Oyo State Traditional Ruler’s Council: Rotating History Is Distorting Truth: The Olubadan Must Chair |Mogaji Muideen Abiola Atanda, Mogaji of Ajayi-Ida Dynasty, Idi-Arere, Ibadan

…As The call for rotation insults the memory of those who preserved Yorubaland when all else collapsed

The Smouldering Smoke The Chairmanship of Oyo Council of Obas and
Chiefs; Let us Give a Deserving Flower
It is a fact that traditional institutions in the Country are much older than the entity called Nigeria.

As native Africans, we owed our heritage and culture so dear to our hearts and this is not peculiar to Africans but human race in general. The British till date still dwell on their old exploits of bravery and might that led to many conquests of
many kingdoms and nations at a later time of their Empire built up. Till date, the Royal stool of the British is still jealously guarded and protected albeit the current government
structure in the modern day. The King or the Queen of England is still the head of Government, if just ceremonial. This is a noble attempt to protect their history and
heritage.

The incursion of the British and other colonial expansionists into Africa and other parts of the globe has done incalculable damage to the preservation of the native heritage
and history.

And sad enough, what is much more appalling is the preservation of the
assault on our collective heritage by the modern day natives.

We have refused to retrace our steps, jettison the imported degradation of our honor and pride on the altarof the warped so called civilization.

Africa was never un-civilized but we suffered colonization of our minds and intellect to the extent that we see our fore-bearers as archaic and inferior to the logic and reasoning of the foreign invaders. It is unfortunate that history is no longer seen as cardinal in our educational curriculum. This is another self-destructive stride of the so called elites.

The current arguments on the seat of Chairmanship of the Council of traditional chiefs
in Oyo State is another testimony to the evil of failure to uphold history and preserve our heritage.

A lazy man or a man without noble history will likely question what’s in Traditional Institution or the value of its preservation.

Gambari A. (2002) averred that traditional ruler as a traditional head of an ethnic community whose stool conferred the highest traditional authority on the holder of the title, depicts the peak of authority and glory.
In the days of old, the Obas in Yoruba land like in any other kingdom globally, enjoyed
power and authority of life and death. There was definitely grace and candour in being an Oba.

Aside the Oba as the principal ruler, the political system in Yoruba land in the days of old was monarchical, hierarchical and democratic in all its purpose and contents. Aside, the King as the head of the town or kingdoms (Empire), there are other structures of government; the Oba’s council (ijoyes), the quarter councils (Mogajis), the regional council (the Baales), and the compound councils (the Baba-ile or Baa’le).

Ibadan is well primed as the chairman of the Council of Obas and chiefs in the State
regardless of ranting from many quarters and many individuals who are oblivion of the grace and might of Ibadan as the last Empire of the Yoruba race. After the Fulanis caused the collapse of the Old Oyo Empire between 1835-1836, Ibadan Empire rose
to greatness and might from the ashes of Old Oyo Empire.

It’s a known fact that Empires rise and fall. Oyo Empire ended and Ibadan Empire rose to preserve the honor of Yoruba heritage from the planned destruction by the Fulani expansionist of the Sokoto caliphate. In 1840 A.D. Ibadan army defeated Fulani Jihadist and turned back the racial clock.

This halted the advance of the Fulani Jihad into Yorubaland and shattered Fulani dreams of Yoruba conquest, all noble Yoruba sons and daughters hold the ageless gratitude to Ibadan. How else, could anyone holds a place of prime
in the scheme of political dynamics?

It is a fact of history that after the interregnum which followed the death of Oluewu and the eventual desertion of Old Oyo, Atiba, the son of Alaafin Abiodun, was appointed the new Alaafin in about 1837. Atiba could not rebuild the destroyed and deserted Oyo capital despite compelling need to do so.

Following his failure to rebuild the lost glory, he moved southward to Ago Oja as a refugee. The Oloja accommodated and sheltered him by the virtue of the glory and honor of Oduduwa.

He practically got to Oja, stripped of all powers and grace of an Emperor. His survival at Ago Oja was hinged on the sorted protection from two military commanders; Kunrunmi of Ijaye and Oluyole of
Ibadan.

Alaafin got to Ago Oja without a single ancestral crown and this was why it is a common saying by then till now that; ‘Lade-Lade-Lade, Alaafin o ni Ade, Ade Otolu
ni Alaafin n’de’.

The details of this is for another day. After the Eleduwe war, as a
sign of appreciation for the shield and protection by both Ijaye and Ibadan, Kunrunmi was made the Are-Ona Kakanfo of the Oyo Kingdom as there was no more Oyo Empire.

It has never occurred in history that Ibadan has ever been subjugated by any Alaafin but rather it was Ibadan that had severally used her might and valour to protect Oyo and Alaafin.

It is also facts of history that all Ibadan leaders from inception; Lagelu, the seven direct descendants of Lagelu, that are lost to history, because their reigns as Olubadan; has not been duly documented, Maye, Oluyedun, Lakanle, Opeagbe, Baale
Oyesile and the host of others were installed as Olubadan, Baale, or Are Ona Kakanfo without reference or consent from any Alaafin.

It is even on record that Latoosa of Ibadan usurped the title of Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland in 1871 from the incumbent Ojo Aburumaku from Ogbomosho earlier installed by Alaafin.

Only a lazy mind and mischievous revisionist of history would trivialize the vantage position of
Ibadan in Yoruba nation.

According to Tomori, Lola, (2004; P.36); he averred that;
‘’Except in name, it (Ibadan) became Alaafin’s master too. Indeed, outside Oyo town and few villages around it, the Alaafin had nowhere to exercise his
authority without a challenge from Ibadan’’.

