙚 𝙢𝙞𝙜𝙧𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙤𝙣 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙞𝙜𝙗𝙤𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝙖𝙡𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙮 𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙖𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙙  𝙞𝙜𝙗𝙤 𝙨𝙚𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙗𝙚𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙪𝙥 𝙩𝙤 𝙤𝙣𝙞𝙩𝙨𝙝𝙖. 

The market day for Agbor-Obi is Nkwọ

NIGERIAN PRESIDENCY, CONSTITUTIONAL QUALIFICATION AND ASIWAJU BOLA TINUBU:

In an attempt to raise the bar in view of the renewed discourse on academic qualification and certificates for running for Nigerian Presidency, this time regarding Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu; after we had gone a similar route in 2014/15 over President Buhari's academic qualifications and certificates (which culminated in a judgement by the Supreme Court of Nigeria), I sought to intellectually, objectively and factually weigh in an attempt to separate the wheat from the chaff and address the issue in the wider context of eligibility and requirements to become a President.

In doing so, I delved into the case of the United States of America which practices a similar type of democracy and indeed has an almost photocopied Constitution with Nigeria.

Before going to the United States, let me first present what the Nigerian Constitution stipulates as constitutional qualifications for any individual seeking election to the office of the President of Nigeria.

Among other criteria not very relevant to this particular discourse, Chapter VI, Part I, Section 131 of the Nigerian Constitution stipulates that:

A person shall be qualified for election to the office of the President if -

(a) he is a citizen of Nigeria by birth;

(b) he has attained the age of forty years;

(c) he is a member of a political party and is sponsored by that political party; and

(d) he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent.

Take proper notice of sub section 131(d) which states: "he has been educated up to at least School Certificate level or its equivalent."

Note that it speaks of being "educated up to at least school certificate level or its equivalent". It does not refer to certificates or certification or presentation of such. If a person has been educated (or attended) up to school certificate level (which is secondary school in our justification) with or without certification, that clearly suffices. 

Any interested person may further read Sections 132 & 318(1) of the Nigerian Constitution for further education.

Actually this is a tiring debate because I thought we would have passed this stage since 2015 when it was thoroughly debated. 

That clarified, a question may arise if one makes a claim of having acquired tertiary education with valid and verified proof of such without proof of primary or secondary education. That surely is a valid question to at least ask but it must be asked sincerely, intelligently and with an open mind.

In my humble view, it would be a different debate if one must need to have formally attended primary and secondary schools or has to present proof of such before gaining admission, attending or attaining tertiary education in all educational jurisdictions. That surely is the case in the Nigeria today and at least for a long time now; since our education system was formalised and properly organised.

That argument however would hold water if there were (are) no jurisdictions or instances where a person can attend or attain tertiary education without those primary and secondary school requirements; either by taking prescribed qualifying examinations or assessments or even by any kind of legal and acceptable waivers. Surely there are many such instances especially from way back. 

Does that vitiate a person's tertiary education or qualification(s) or disqualify such an individual as being sufficiently and acceptably uneducated to hold the office of President, in line with the Nigerian Constitution? I think not. Such an instance in my view neither vitiates nor nullifies the fact that such an individual has acquired a level of education valid and acceptable to the Constitution and the Electoral Act. 

That in my objective view; having satisfactorily dealt with the preceding issues in 2015 in the Buhari case and above; is what any interested person in the current Bola Tinubu discourse may want to interrogate or litigate (if one so wishes); if that is indeed the case being presented; at least to enrich our legal jurisprudence. 

All that clearly stated, permit me to return to and close with the case of the United States of America. 

To serve as President of the United States of America; apart from having the nerves of steel, the charisma, the background and skill set, the fund-raising network, and the legions of loyal folks who agree with your stance on all the issues, the United States Constitution Article II, Section 1 imposes only three eligibility requirements on persons seeking to serve as president of the United States, based on the office holder’s age, time of residency in the United States of America and citizenship status.

The Section States Thus:

"No person except a natural born citizen, or a citizen of the United States, at the time of the adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the office of President; neither shall any person be eligible to that office who shall not have attained to the age of thirty five years, and been fourteen years a resident within the United States."

In summary; according to Whitehouse.gov: "The (US) Constitution lists only three qualifications for the Presidency viz: 

▪︎ The President must be at least 35 years of age;

▪︎ Be a natural born citizen, and

▪︎ Must have lived in the United States for at least 14 years."

BREAKING IT DOWN FURTHER A BIT

▪︎ AGE LIMITS 

In setting the minimum age of 35 for serving as President, compared to 30 for Senators and 25 for Representatives, the framers of the US Constitution implemented their belief that the person holding the nation’s highest elected office should be a person of maturity and experience. 

As early Supreme Court Justice Joseph Story noted, the "character and talent" of a middle-aged person are "fully developed," allowing them a greater opportunity to have experienced “public service” and to have served “in the public councils.” 

Note that it did not prescribe an upper age limit and that is the case both on words and practice. The current US President Joe Biden (46th President) was 78 years old when he assumed office in 2020.

▪︎ RESIDENCE 

While a member of the US Congress need only be an “inhabitant” of the state he or she represents, the (US) President must have been a resident of the United States for at least 14 years.

▪︎ CITIZENSHIP 

In order to be eligible to serve as President, a person must either have been born on U.S. soil or (if born overseas) to at least one parent who is a citizen. The Framers clearly intended to exclude any chance of foreign influence from the highest administrative position in the federal government.

FURTHERMORE

Having seen what matters most for the United States Presidency, I have been intrigued to no end, how we as Nigerians place so much emphasis on formal education and paper certification; not only in our politics but in almost every aspect of our national life. Essentially placing certification over competence, experience, character, skill sets etc. While that maybe okay in the academia, employment, civil service etc it surely cannot be glossed over in deciding on a position which while formal education can surely be a plus but definitely hands-on practical experience, competence and excellent leadership qualities are greater assets for a person to have and to hold.

This begs the curious question of; why the United States Constitution is silent and indeed the American society and politics are not so equally hyped on academic qualifications and certification. On the contrary; experience, political ideology, service to the nation and track records are held in high esteem. The reason a US Army veteran is always a toast in American politics; and not for his or her academic qualifications or exploits.

Could It Be That:

A) Americans believe that the average American is literate enough (without formal education) and that they (Americans) better understand what matters in leadership and governance; especially at the level of the Presidency?

MAYBE

B) That we Nigerians are still driven by a 'colonial mentality' which makes us feel for instance that we must be able to speak English and good English at that to be considered litrate or educated enough; a mentality that unconsciously but compulsively requires us to constantly seek to validate our 'educated-ness' by how many degrees and paper qualifications we aquire?

I strongly believe that while constitutional provisions for holding the office of the President and other offices (including education) must be met and adhered to, it is important to restate that other requirements which include competence, skill set, relevant experience, grasp of the issues, age (maturity), commitment, patriotism, track record of achievements as well as excellent leadership and people management qualities are even more important attributes needed for holding the office of the President; not only in Nigeria but also any where else in the world as exemplified by the United States.

CONCLUSIVELY:

All these duly considered, I submit; objectively, honestly, factually, dispassionately, devoid of sentiments and bias that Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu is unarguably qualified (including academically as per our Constitution) and capable to aspire to and to occupy the office of President of Nigeria. Surely a man that has once been elected to the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and twice as Governor of Lagos State and satisfactorily held that office for a combined maximum two terms of 8 years must have acquired the relevant attributes as enumerated above.

