Of all the Yoruba state in the nineteenth century Ibadan possessed the largest number of distinguished Warlords. This city-state developed from small settlement of Lagelu descendant (called second Ibadan at Oriyangi) to a military sample and then to a military state know as "The Republic of Warriors". Beside the allied army and refugee soldiers who arrived and stayed in Ibadan in the late 1820s, many other soldiers came from other parts of Yoruba land to work and make a name for themselves. Ibadan offered opportunities to many, especially those from the devastated Oyo-Yoruba towns.
2:1 IBADAN- THE THIRD SETTLEMENT AFTER OWU WAR 1825.
As a result of the crisis between the Lagelu descendants and Olowu Akinjobi, the king of Owu Ogbere in Ibadan over the death of NKANLOLA, the daughter of Lagelu's son.
The army of Ife, Ijebu, Oyo refugees and friendly Egbas were recalled from Iperu. Owu-Ogbere was attacked and destroyed while the original occupiers of the town (Lagelu descendants) were displaced. Consequently the governance of the city was taken over by allied army of Ife, Ijebu, and Egbas. Thus, the THIRD Ibadan was established on the same site of the second Ibadan idi-Ogungun and moved down to Oriyangi
According to Toyin Falola (1989) the initial congregation was along ethnic lines, the numerically Ife soldiers Oyo-Yoruba refugees chose Oja-Oba, the Ijebu lived in the south, at Isale-Ijebu, the Egbas moved far away from their conquerors and settled at Yiosa. Each group had his leader, and the people looked upon them for authority.
From Ife: Maye, Ege, Ogidi,(founder of Oja-Igbo), Labosinde, Derin-Okun, Ogini, Aregbe, Olufade, Epo and Oluyode.
From Oyo-Yoruba: Oluyedun, Oluyole, Babalola(Fijabi's father), Lakanle, Oderinlo, Opeagbe, Toki, Olupoyi, Ayeye, Adelakun, Abitiko, Osun, Bankole, Fadeyi, Ogani-Ija and Agbeni.
From Ijebu: Kalejaiye, Awoiba, Osunlalu, Ogunade, Arowosanle, e.t.c.
Note: according to Rev. Samuel Johnson (1978)-
The friendly Egbas that joined the allied army at idi-Ogungun and Ipara were - Lamodi, Apati, Ogunbona, Oso, Gbewiri, and Inakoju. They all followed Maye Okunade to live in Ibadan.
As a result of crisis between Ife settlers and Egba settlers, the Egbas were the first casualty in this rivalry. They were expelled from Ibadan and had to migrate to Abeokuta where a new, more secure and permanent home was established in 1830 A.D.
Consequently, the power tussle was limited to the Ife and Oyo elite.
2:2. CONSEQUENCES OF GBANAMU-ERUNMU WAR (1833).
An excuse was found for an open intra- class struggle in 1833. This later escalated into a war between the Ife, who attracted support from Edunabon and Ipetumodu, and the Oyo-Yoruba who also received assistance from Ijaiye, Ede and Iwo where there were other pockets of refugees. The Oyo-Yoruba won and Ibadan became up till today on Oyo-Yoruba town. Consequence upon the take over of Ibadan as a result of the crisis between Ife and Oyo, the earliest leaders, Oluyedun and Oluyole including other Oyo-Yoruba leaders, particularly people from Osun, tried to make Ibadan a secure place to hundreds of other migrate who joined the town in the 1830s.
The attack of Erunmu by Ibadan War Leaders led by Aare Oluyedun, Oluyole, Lakanle and Kunrunmi of Ijaye was initially attempt at external relations to prevent any attack by neighbouring towns. Because, Olowu Akinjobi sought asylum at Erunmu and also Maye Okunade, the town was attack first. The pro Owu town was ruthless dealth with to the extent that it did not regain its lost population until the 1860s. There, Olowu Akinjobi, Maye Okunade, Oluroko, (king of Erunmu) and Oluwole of Idomapa, all lost their lives. Eventually, the Owus, along with Erunmu people migrated to join the Egba at Abeokuta 1834 A.D. The title of Olowu and Oluroko were resuscitated in Abeokuta.
3:1. IBADAN POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS
Oyo's victory over Ife Sub-group after the Gbanamu war of 1833, was the beginning of a new Era in Ibadan history. The soldiers who led their people to victory decided to transform the camp into a permanent town and from then on Ibadan ceased to be a camp, consequently, a new political arrangement was called for in order to administer the town.
