Elepo and his brothers, Atipo and Epo-o-jorun-o-pa-igi came to Ibadan from IIobu after the Gbanamu war when the Oyos took control of Ibadan. They arrived and settled at Adelakun compound. According to I.B. Akinyele, they came along with Bankole Alesinloye who came from Ofa whose one of his sons became the first Olubadan of Ibadan in 1936.
Chief Elepo, a brave Warrior, became a close friend of Oluyole who was the Osi Aare Ona-Kakanfo of Oluyedun. During the Ota war, Oluyole was sent to head a team comprising Elepo, Inakoju, the Seriki and Bankole Alesinloye. Oluyole made Ipara his headquarters.
According to Rev. Samuel Johnson, the contingent of Ibadan army under Chief Elepo and Inakoju met Oluyole at Ipara. Here, a plot was hatched by which Lakanle and Bankole Alesinloye his lieutenant should be wiped out, but the plot was discovered and it aroused great indignation at Ibadan. In the civil war that ensued, Lakanle, the Otun Aare Ona-Kakanfo of Oluyedun committed suicide when Chief Aiyejenku, his friend, was sent to him by Oluyole to leave the town after winning other Chiefs over. Thus, the first political suicide was committed in the nineteenth century in Ibadan.
When Oluyole was installed the Baale of Ibadan, he made Bankole Alesinloye the first Balogun of Ibadan as written by I.B. Akinyele in "Iwe Itan Ibadan at page 38" Oluyole sent Bankole Alesinloye, his Balogun to Ijebu Remo, but he refused to go. Bankole seized the opportunity to plot against Oluyole and prevented him not to enter Ibadan from Ijebu Remo war. However, Oluyole and his war boys did not take the route guarded by Bankole, instead, they took Elekuro route. When Oluyole entered Ibadan, there was civil war and TEMILEKE, one of Oluyole war boys shot and killed Bankole Alesinloye as he was trying to enter Oluyole's resident to kill him.
Thereafter, Oluyole offered Elepo the post of Balogun which he rejected despite pressure from his brothers and eminent Ibadan war-chiefs saying his name was enough to win wars.
Baale Oluyole sent Elepo to Iberekodo to attack the town near Abeokuta. Unknown to Elepo, the Baale of Iberekodo had sent gifts to Oluyole while he was boasting that with or without the help of God, he would win the battle and capture Iberekodo. Oluyole subsequently withdrew Elepo from Iberekodo.
Thereafter, Elepo was asked by Basorun Oluyole, after Eleduwe war, to wage war against Ede and IIobu under the command of Balogun Oderinlo who succeeded Balogun Bankole Alesinloye. However, Elepo vetoed the destruction of Ede and so Ibadan army marched on to IIobu (Rev. Samuel Johnson, 1976, page 284). The people of IIobu showed sign of submission by giving Elepo presents and people from surrounding villages gave themselves up to Elepo instead of Balogun Oderinlo.
Rev. Samuel Johnson went further that Elepo ruled the army according to his will; and consequently the Balogun was indignant at this usurpation of his rights and the other Chiefs sympathized with him. The restless Warriors shade nobody to fight and started to go home. According to Rev. Samuel Johnson, he described the scenario as "The AGBAMAJA War" i.e. fully armed but engaging in no fight. The war chiefs rejected Elepo despite his apologies when they got to Ibadan. To worsen the situation, Elepo refused arrogantly to prostrate to Balogun Oderinlo. Which means he did not accept his leadership, but he respected only Basorun Oluyole.
Consequently, Elepo's principal subordinate war-chiefs were withdrawn from him and conferred town chiefs on them while all matters of his quarters of the town were taken straight to the Balogun. Thus, Elepo saw himself isolated.
During the Fulani war of 1840 at Oshogbo, Balogun Oderinlo marched out with the whole mighty army of Ibadan without Elepo and Basorun Oluyole, the former having been rejected by the war-chiefs for his actions at the last AGBAMAJA expedition. The Basorun Oluyole approved this resolve and therefore Elepo stayed at home. The victory at Oshogbo was a most important one and forms a turning point in Yoruba history so concluded Rev. Samuel Johnson in the "The History of the Yorubas".
Elepo not being allowed to go to Oshogbo war, was sent to Otefan. On his return, Basorun Oluyole conveyed the message of the war-chiefs to leave the town after being victorious of Oshogbo. Basorun Oluyole later gave him accommodation at his quarter of the town and allowed him to park his goods and belongings at another house (KARA). Yet, the Chiefs insisted that he must leave the town. On his way to Ijebu Remo, he asked for his property to which Oluyole said that anything that entered Iba's house cannot come out again. It was then clear to him that his loyalty to Basorun Oluyole was in vain.
His brother Atipo escaped to Ijaye where he became famous having won for Kunrunmi many wars like-Ogodo, Otefon, and Gbogogbo. Elepo later left Ijebu Remo and went to Ijaye having heard of his brother's progress and influence at Ijaye. On getting there, it was said that Oluyole got wind of it and linked up with Kunrunmi. Elepo was sent to attack ILE-BIOKU from where he did not return. Kunrunmi, the Aare Ona-Kakanfo entered Ogboni house (CULT HOUSE) and came out with Atipo's head (I.B. Akinyele, 190 pg. 42).