I wish my fellow Nigerian citizens would equally focus on other germane and critical issues with a view to electing the best candidate from the options available to us to lead Nigeria as President going forward from May 29th 2023. Ultimately it is the votes of the majority that would decide that and not the noise of a few; no matter how loud. I want that to be an objective and fact guided decision.

Innanities, vicious and hateful propaganda will not get us anywhere.

A Brief History Of Okun People – The Yorubas in Kogi State.

The word “Okun” is a general term used to describe the Yoruba people in Kogi state, Nigeria.

Kogi is a multi-cultural and diverse state, and Okun people make up over 20% of the entire population of the area.

Okun people spread across six local government areas in Kogi State, which are; Ìjùmú Kabba-Bunu, Yagba-West, Yagba-East, Mopa-Muro, and Lokoja local government Areas. They can also be found in some states like Kwara, Ekiti, and Ondo.

They communicate in various Yoruba dialects such as Owé, Ìyàgbà, Ìjùmú, Bùnú and Oworo, but they are generally called Okun irrespective of the dialect spoken.

One amazing fact is that, if you are not an Okun person, you might not be able to figure out the slight differences in the various dialects because every speaker flaunts his/her dialect at will, with the confidence that the other Okun listener person will understand without stress. Which is true.

More so, every Okun person speaks the common Oyo-Yoruba dialect fluently even without ever stepping foot out of Kogi.

Okun dialects and way of life is largely influenced by various reasons. Such as Diversity, History, and Geography of the state.

DIVERSITY;

As a result of abundant culture and ethnic diversity which makes Kogi state a unique cultural hub with a large number of ethnic groups such as Ebira, Igala, Hausa, Bassa, Igbo, and other minorities like Bassa, and a small fraction of Nupe people mainly in Lokoja and Bassa Local Government Area. Other tribes in Kogi state are the Ogugu sub-group of the Igala tribe, Kakanda, Gwari, Oworo people (A Yoruba Group), Ogori, Bassa komo, and Magongo.

Also including the Eggan and community under Lokoja Local Government Area.

GEOGRAPHY;

The history of Okun People cannot be completed without mentioning the geographical factor, because it is an important factor that may have shaped the dialect and culture of Okun people. Considering the fact that Kogi state shares boundaries with ten other states which are; Ondo, Ekiti, Kwara, Benue, Niger, Nasarawa, Enugu, Anambra, Edo and the Federal capital territory.

HISTORY;

Historical factors have played its part in influencing the Okun identity. The Nupe wars of the 19th century and interaction with the Hausas due to geographical zoning have left a remarkable mark on the Okun people and their way of life.

According to oral history, Okun people in Kogi migrated from the ancient town of Ile Ife, the cradle of the Yoruba race. The migration occurred as a quest by the Yorubas to spread and occupy more lands.

Before spreading out, there was an agreement that everyone would report to Ile-Ife for a yearly meeting.

The man who led a group of Yoruba people to a location (now called YAGBA) in Kogi state broke the rules and did not return for the yearly meeting after several years.

When he eventually returned, he explained that he faced challenges and had lost a larger part of his acquired land to some other migrants.

He was blamed for his incompetence which led to the loss, so he lamented in Yoruba language, ”ÌYÀ ÀGBÀ LÓ JEMÍ” which means the invasion of his acquired land by immigrants was due to lack of having elderly people with him.

Since then, everyone started mocking him at Ile-Ife. They nicknamed him Iya agba, associating this name with him whenever they want to send messages across to him while he’s at his occupied territory, now called Yagba.

For many years, the Okun people faced numerous challenges, ranging from geo-political zoning, disunity, marginalization and problem of identity.

The challenges started during the British colonial era when they were politically ceded to the Northern protectorate by Lord Fredrick Lugard, the then Governor-General of Nigeria.

Abolition of the provincial and regional administrative system in Nigeria in the year 1967 led to their merging with Ilorin to form old Kwara state.

Their neighbor, the Igalas were merged with old Benue State.

However, on the 27th of august 1991, Okun people were separated from Kwara and merged with Ebira, Igala from Benue state and some other tribes to form the present Kogi state.

Initially, Okun people agitated against merging them with completely different tribes but they were forced into the marriage.

Their persistent efforts to break away and form a new Okun State, which could make it easier for them to be closer to their Kitts and Kin in the South Western part of Nigeria have failed to materialize.

 people bear typical Yoruba names and many of their towns and villages are named in Yoruba language.

Some popupular Okun indegenes are:

Dino Melaye

Deji Adeyanju 

Eyitayo Lambo

Pastor Sam Adeyemi

Smart Adeyemi

James Faleke

Shola Amoebi

Tunde Ednut

John Obaro

Oluwole Akekemolu

Jaywon

Tajudeen Yusuf 

Nike Davies Okundaye

Sam Alle

Bayo Ojo

Ty bello

Dare Art Alade

Suday Bada, etc

Some popular Okun towns and villages are:

Ayegunle

Ayetoro

Okedayo

Ikoyi

Kajola

Egbeda

Egbeda Ega

Oke-aba (Kabba)

Odo Ere

Odo Eri

Ife

Iyamoye

Agbaja

Igbo Nla

Obajana and

Ikoyi

CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE ALAAFIN OF THE OYO EMPIRE (c.1210 to date)

CHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE ALAAFIN OF THE OYO EMPIRE (c.1210 to date) 

by Ayomide Akinbode and Ayo Ojeniyi 

The Alaafin was an absolute king; his word was law. He had the power of life and death. He’s iku baba yeye, alase ekeji orisa (the almighty, the ruler and companion of the gods).

In the actual working of the government, however, the Alaafin was an absolute monarch. He governed in conjunction with a council of state known as Oyo Mesi .

Below are the kings who had ruled one of the greatest empires in history.

c.1210– ORANYAN (Oranmiyan)

Oyo-Ile was founded. Oranmiyan was the first king and the founder of the Oyo empire. He was the son of Oduduwa. Oranmiyan was a very brave and warlike king. He was said to have headed his brothers (other Yoruba kings) on an abortive expedition to the east to avenge the death of their father. After quarrelling at a place called Igangan, the brothers dispersed and Oranmiyan went ahead to found the city of Oyo known as Oyo Alaafin.

There are two accounts of his death. Some said he went further East, leaving his son, Ajaka in charge of Oyo, and stopping at a town called Oko, from where he could not proceed and so, died and was buried there.

The second account seems more plausible. It says that Oranmiyan left for Ile-Ife, the land of his father, leaving Ajaka to rule as regent at Oyo. Having stayed in Ile-Ife longer than necessary, the king makers made Ajaka king in Oyo. On returning, Oramiyan heard the kakaaki at the border (the kakaaki is only played for the king). He immediately returned to Ile Ife, where he eventually died and was buried. An obelisk, called ‘Opa Oranmiyan’ was erected at the place where he was buried and is still there to this day.

c.1242– AJAKA

Ajaka was a calm and gentle king. Unlike his father, he was of a peaceful disposition, loved animal husbandry and encouraged it. Being too mild to be warlike, and with the provincial kings encroaching on Oyo, he was deposed and replaced by his fearless and violent brother, Sango. He went to Igboho where he remained in retirement for seven years. After the death of Sango, he returned to the throne.

c.1252– SANGO

He was the step brother of Ajaka. Unlike his brother, he was of a wild and warlike disposition and he had a fiery temper. He had a habit of emitting fire and smoke out of his mouth, by which he greatly increased the dread his subjects had of him.