The circumstances that led to the establishment of the new or THIRD Ibadan that favoured the emergence of a military Republic has been explained and formed the basis for new governance system;
(1) From the inception of the "THIRD Ibadan", the new town had to evolve a strong political organization capable of controlling its large and diverse population. Capable of preventing of insecurity, and capable of protecting its economy.
(2) In fashioning a new government, the migrants had very little justification to duplicate the old Oyo system of a monarchial government because of their experience in the crisis that were responsible for the fell of old Oyo empire.
(3) Consequently, a military aristocracy was therefore set up where most of the notable Warriors of the 1830s controlled the reigns of government, names:
NAME. TITLE
1, OLUYEDUN--------
AARE ONA KAKANFO
2,LAKANLE--------OTUN -KAKANFO
3,OLUYOLE--------OSI-KAKANFO
4, ADELAKUN------EKERIN KAKANFO
5, OLUWAIYE------EKARUN KAKANFO
6, ABITIKO---------EKEFA KAKANFO
7, KEJI-------------AARE ABESE
8, OSUN-------------------SARUMI
9,LABOSINDE-----------BABASALE
A Chief of Calvary, with the title of sarumi was created. All these eight (8) title holders, were the eight leading military figures in the society.
However, only a single civilian title, the "BABASALE" Chief Adviser, was created to honour Labosinde as next in rank to Maye Okunade, because he did not support him during the Gbanamu war. The post did not carry any specific duties only to mediate in conflicts and give advise.
3:2. CULTURE AND TRADITION CHANGE WITH TIME:
It is very pertinent to inform the whole world that, in Ibadan history, no Alaafin has ever installed BAALE of Ibadan from the nineteenth (19th) century as claimed by Oyo writer like Chief M.O. Ogunmola (1997, 2000). Alaafin Atiba and Alaafin Adelu only honored Oluyole and Ogunmola respectively with the title of Basorun as a result of their roles in the wars to stabilize Oyo Kingdom and securing the crown of Alaafin. Aare Latoosa forcibly usurped the office of Aare Ona-Kakanfo while the incumbent was Ojo-Aburumaku of Ogbomosho.
In April 1934 the title of BAALE of Ibadan was changed to Olubadan without the consent and approval of Alaafin of Oyo. According to Toyin Falola (1989), 'In spite of the opposition by the Alaafin and the Elite, especially members of the Oyo Progressive Union (OPU), the Era of the Oyo Empire was over and was never revived. Native Authorities, and every area, no matter how small, struggled to became autonomous.
4:1. CONCLUSION
Ibadan history has revealed the history of many war and cultural Heroes from Maye Okunade, Oluyedun, Lakanle,Oluyole, Oderinlo,Opeagbe, Olugbode, Toki, Ibikunle, Ogunmola, Beyioku Akere, Babalola, Bankole Alesinloye, Orowusi, Aare Latoosa, Ayejenku, Osundina, Ajayi-Ogboriefon, Arulogun bi efin and others notable Warriors.
The idea of the past of progress and of the vision of the future were constructed around what Ibadan War Heroes have achieved and accomplished.
Through the resilience and nation building attributes of these war Leaders, Ibadan rose from war camp to city-state, and then an empire in the nineteenth century. The success of the Oluyedun and other early leaders introducing military Aristocracy, a transformation of Yoruba political institution that was all inclusive of the Yoruba-sub-groups after the Gbanamu war, has been adopted and modified by subsequent rulers from Oluyole to BAALE Oyesile Olugbode.
Ibadan chieftaincy reform (non-hereditary) gave hope for all to aspire and with that context developed a promotional system starting from the lowest rung of ladder (Jagun) to its pinnacle as the Olubadan of Ibadanland in rotation between the Balogun line and Otun (civil) line.
Finally, each and every member of Olubadan-in-council is a potential Olubadan in rotation, when the incumbent Olubadan dies. They are also the king makers including Iyalode of Ibadanland. They, except Iyalode equally have the right to become Olubadan of Ibadanland.
IBADAN AGBE WA OOO, ASE EDUMARE.
REFERENCES:
Toyin Falola (1989)
Rev. Samuel Johnson (1978)
Ogunmola M.O (1997,2000)
Jide Fatokun: Ibadanland, facts and figures 2011
ESV. Lola Tomori (2017) The impact of Owu in Ibadan history.
Compile by:
Prince Oluyedun Bello Babatunde JP
WhatsApp nos: 08088133607
E-mail: bellooluyedun@gmail.com to
This brief history is very much appeciated by me. Thanks.
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