Let us once again refresh our memory, at the onset of the re-settlement of Ibadan after the destructive Owu war that led to the abdication of Olubadan stool by the last vestige of Lagelu, the deserting armies from the northern part of the Yoruba nations congregated and settled in Ibadan at Idi-Ogungun (the present Agodi-Gate bus stop).

Here the re assembled armies conferred amongst themselves and appointed Mayeloye, an ife warrior to lead the town since no one can trace the original head of the town, the Olubadan. Mayeloye by this arrangement, ruled as the first Baale of Ibadan, this was in keeping with tradition that an Oba must have a deep root and in conformity with certain historical rules.

Then, after Maye, the next ruler was Oluyedun who ruled Ibadan as Aare Ona-Kakanfo and it’s a fact of history that he was the first Aare Ona Kakanfo that was not appointed by Alaafin. At this era, Oyo Empire had collapsed and Ibadan reigned as the next Empire over the Yoruba Nations.

Therefore, the old glory of Alaafin was as a result of being an Emperor and this later time, a new sheriff had come to town and Oyo existed by the glory of Ibadan’s power.

During the reign of Alaafin Majeotu (1801-1830), there were series of war and rebellion in the town against the Oyo Empire and it was this period that Dahomey rebelled, defeated Oyo armies and gained independence. Ilorin became formidable force and started a conquest of Yoruba-land. None of the provincial Obas now pay tributes to Oyo or acknowledged the authority of Alaafin.

He was virtually a King caged to the capital only at igboho. All the Yoruba towns and villages that were hitherto, protected by Oyo Empire, all now, gradually switched allegiance to Ibadan as the new Empire.

Therefore, going through the historical facts, it will only be foolishness and poverty of knowledge of history that make any Oba or any true born, son or daughter in Yoruba nation today to contend the appropriateness of Olubadan of Ibadanland as the Chairman of the Council of Obas and Chiefs in Oyo State and by extension in Yoruba
land.

The unfortunate statement credited to Okere of Saki and few Obas in Oke Ogun part
of Oyo State against the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland (now Olubadan designate), His

Excellency, Senator, Rashid Adewolu Ladoja can only be mouthed and spitted by those that were never in-tune with the evolution of Yoruba nation and its trajectory to greatness talk-less of understanding the primacy of Ibadan in Yoruba nation, even
during the era of colonial masters.

Looking further, one may not blame the Okere of Saki and his cohorts but rather the desecration of our collective heritage by the early political players that distorted history and stood facts on its head.

We may let the dead
rest but the evil of the Action Group (A-G) has done no glory to Yoruba heritage.

As ruined as Oyo Empire later became and Alaafin in search of a domain of peace and tranquillity, still exercised supremacy over kings and chiefs in few parts of the Norther part of the Yoruba nation and to which Saki town belongs.

The Alaafin that was dreaded by Okere at this point, swayed influence under the grace and might of Ibadan Empire.

It is therefore a travesty of honor and respect for Okere of Saki and
his cohorts to act in a disrespectful manner to their superior Lord, the Olubadan of
Ibadanland.

It will therefore be a needless distraction for any high chief in Ibadanland to respond to the provocative comments.

It is a fact of history, that, Empires rises and falls, Ibadan Empire rose from the ashes of old Oyo Empire and therefore the last known and acknowledged Empire in the Yoruba nation is Ibadan Empire. It is only a matter of fact of history and justice to make
Olubadan the only permanent Chairman of the Council of Obas and Chiefs in Oyo
State.

It will be an act of magnanimity and benevolence that Olubadan of Ibadanland
concedes (grudgingly) to the rotational arrangement of the seat with any other Oba in
the State as being promoted.

There is NO Oba as at today, following our collective trajectory in history as Yorubas, that can honestly oppose the right of PRIME seat of Olubadan of Ibadanland at the Council.

The ranting of the ill-informed has only succeeded in awakening the deepest vault of
memory, honour and valour we’ve done in the past.

The least we expected from our erstwhile subjects and vassal towns is gratitude for the protection of their hamlets and kingdoms. No one at this point and age can silence the courageous voice of mightiest.

Ibadan rose during the darkest political season of the Yoruba nation, many ran with their tails in between their legs.

We sauntered! We gave comfort in the time of dark and gloom in the tunnel, we offered protection when danger encircled in all fronts.

We are warriors with dignity, we made legacy of courage, that paved way for Yoruba dignity.

Our act defined nobility in its highest form-not just in regalia but in steadfastness and valour. Till date, our legacy thunders on. We might have sheathed
our swords but our spirit is undying.

We are still the iroko that gives shade to the Yoruba interest and values. And adherent to history will attest to this fact, even late Rev. Johnson with his hatred could not deny this fact and as Balogun Ibikunle once said, Eni kan ki fi owo du ipo alagbara. We earned our flowers, no one can obliterate it.

Alaafin would have suffered the same faith like Orangun of Ila in the hands of Fulani
expansionist if not for the benevolence of Ibadan.

The Ibadan gallant warriors as the defenders and saviours of the Yoruba nation are
poised for peace in the land because the blood of our gallant heroes had wet the soil of Yoruba nation to nurture peace and tranquillity and thus, Ibadan shall not be
harbinger of chaos in the land.

The Government of the day is working towards sustainable peace in our traditional institution, therefore, all of us, as men of noble birth should join hands to nurture the tree of peace to maturity.

Long live Ibadanland! Long live Oyo State!! Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!!!

Mogaji Muideen Abiola Atanda
Mogaji of Ajayi-Ida Dynasty
Idi-Arere, Ibadan.