His mother was the daughter of Elempe, a Nupe king, who formed an alliance with Oranyan by giving him his daughter to wife. Sango defeated many of the other Yoruba kings and expanded the Oyo kingdom. His seven years of reign was marked by his restlessness. He fought many battles and was fond of making charms. He was said to have the knowledge of some preparation by which he could attract lightning. He eventually became tyrannical and was asked to abdicate by the king makers and the senior chiefs.

Rather than abdicating, he hanged himself on a shea butter tree. His brother Ajaka was summoned to return to the throne.

c.1259–AJAKA

Ajaka remains the only Alaafin to rule twice.‎

c.1277 – AGANJU SOLA

He was Ajaka’s son. He liked taming wild animals and he’s said to have kept a leopard. His reign was long and prosperous. He liked aesthetics and he greatly beautified the palace. Towards the end of his reign, he waged war on a king close-by for refusing to give him his daughter as bride. The king and his allies were defeated and captured by Aganju and the bride, whose name was Iyayun, was forcibly taken. One of the messy scandals of his reign occurred when his son had intercourse with his wife and was summarily executed.

c.1340– KORI

Osogbo and Ede town were founded during his reign. Kori was the son of Aganju, by his captured bride, Iyayun. When he was still a child, his mother ruled as regent. It was during Kori’s time that Timi was sent to Ede to fight the Ijeshas. Timi became too powerful for the king and made himself king at Ede (hence the title, Timi of Ede). Gbonka, was sent to Ede to capture Timi. After Timi was defeated, the king, fearing the rise of a more powerful enemy decided to kill Gbonka. After the failure of the assassination, the king committed suicide.

c.1401– OLUASO

Oluaso, Kori’s son, was a handsome prince. His reign was long and peaceful. He was wise and had many wives and children. He also built 54 palaces for the most influential princes. During his reign, Olofin led the Aworis to present-day Lagos.

c.1490–1542 ONIGBOGI

He was the son of an Ota woman. His mother tried to introduce Ifa (oracle) to the Oyo people. The Oyo people rejected her advice and she left the town. She eventually settled in a town called Ado, where the people accepted her ideas. During Onigbogi’s reign, a war broke out and the king of Nupe invaded Oyo and sacked the capital. The king fled to the land of the Ibariba and died there.

1542– OFINRAN

Saki was founded during his reign‎. His mother was an Ibariba woman. The Ibaribas started ill-treating the refugees and the king set out for Oyo. Ifa spread to the Oyo people at this time. The refugees camped at a place called Kusu. There the king died before they could move. The next four kings ruled from a town called Igboho.

1550– EGUGUOJO

This Alaafin founded Igboho after the Nupe had occupied Oyo- Ile. He built Igboho, known as Oyo Igboho, and made it the new capital. Besides that, nothing remarkable happened in his reign.

1554–1562 OROMPOTO

Orompoto was the first and only female Alaafin of Oyo. She was the sister of her predecessor, Eguguojo. She assumed the throne in 1554 because there was no male successor from her elder brother at the time.

Legend has it that she cut off her breasts (mastectomy) and put on men’s clothing to look like a man and for the Oyo Mesi to accept her as Alaafin.

In 1557, Alaafin Orompoto (the custodian of the vagina that kills evil plots, the king with the great gift, the king with the flabbergasting gift) strengthened Oyo’s military might. She imported horses from as far as Timbuktu in Mali and had over 1000 horsemen. She did tie leaves on the horses’ tails so that when they went a fighting, the leaves swept the ground after them to cover trails of the horses’ prints.

Orompoto was a skillful commander and a tactical leader. She was brave and won many battles. During her reign, Oyo regained its military prestige and was feared across the south of Niger. She died in the battle of Ilayi in 1562.

1562–1570 AJIBOYEDE

He was a successful and brave king but he was a tyrant. During his reign, the Tapas from Nupe invaded the country again but the king was victorious. The king’s favourite son, Osemolu died. Shortly after, king also died.

1570–1588 ABIPA

Abipa rebuilt Oyo-Ile after the destruction by the Nupe marauders‎. He decided to carry the seat of government back to Oyo-Ile, even though the nobles were against it. However, he was successful and the king buried charms in strategic places in the city, so that it would not be destroyed again.

1588–1599 OBALOKUN

Salt (Sodium Chloride) was introduced to Oyo-Ile by Portuguese explorers during his reign. His mother was the daughter of the Alake, king of the Egbas. He was also the first Alaafin to have had contact with an European king, most likely King of Portugal, as the Portuguese were the only foreign power present in Yoruba land in the 16th Century.

1599–1658 AJAGBO

His reign was very long. He had a friend at Iwoye called Kokoro-igangan, whom he made the first Aare-Ona-Kankafo (Generalissimo). He was a warlike king and he conquered many people in the West, including the Popos and the Sabes (in Benin Republic). He destroyed Iweme in Popo country after sending four expeditions out at once; under the Basorun, Agbakin, Kankafo, and Asipa.

1658–1659 ODARAWU

His reign was very short. He had a bad temper. He ordered for the destruction of a town called Ojosegi. He was eventually rejected by the noblemen and ended up commiting suicide.

1659–1665 KARAN

He was a tyrant. He was cruel and harsh. He tortured and killed many of his subjects for slight offences. He was so wicked that the proverb ‘as cruel as Kanran’ is being used by the Yoruba to describe anyone perceived of extreme cruelty. The people eventually rebelled against him. He was killed in a coup by the army, backed by the noble men. He fought fearlessly and perished in the inferno that engulfed the palace.

1665–1676 JAYIN

Jayin was Kanran’s son and was made king after his father’s horrible death. He was of a gentler disposition than his father but he was effeminate and his son fell in love with one of his wives. In rage, he killed the boy. He was eventually deposed and tragically committed suicide.

1676–1690 AYIBI

He was the late king’s grandson and the son of the beloved prince whom the king killed. Unfortunately he proved unworthy of the honour and respect accorded to him; he greatly disappointed the hopes of the nation. He was a tyrant and took pleasure in shedding blood. Like his grandfather, he was deposed and he committed suicide.

1690–1692 OSIYAGO

Like his immediate predecessor, he was equally worthless. He was excessive in actions, amassing wealth that he did not live to enjoy. His children fought each other and his foster son, whom he had adopted as the Aremo (heir) was killed by his daughter. The king was eventually poisoned. For 36 years, after Osiyago’s death, the throne was vacant and the country was ruled by the Basoruns (Prime Ministers).

1728–1732 OJIGI

During his reign, Oyo invaded Dahomey. He was elected to a vacant throne. He was warlike, extending his domain to Dahomean territory in present day Benin Republic. He was nevertheless, a good king. He sent out a large expedition to bring all the Yoruba under his control. The expedition is said to have reached the Northern part of the River Niger. Despite the king’s stern disposition, he was too indulgent of his son. The Aremo’s cruelty and excesses eventually caused his father’s rejection. The king was deposed by the noble men and he committed suicide.

1732–1738 GBERU

He was a wicked king, who liked making charms. He fought a bitter conflict with his Basorun who was his friend and both of them were deposed. Just like his predecessor he committed suicide.

1738–1742 AMUNIWAYE

He was a good king initially but soon became weak because of his low morals. He had a affair with the wife of his medicine man. He died of magun while having intercourse with the woman.

1742–1750 ONISILE

He was a great warrior and of great courage. He was brave and warlike, and he was also very artistic. His rashness was the cause of his death. He was struck by lightning and was incapacitated, before being deposed and allowed to die peacefully. Basorun Gaha, the wicked Prime Minister, became the head of the Oyo Mesi during his reign.

1750– LABISI

Shortest-reigned Alaafin till date. He spent only 15 days on the throne. He committed suicide because of pressure from Basorun Gaha‎. This unfortunate king was elected to the throne but not allowed to be crowned. His Basorun, Gaha, became very powerful, conspired against him and killed all his friends. Labisi eventually committed suicide when he could not rule. Gaa remained powerful, long after him; installing kings as he pleased.

1750– AWONBIOJU

He spent just 130 days on the throne. Installed by Gaha after Labisi, Awonbioju was killed by Gaa when he refused to prostrate for him.

1750–1770 AGBOLUAJE

He was a very handsome prince installed by Gaa. His reign was peaceful and the kingdom was big and prosperous. Basorun Gaha made him fight the king of Popo who was his friend and destroyed his kingdom. In frustration, the king committed suicide before the expedition arrived.

1770–1772 MAJEOGBE

He tried to defend himself against Gaha whose sons were now too powerful. They collected all the tributes and were cruel. The king eventually died in frustration.

1772-1789 ABIODUN

He had a long and peaceful reign. He was handsome, wise and dignified. His reign was so significant that it has since passed into proverbs. The Yoruba believed that Oyo actually started declining after his death. He defeated Basorun Gaha and his children. Abiodun fathered over 660 children and had many descendants which still live till today. His son, Awole, poisond him and succeeded him as king.

1789-1796 AWOLE AROGANGAN

Under him, the kingdom disintegrated as the provinces became tired of Oyo’s tyranny and slavery was rife. He was probably too mild and weak, and had an enemy in Afonja, the Kakanfo who was very powerful. Afonja was stationed at Ilorin with the major part of Oyo’s calvary. Afonja, the Basorun and the Onikoyi eventually led a rebellion against him. As their forces surrounded the city, Aole committed suicide, after cursing Afonja and his co-conspirators. The Oyo empire, and indeed the Yoruba nation, never recovered from this tragedy.

1796-1797 ADEBO

He became king nominally, but never really had powers. The whole land rebelled during his reign and the chiefs clamoured for territories. Afonja declared independence first, and many provinces followed. Afonja won a great victory against the Oyo armies with the help of Alimi, a Fulani and Solagberu, a Yoruba Moslem. He fought several battles in which he subjugated and destroyed many Yoruba cities. Ilorin later became part of the Sokoto Caliphate when the Fulani took over.

1797- MAKUA

His reign was short and tragic. He reigned for only 2 months in 1797. He led an expedition against Iworo and was defeated. He committed suicide in Oyo. The period that followed was the Yoruba civil wars of the 19th century. Between 1800 and 1893, the Yoruba fought a series of wars that decimated huge portions of the country and caused a considerable amount of internal migration. Many large cities were destroyed completely, never to be rebuilt. New cities sprang up, from refugee camps or military bases.

1801-1830 MAJEOTU

After a period when the throne was vacant, Majotu was elected to the throne. He reigned from 1802 to 1830. His reign was full of wars and rebellions. In 1823, Dahomey rebelled, defeated the Oyo army and gained complete independence. Ilorin became a formidable force and started a conquest of Yorubaland, destroying and looting cities in its campaign. The Owu war(1821-1827) also occurred in which the town of Owu was completely destroyed. The Owu later settled in Abeokuta.

1830-1833 AMODO

His reign lasted for three years. He was initially weak, but later proved himself to be a wise and decisive king, despite being unfortunate. He came to the throne at a time when the kingdom was distracted by anarchy and confusion. The Fulanis were having an eye on the capital of Yoruba-land. None of the provincial kings now paid tribute to Oyo or acknowledged the authority of the King. He was virtually King of the capital only.

The Ilorin army plundered Oyo for the first time in his reign, but did not destroy the city. Amodo later united some of the Yoruba chiefs who had turned their backs on the empire. They raised an army and besieged Ilorin but they were betrayed by the Edun of Gbogan, who was the Kakanfo and the army dispersed. Gbongan was later besieged by Ilorin and the Edun defeated. After defeating both the Kankafo and the Onikoyi, and rendering the Alaafin powerless, the Ilorin cavalry easily captured most of the northern Yoruba towns. After that, they turned their conquest southwards, towards the Ijesha tribes, where they faced stiff resistance.

At this time, the remnant of the Oyo and Egba armies began to attack the Ijebus, because of their participation in the Owu war. The whole Yorubaland again became embroiled in civil war.

1833-1835 OLUEWU

During his reign, the Fulani empire had already captured Ilorin after an internal coup and transformed it into a Fulani emirate. Oluewu was then bound to Shita, the Emir of Ilorin. However, he refused to embrace the Islamic religion and sought help from Borgu to defeat the Fulanis. Initially, he recorded some success in battle, but a final putsch to recover the northern part of Yorubaland from the Fulanis led to his death and that of many of Oyo’s leading nobles. Ilorin (under the Fulani) eventually destroyed Oyo.

1838-1858 ATIBA ATOBATELE

He moved the capital from Oyo to Ago Oja (present Oyo). During his reign, the remnant of the Yoruba army moved South and camped in an area that belonged to the Egba of Gbagura clan. The war camp later became the city of Ibadan and it emerged as the new power centre in Yorubaland.

Oba Atiba sought to preserve what remained of Oyo Empire by placing on Ibadan duty of protecting the capital from the Ilorin in the north. Atiba was a great leader but he came at a time of crises. Yoruba had lost Igbomina. Ijesha, Ekiti and Akoko at this time were under threat. Ogbomọṣọ, Ẹdẹ, Iwo, axis were under attack-even Oṣogbo had been defeated, occupied by Fulani. In fact, the entire Yoruba land was under Ilorin-Fulani siege.

However, Ibadan would not allow the onslaught to continue. In 1840, Ibadan soldiers defeated and pushed Fulani warriors back to Ilọrin but could not take the city. Atiba died in 1859. He was the last really great king Oyo had. He tried to restore Oyo’s glory, but the decline was bound to happen as all the tribes were fighting one another. The two  current Ruling Houses Agunloye and Alowolodu came out of Atobatele Atiba. 

1859-1875 ADELU AGUNLOYE ***one of the Ruling Houses in Oyo Alaafin today. 

King Adelu was Atiba’s son. He became king in 1859. The Ijaye war(1860-1862) was fought during his period. Kurunmi, the Are Ona Kankafo, who was the ruler of Ijaiye refused to recognize Adelu as the Alaafin. The war started with Ijaiye declaring war on Oyo in 1860. The Ibadan war machine under Ogunmọla came in support of Ọyọ, routed Kurunmi-Ijaiye/Egba alliance and killed all his sons. Kurunmi committed suicide and Ijaiye was destroyed. The Ijaiye war was one of the several wars Ibadan engaged in to assert supremacy in Yorubaland. In 1864, the Alaafin stopped the Batedo War in the name of Sango between Ijebu and the Egbas.

1876-1905 ALOWOLODU ADEYEMI I  ***the second Ruling house in Oyo Alaafin today. In fact the current Ruling House.

After the emergence of Ibadan, the Fulani ceased to be a threat to Yoruba but bitter civil war among the tribes made peace impossible. Between 1860 and 1885 Ibadan engaged in five different wars simultaneously.

In 1877, Ibadan went to war against Ẹgba/Ijẹbu for attacking Ibadan traders, when coming from Port-Novo. The Ijẹṣa/Ekiti seized the moment, in 1878, attacked despotic Ibadan Ajẹlẹs (viceroys) in their territories; Ibadan declared war on Ijẹṣa and Ekiti. The conflict between Ibadan/Ijẹṣa and Ekiti went on for sixteen years, the worst war in Yorubaland.

Ogedengbe-the Seriki of Ijẹṣa army, Fabunmi of Oke-Imesi, and Aduloju of Ado-Ekiti held Ibadan down as Ibadan engaged in other wars with the Ẹgba, Ijẹbu, Ilọrin and the Ifẹ. The Ibadan/Ijesa & Ekiti parapọ war got to its peak at Kiriji, near Ikirun.

The Alaafin was helpless as his people decimated themselves. He therefore invited the British colonial Governor of Lagos to help settled the dispute. Through negotiations undertaken by the Church, which was spearheaded by Samuel Johnson, Charles Phillips, and Lagos Governor, Alfed Moloney in 1886, peace gradually returned to Yorubaland as the warring groups sheathed their swords. The entire Yorubaland later came under the dominion of the British and the Alaafin became a Vassal of the colonial government.

1905-1911 LAWANI AGOJOGA

He was a vassal of the British. He reigned from 1905 to 1911

1911-1944 SIYANBOLA ONIKEPE OLADIGBOLU I

He became king after Lawani. He ruled from 1911 to 1944. He was also a vassal king. The amalgamation of Nigeria happened during his time.

1945-1955 ADENIRAN ADEYEMI II

The Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, deposed and sent him on exile with his Aremo (Crown Prince) for sympathizing with the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC). He had also come into conflict with Bode Thomas, deputy leader of the Action Group. They both died in exile.

1956-1968 BELLO GBADEGESIN OLADIGBOLU II.

He was the Alaafin when Nigeria gained independence

November 19, 1970- Date LAMIDI OLAYIWOLA ADEYEMI III

Lamidi Adeyemi succeeded Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II in 1970, during the governorship of Colonel Robert Adeyinka Adebayo, after the end of the Nigerian Civil War. In 1975, the Head-of-State, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed included Oba Adeyemi in his entourage for the hajj. He was chancellor of Uthman dan Fodiyo University in Sokoto from 1980 to 1992. In 1990 President Ibrahim Babangida appointed him Amir-ul-Hajj in recognition of his commitment to the consolidation of Islam in Nigeria.

Adeyemi is a lover of boxing, as he was a boxer before becoming Alaafin. He remains the only educated Alaafin till date.

Acknowledgement : Ayomide Akinbode

SUMMARY FROM OYO EMPIRE 

On my post on the past Alaafins and the past Oonis, we learned the followings:

1. Full name of Sango was Tella Oko Sango Afonja. He was always dressing like a woman to cool down his temper and juju power.

2. Alaafin Orompoto niyun was believed to be a woman. "He" was too "handsome" .

3. Founding period of Osogbo, Ede, Saki, Igboho,Ibadan etc known. 

4. Renaming of Eko as Lagos by the Portuguese .

5. That 1st Awujale was appointed in 1665.

6. That Basorun Gaa became powerful and many Alaafins died between 1750 - 1789, that year Alaafin Abiodun liberated himself and Basoun Gaa was executed.

7. That Afonja sold off Ilorin in 1835.

8. That in 1838, Atiba Atobatele founded the current Oyo Atiba Alaafin . Ibadan became powerful and populous being the military base of Alaafin Atiba.

9. 1914 - The Amalgamation !!!!

10. In Ife, OoNI  Luwoo Gidigba, believed to be a woman, was the progenitor of Iwo.

11. Sir Adesoji Aderemi became synonymous to OONI stool for so long. Some generations did not know any other Ooni.

12. Giesi 1 was the great, great grandfather of the current OONi Enitan Ogunwusi.

13. That Oni Sijuwade was really an Atobatele. He completely changed the face of OONI stool.

14. That Alaafin did not allow Egba and Ijebu to genocide themselves by invoking the spirit of Sango that pursued  them separately with Aara to their different domains !!!

Iree ooo kabiti !!!!

Prince Albert Oladapo Ogunwusi, the current OONI'S brother WROTE :

'Atobatele' was originally one of the nick names of Oba Aderemi. He had been king of sorts before being enthroned.  He was a learned and successful man with the biggest and most beautiful house in town. Ayinla Tadeniawo Lesimagun, omo Adekunbi Ipetu, abile owo gbindin l'Akui. One who had horses but couldn't be bothered to ride them. He was succeeded by an equally successful Prince, Okunade Adele Sijuade, Jingbindin bi ate akun, Olubuse eri ogun. A man stalwart like a tray of beads, Olubuse the testimony of war. 'Jingbindin bi ate akun' has also been applied to the present Ooni, Kabiyesi Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi as if all Oonis must be of the same corpulent stature as Oba Sijuwade. Anyway Oba Ogunwusi, a more athletic and younger man has carried that praise well too. The cradle of the Yoruba race has been lucky to have these three great Oonis in succession. Successful and distinguished individuals who carried the title with grace and dignity.

You may share but don't remove all the credits. 

DAVIDSON AYOADE OJENIYI

Below is the picture of Edun Aara ( Sango's Stone) .

Alaafin is seen in the picture wearing the historic  Sese EfCHRONOLOGICAL HISTORY OF THE ALAAFIN OF THE OYO EMPIRE (c.1210 to date) 

by Ayomide Akinbode and Ayo Ojeniyi 

The Alaafin was an absolute king; his word was law. He had the power of life and death. He’s iku baba yeye, alase ekeji orisa (the almighty, the ruler and companion of the gods).

In the actual working of the government, however, the Alaafin was an absolute monarch. He governed in conjunction with a council of state known as Oyo Mesi .

Below are the kings who had ruled one of the greatest empires in history.

c.1210– ORANYAN (Oranmiyan)

Oyo-Ile was founded. Oranmiyan was the first king and the founder of the Oyo empire. He was the son of Oduduwa. Oranmiyan was a very brave and warlike king. He was said to have headed his brothers (other Yoruba kings) on an abortive expedition to the east to avenge the death of their father. After quarrelling at a place called Igangan, the brothers dispersed and Oranmiyan went ahead to found the city of Oyo known as Oyo Alaafin.

There are two accounts of his death. Some said he went further East, leaving his son, Ajaka in charge of Oyo, and stopping at a town called Oko, from where he could not proceed and so, died and was buried there.

The second account seems more plausible. It says that Oranmiyan left for Ile-Ife, the land of his father, leaving Ajaka to rule as regent at Oyo. Having stayed in Ile-Ife longer than necessary, the king makers made Ajaka king in Oyo. On returning, Oramiyan heard the kakaaki at the border (the kakaaki is only played for the king). He immediately returned to Ile Ife, where he eventually died and was buried. An obelisk, called ‘Opa Oranmiyan’ was erected at the place where he was buried and is still there to this day.

c.1242– AJAKA

Ajaka was a calm and gentle king. Unlike his father, he was of a peaceful disposition, loved animal husbandry and encouraged it. Being too mild to be warlike, and with the provincial kings encroaching on Oyo, he was deposed and replaced by his fearless and violent brother, Sango. He went to Igboho where he remained in retirement for seven years. After the death of Sango, he returned to the throne.

c.1252– SANGO

He was the step brother of Ajaka. Unlike his brother, he was of a wild and warlike disposition and he had a fiery temper. He had a habit of emitting fire and smoke out of his mouth, by which he greatly increased the dread his subjects had of him.

His mother was the daughter of Elempe, a Nupe king, who formed an alliance with Oranyan by giving him his daughter to wife. Sango defeated many of the other Yoruba kings and expanded the Oyo kingdom. His seven years of reign was marked by his restlessness. He fought many battles and was fond of making charms. He was said to have the knowledge of some preparation by which he could attract lightning. He eventually became tyrannical and was asked to abdicate by the king makers and the senior chiefs.

Rather than abdicating, he hanged himself on a shea butter tree. His brother Ajaka was summoned to return to the throne.

c.1259–AJAKA

Ajaka remains the only Alaafin to rule twice.‎

c.1277 – AGANJU SOLA

He was Ajaka’s son. He liked taming wild animals and he’s said to have kept a leopard. His reign was long and prosperous. He liked aesthetics and he greatly beautified the palace. Towards the end of his reign, he waged war on a king close-by for refusing to give him his daughter as bride. The king and his allies were defeated and captured by Aganju and the bride, whose name was Iyayun, was forcibly taken. One of the messy scandals of his reign occurred when his son had intercourse with his wife and was summarily executed.

c.1340– KORI

Osogbo and Ede town were founded during his reign. Kori was the son of Aganju, by his captured bride, Iyayun. When he was still a child, his mother ruled as regent. It was during Kori’s time that Timi was sent to Ede to fight the Ijeshas. Timi became too powerful for the king and made himself king at Ede (hence the title, Timi of Ede). Gbonka, was sent to Ede to capture Timi. After Timi was defeated, the king, fearing the rise of a more powerful enemy decided to kill Gbonka. After the failure of the assassination, the king committed suicide.

c.1401– OLUASO

Oluaso, Kori’s son, was a handsome prince. His reign was long and peaceful. He was wise and had many wives and children. He also built 54 palaces for the most influential princes. During his reign, Olofin led the Aworis to present-day Lagos.

c.1490–1542 ONIGBOGI

He was the son of an Ota woman. His mother tried to introduce Ifa (oracle) to the Oyo people. The Oyo people rejected her advice and she left the town. She eventually settled in a town called Ado, where the people accepted her ideas. During Onigbogi’s reign, a war broke out and the king of Nupe invaded Oyo and sacked the capital. The king fled to the land of the Ibariba and died there.

1542– OFINRAN

Saki was founded during his reign‎. His mother was an Ibariba woman. The Ibaribas started ill-treating the refugees and the king set out for Oyo. Ifa spread to the Oyo people at this time. The refugees camped at a place called Kusu. There the king died before they could move. The next four kings ruled from a town called Igboho.

1550– EGUGUOJO

This Alaafin founded Igboho after the Nupe had occupied Oyo- Ile. He built Igboho, known as Oyo Igboho, and made it the new capital. Besides that, nothing remarkable happened in his reign.

1554–1562 OROMPOTO

Orompoto was the first and only female Alaafin of Oyo. She was the sister of her predecessor, Eguguojo. She assumed the throne in 1554 because there was no male successor from her elder brother at the time.

Legend has it that she cut off her breasts (mastectomy) and put on men’s clothing to look like a man and for the Oyo Mesi to accept her as Alaafin.

In 1557, Alaafin Orompoto (the custodian of the vagina that kills evil plots, the king with the great gift, the king with the flabbergasting gift) strengthened Oyo’s military might. She imported horses from as far as Timbuktu in Mali and had over 1000 horsemen. She did tie leaves on the horses’ tails so that when they went a fighting, the leaves swept the ground after them to cover trails of the horses’ prints.

Orompoto was a skillful commander and a tactical leader. She was brave and won many battles. During her reign, Oyo regained its military prestige and was feared across the south of Niger. She died in the battle of Ilayi in 1562.

1562–1570 AJIBOYEDE

He was a successful and brave king but he was a tyrant. During his reign, the Tapas from Nupe invaded the country again but the king was victorious. The king’s favourite son, Osemolu died. Shortly after, king also died.

1570–1588 ABIPA

Abipa rebuilt Oyo-Ile after the destruction by the Nupe marauders‎. He decided to carry the seat of government back to Oyo-Ile, even though the nobles were against it. However, he was successful and the king buried charms in strategic places in the city, so that it would not be destroyed again.

1588–1599 OBALOKUN

Salt (Sodium Chloride) was introduced to Oyo-Ile by Portuguese explorers during his reign. His mother was the daughter of the Alake, king of the Egbas. He was also the first Alaafin to have had contact with an European king, most likely King of Portugal, as the Portuguese were the only foreign power present in Yoruba land in the 16th Century.

1599–1658 AJAGBO

His reign was very long. He had a friend at Iwoye called Kokoro-igangan, whom he made the first Aare-Ona-Kankafo (Generalissimo). He was a warlike king and he conquered many people in the West, including the Popos and the Sabes (in Benin Republic). He destroyed Iweme in Popo country after sending four expeditions out at once; under the Basorun, Agbakin, Kankafo, and Asipa.

1658–1659 ODARAWU

His reign was very short. He had a bad temper. He ordered for the destruction of a town called Ojosegi. He was eventually rejected by the noblemen and ended up commiting suicide.

1659–1665 KARAN

He was a tyrant. He was cruel and harsh. He tortured and killed many of his subjects for slight offences. He was so wicked that the proverb ‘as cruel as Kanran’ is being used by the Yoruba to describe anyone perceived of extreme cruelty. The people eventually rebelled against him. He was killed in a coup by the army, backed by the noble men. He fought fearlessly and perished in the inferno that engulfed the palace.

1665–1676 JAYIN

Jayin was Kanran’s son and was made king after his father’s horrible death. He was of a gentler disposition than his father but he was effeminate and his son fell in love with one of his wives. In rage, he killed the boy. He was eventually deposed and tragically committed suicide.

1676–1690 AYIBI

He was the late king’s grandson and the son of the beloved prince whom the king killed. Unfortunately he proved unworthy of the honour and respect accorded to him; he greatly disappointed the hopes of the nation. He was a tyrant and took pleasure in shedding blood. Like his grandfather, he was deposed and he committed suicide.

1690–1692 OSIYAGO

Like his immediate predecessor, he was equally worthless. He was excessive in actions, amassing wealth that he did not live to enjoy. His children fought each other and his foster son, whom he had adopted as the Aremo (heir) was killed by his daughter. The king was eventually poisoned. For 36 years, after Osiyago’s death, the throne was vacant and the country was ruled by the Basoruns (Prime Ministers).

1728–1732 OJIGI

During his reign, Oyo invaded Dahomey. He was elected to a vacant throne. He was warlike, extending his domain to Dahomean territory in present day Benin Republic. He was nevertheless, a good king. He sent out a large expedition to bring all the Yoruba under his control. The expedition is said to have reached the Northern part of the River Niger. Despite the king’s stern disposition, he was too indulgent of his son. The Aremo’s cruelty and excesses eventually caused his father’s rejection. The king was deposed by the noble men and he committed suicide.

1732–1738 GBERU

He was a wicked king, who liked making charms. He fought a bitter conflict with his Basorun who was his friend and both of them were deposed. Just like his predecessor he committed suicide.

1738–1742 AMUNIWAYE

He was a good king initially but soon became weak because of his low morals. He had a affair with the wife of his medicine man. He died of magun while having intercourse with the woman.

1742–1750 ONISILE

He was a great warrior and of great courage. He was brave and warlike, and he was also very artistic. His rashness was the cause of his death. He was struck by lightning and was incapacitated, before being deposed and allowed to die peacefully. Basorun Gaha, the wicked Prime Minister, became the head of the Oyo Mesi during his reign.

1750– LABISI

Shortest-reigned Alaafin till date. He spent only 15 days on the throne. He committed suicide because of pressure from Basorun Gaha‎. This unfortunate king was elected to the throne but not allowed to be crowned. His Basorun, Gaha, became very powerful, conspired against him and killed all his friends. Labisi eventually committed suicide when he could not rule. Gaa remained powerful, long after him; installing kings as he pleased.

1750– AWONBIOJU

He spent just 130 days on the throne. Installed by Gaha after Labisi, Awonbioju was killed by Gaa when he refused to prostrate for him.

1750–1770 AGBOLUAJE

He was a very handsome prince installed by Gaa. His reign was peaceful and the kingdom was big and prosperous. Basorun Gaha made him fight the king of Popo who was his friend and destroyed his kingdom. In frustration, the king committed suicide before the expedition arrived.

1770–1772 MAJEOGBE

He tried to defend himself against Gaha whose sons were now too powerful. They collected all the tributes and were cruel. The king eventually died in frustration.

1772-1789 ABIODUN

He had a long and peaceful reign. He was handsome, wise and dignified. His reign was so significant that it has since passed into proverbs. The Yoruba believed that Oyo actually started declining after his death. He defeated Basorun Gaha and his children. Abiodun fathered over 660 children and had many descendants which still live till today. His son, Awole, poisond him and succeeded him as king.

1789-1796 AWOLE AROGANGAN

Under him, the kingdom disintegrated as the provinces became tired of Oyo’s tyranny and slavery was rife. He was probably too mild and weak, and had an enemy in Afonja, the Kakanfo who was very powerful. Afonja was stationed at Ilorin with the major part of Oyo’s calvary. Afonja, the Basorun and the Onikoyi eventually led a rebellion against him. As their forces surrounded the city, Aole committed suicide, after cursing Afonja and his co-conspirators. The Oyo empire, and indeed the Yoruba nation, never recovered from this tragedy.

1796-1797 ADEBO

He became king nominally, but never really had powers. The whole land rebelled during his reign and the chiefs clamoured for territories. Afonja declared independence first, and many provinces followed. Afonja won a great victory against the Oyo armies with the help of Alimi, a Fulani and Solagberu, a Yoruba Moslem. He fought several battles in which he subjugated and destroyed many Yoruba cities. Ilorin later became part of the Sokoto Caliphate when the Fulani took over.

1797- MAKUA

His reign was short and tragic. He reigned for only 2 months in 1797. He led an expedition against Iworo and was defeated. He committed suicide in Oyo. The period that followed was the Yoruba civil wars of the 19th century. Between 1800 and 1893, the Yoruba fought a series of wars that decimated huge portions of the country and caused a considerable amount of internal migration. Many large cities were destroyed completely, never to be rebuilt. New cities sprang up, from refugee camps or military bases.

1801-1830 MAJEOTU

After a period when the throne was vacant, Majotu was elected to the throne. He reigned from 1802 to 1830. His reign was full of wars and rebellions. In 1823, Dahomey rebelled, defeated the Oyo army and gained complete independence. Ilorin became a formidable force and started a conquest of Yorubaland, destroying and looting cities in its campaign. The Owu war(1821-1827) also occurred in which the town of Owu was completely destroyed. The Owu later settled in Abeokuta.

1830-1833 AMODO

His reign lasted for three years. He was initially weak, but later proved himself to be a wise and decisive king, despite being unfortunate. He came to the throne at a time when the kingdom was distracted by anarchy and confusion. The Fulanis were having an eye on the capital of Yoruba-land. None of the provincial kings now paid tribute to Oyo or acknowledged the authority of the King. He was virtually King of the capital only.

The Ilorin army plundered Oyo for the first time in his reign, but did not destroy the city. Amodo later united some of the Yoruba chiefs who had turned their backs on the empire. They raised an army and besieged Ilorin but they were betrayed by the Edun of Gbogan, who was the Kakanfo and the army dispersed. Gbongan was later besieged by Ilorin and the Edun defeated. After defeating both the Kankafo and the Onikoyi, and rendering the Alaafin powerless, the Ilorin cavalry easily captured most of the northern Yoruba towns. After that, they turned their conquest southwards, towards the Ijesha tribes, where they faced stiff resistance.

At this time, the remnant of the Oyo and Egba armies began to attack the Ijebus, because of their participation in the Owu war. The whole Yorubaland again became embroiled in civil war.

1833-1835 OLUEWU

During his reign, the Fulani empire had already captured Ilorin after an internal coup and transformed it into a Fulani emirate. Oluewu was then bound to Shita, the Emir of Ilorin. However, he refused to embrace the Islamic religion and sought help from Borgu to defeat the Fulanis. Initially, he recorded some success in battle, but a final putsch to recover the northern part of Yorubaland from the Fulanis led to his death and that of many of Oyo’s leading nobles. Ilorin (under the Fulani) eventually destroyed Oyo.

1838-1858 ATIBA ATOBATELE

He moved the capital from Oyo to Ago Oja (present Oyo). During his reign, the remnant of the Yoruba army moved South and camped in an area that belonged to the Egba of Gbagura clan. The war camp later became the city of Ibadan and it emerged as the new power centre in Yorubaland.

Oba Atiba sought to preserve what remained of Oyo Empire by placing on Ibadan duty of protecting the capital from the Ilorin in the north. Atiba was a great leader but he came at a time of crises. Yoruba had lost Igbomina. Ijesha, Ekiti and Akoko at this time were under threat. Ogbomọṣọ, Ẹdẹ, Iwo, axis were under attack-even Oṣogbo had been defeated, occupied by Fulani. In fact, the entire Yoruba land was under Ilorin-Fulani siege.

However, Ibadan would not allow the onslaught to continue. In 1840, Ibadan soldiers defeated and pushed Fulani warriors back to Ilọrin but could not take the city. Atiba died in 1859. He was the last really great king Oyo had. He tried to restore Oyo’s glory, but the decline was bound to happen as all the tribes were fighting one another. The two  current Ruling Houses Agunloye and Alowolodu came out of Atobatele Atiba. 

1859-1875 ADELU AGUNLOYE ***one of the Ruling Houses in Oyo Alaafin today. 

King Adelu was Atiba’s son. He became king in 1859. The Ijaye war(1860-1862) was fought during his period. Kurunmi, the Are Ona Kankafo, who was the ruler of Ijaiye refused to recognize Adelu as the Alaafin. The war started with Ijaiye declaring war on Oyo in 1860. The Ibadan war machine under Ogunmọla came in support of Ọyọ, routed Kurunmi-Ijaiye/Egba alliance and killed all his sons. Kurunmi committed suicide and Ijaiye was destroyed. The Ijaiye war was one of the several wars Ibadan engaged in to assert supremacy in Yorubaland. In 1864, the Alaafin stopped the Batedo War in the name of Sango between Ijebu and the Egbas.

1876-1905 ALOWOLODU ADEYEMI I  ***the second Ruling house in Oyo Alaafin today. In fact the current Ruling House.

After the emergence of Ibadan, the Fulani ceased to be a threat to Yoruba but bitter civil war among the tribes made peace impossible. Between 1860 and 1885 Ibadan engaged in five different wars simultaneously.

In 1877, Ibadan went to war against Ẹgba/Ijẹbu for attacking Ibadan traders, when coming from Port-Novo. The Ijẹṣa/Ekiti seized the moment, in 1878, attacked despotic Ibadan Ajẹlẹs (viceroys) in their territories; Ibadan declared war on Ijẹṣa and Ekiti. The conflict between Ibadan/Ijẹṣa and Ekiti went on for sixteen years, the worst war in Yorubaland.

Ogedengbe-the Seriki of Ijẹṣa army, Fabunmi of Oke-Imesi, and Aduloju of Ado-Ekiti held Ibadan down as Ibadan engaged in other wars with the Ẹgba, Ijẹbu, Ilọrin and the Ifẹ. The Ibadan/Ijesa & Ekiti parapọ war got to its peak at Kiriji, near Ikirun.

The Alaafin was helpless as his people decimated themselves. He therefore invited the British colonial Governor of Lagos to help settled the dispute. Through negotiations undertaken by the Church, which was spearheaded by Samuel Johnson, Charles Phillips, and Lagos Governor, Alfed Moloney in 1886, peace gradually returned to Yorubaland as the warring groups sheathed their swords. The entire Yorubaland later came under the dominion of the British and the Alaafin became a Vassal of the colonial government.

1905-1911 LAWANI AGOJOGA

He was a vassal of the British. He reigned from 1905 to 1911

1911-1944 SIYANBOLA ONIKEPE OLADIGBOLU I

He became king after Lawani. He ruled from 1911 to 1944. He was also a vassal king. The amalgamation of Nigeria happened during his time.

1945-1955 ADENIRAN ADEYEMI II

The Premier of the Western Region, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, deposed and sent him on exile with his Aremo (Crown Prince) for sympathizing with the National Council of Nigerian Citizens (NCNC). He had also come into conflict with Bode Thomas, deputy leader of the Action Group. They both died in exile.

1956-1968 BELLO GBADEGESIN OLADIGBOLU II.

He was the Alaafin when Nigeria gained independence

November 19, 1970- Date LAMIDI OLAYIWOLA ADEYEMI III

Lamidi Adeyemi succeeded Alaafin Gbadegesin Ladigbolu II in 1970, during the governorship of Colonel Robert Adeyinka Adebayo, after the end of the Nigerian Civil War. In 1975, the Head-of-State, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed included Oba Adeyemi in his entourage for the hajj. He was chancellor of Uthman dan Fodiyo University in Sokoto from 1980 to 1992. In 1990 President Ibrahim Babangida appointed him Amir-ul-Hajj in recognition of his commitment to the consolidation of Islam in Nigeria.

Adeyemi is a lover of boxing, as he was a boxer before becoming Alaafin. He remains the only educated Alaafin till date.

Acknowledgement : Ayomide Akinbode

SUMMARY FROM OYO EMPIRE 

On my post on the past Alaafins and the past Oonis, we learned the followings:

1. Full name of Sango was Tella Oko Sango Afonja. He was always dressing like a woman to cool down his temper and juju power.

2. Alaafin Orompoto niyun was believed to be a woman. "He" was too "handsome" .

3. Founding period of Osogbo, Ede, Saki, Igboho,Ibadan etc known. 

4. Renaming of Eko as Lagos by the Portuguese .

5. That 1st Awujale was appointed in 1665.

6. That Basorun Gaa became powerful and many Alaafins died between 1750 - 1789, that year Alaafin Abiodun liberated himself and Basoun Gaa was executed.

7. That Afonja sold off Ilorin in 1835.

8. That in 1838, Atiba Atobatele founded the current Oyo Atiba Alaafin . Ibadan became powerful and populous being the military base of Alaafin Atiba.

9. 1914 - The Amalgamation !!!!

10. In Ife, OoNI  Luwoo Gidigba, believed to be a woman, was the progenitor of Iwo.

11. Sir Adesoji Aderemi became synonymous to OONI stool for so long. Some generations did not know any other Ooni.

12. Giesi 1 was the great, great grandfather of the current OONi Enitan Ogunwusi.

13. That Oni Sijuwade was really an Atobatele. He completely changed the face of OONI stool.

14. That Alaafin did not allow Egba and Ijebu to genocide themselves by invoking the spirit of Sango that pursued  them separately with Aara to their different domains !!!

Iree ooo kabiti !!!!

Prince Albert Oladapo Ogunwusi, the current OONI'S brother WROTE :

'Atobatele' was originally one of the nick names of Oba Aderemi. He had been king of sorts before being enthroned.  He was a learned and successful man with the biggest and most beautiful house in town. Ayinla Tadeniawo Lesimagun, omo Adekunbi Ipetu, abile owo gbindin l'Akui. One who had horses but couldn't be bothered to ride them. He was succeeded by an equally successful Prince, Okunade Adele Sijuade, Jingbindin bi ate akun, Olubuse eri ogun. A man stalwart like a tray of beads, Olubuse the testimony of war. 'Jingbindin bi ate akun' has also been applied to the present Ooni, Kabiyesi Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi as if all Oonis must be of the same corpulent stature as Oba Sijuwade. Anyway Oba Ogunwusi, a more athletic and younger man has carried that praise well too. The cradle of the Yoruba race has been lucky to have these three great Oonis in succession. Successful and distinguished individuals who carried the title with grace and dignity.

You may share but don't remove all the credits. 

DAVIDSON AYOADE OJENIYI

Below is the picture of Edun Aara ( Sango's Stone) .

Alaafin is seen in the picture wearing the historic  Sese Efun Crown worn by Sango  !!!un Crown worn by Sango  !!!