The consequence was very disastrous for Elepo and his brothers as they ended their career in Ijaye in disgrace. Elepo's attitude did not portray him as a visionary and amiable leader like many war Leaders in Ibadan in the nineteenth century. His selfish ambition led him to join his brother, Atipo at Ijaye to make name, but his calculation was wrong. Kunrunmi, as a dictator would not allow competition for power and control Ijaye.
Considering what he did to his Balogun Aasu one of the founder of Fiditi and the conflict for power between him and Oluyole that caused BATEDO war in 1844, he was a different man not to be trusted.
Elepo and his brothers, Atipo and Epo-o-jorun-o-pa-igi came to Ibadan from IIobu after the Gbanamu war when the Oyos took control of Ibadan. They arrived and settled at Adelakun compound. According to I.B. Akinyele, they came along with Bankole Alesinloye who came from Ofa whose one of his sons became the first Olubadan of Ibadan in 1963.
Chief Elepo, a brave Warrior, became a close friend of Oluyole who was the Osi Aare Ona-Kakanfo of Oluyedun. During the Ota war, Oluyole was sent to head a team comprising Elepo, Inakoju, the Seriki and Bankole Alesinloye. Oluyole made Ipara his headquarters.
According to Rev. Samuel Johnson, the contingent of Ibadan army under Chief Elepo and Inakoju met Oluyole at Ipara. Here, a plot was hatched by which Lakanle and Bankole Alesinloye his lieutenant should be wiped out, but the plot was discovered and it aroused great indignation at Ibadan. In the civil war that ensued, Lakanle, the Otun Aare Ona-Kakanfo of Oluyedun committed suicide when Chief Aiyejenku, his friend, was sent to him by Oluyole to leave the town after winning other Chiefs over. Thus, the first political suicide was committed in the nineteenth century in Ibadan.
When Oluyole was installed the Baale of Ibadan, he made Bankole Alesinloye the first Balogun of Ibadan as written by I.B. Akinyele in "Iwe Itan Ibadan at page 38" Oluyole sent Bankole Alesinloye, his Balogun to Ijebu Remo, but he refused to go. Bankole seized the opportunity to plot against Oluyole and prevented him not to enter Ibadan from Ijebu Remo war. However, Oluyole and his war boys did not take the route guarded by Bankole, instead, they took Elekuro route. When Oluyole entered Ibadan, there was civil war and TEMILEKE, one of Oluyole war boys shot and killed Bankole Alesinloye as he was trying to enter Oluyole's resident to kill him.
Thereafter, Oluyole offered Elepo the post of Balogun which he rejected despite pressure from his brothers and eminent Ibadan war-chiefs saying his name was enough to win wars.
Baale Oluyole sent Elepo to Iberekodo to attack the town near Abeokuta. Unknown to Elepo, the Baale of Iberekodo had sent gifts to Oluyole while he was boasting that with or without the help of God, he would win the battle and capture Iberekodo. Oluyole subsequently withdrew Elepo from Iberekodo.
Thereafter, Elepo was asked by Basorun Oluyole, after Eleduwe war, to wage war against Ede and IIobu under the command of Balogun Oderinlo who succeeded Balogun Bankole Alesinloye. However, Elepo vetoed the destruction of Ede and so Ibadan army marched on to IIobu (Rev. Samuel Johnson, 1976, page 284). The people of IIobu showed sign of submission by giving Elepo presents and people from surrounding villages gave themselves up to Elepo instead of Balogun Oderinlo.
Rev. Samuel Johnson went further that Elepo ruled the army according to his will; and consequently the Balogun was indignant at this usurpation of his rights and the other Chiefs sympathized with him. The restless Warriors shade nobody to fight and started to go home. According to Rev. Samuel Johnson, he described the scenario as "The AGBAMAJA War" i.e. fully armed but engaging in no fight. The war chiefs rejected Elepo despite his apologies when they got to Ibadan. To worsen the situation, Elepo refused arrogantly to prostrate to Balogun Oderinlo. Which means he did not accept his leadership, but he respected only Basorun Oluyole.
Consequently, Elepo's principal subordinate war-chiefs were withdrawn from him and conferred town chiefs on them while all matters of his quarters of the town were taken straight to the Balogun. Thus, Elepo saw himself isolated.
During the Fulani war of 1840 at Oshogbo, Balogun Oderinlo marched out with the whole mighty army of Ibadan without Elepo and Basorun Oluyole, the former having been rejected by the war-chiefs for his actions at the last AGBAMAJA expedition. The Basorun Oluyole approved this resolve and therefore Elepo stayed at home. The victory at Oshogbo was a most important one and forms a turning point in Yoruba history so concluded Rev. Samuel Johnson in the "The History of the Yorubas".
Elepo not being allowed to go to Oshogbo war, was sent to Otefan. On his return, Basorun Oluyole conveyed the message of the war-chiefs to leave the town after being victorious of Oshogbo. Basorun Oluyole later gave him accommodation at his quarter of the town and allowed him to park his goods and belongings at another house (KARA). Yet, the Chiefs insisted that he must leave the town. On his way to Ijebu Remo, he asked for his property to which Oluyole said that anything that entered Iba's house cannot come out again. It was then clear to him that his loyalty to Basorun Oluyole was in vain.
His brother Atipo escaped to Ijaye where he became famous having won for Kunrunmi many wars like-Ogodo, Otefon, and Gbogogbo. Elepo later left Ijebu Remo and went to Ijaye having heard of his brother's progress and influence at Ijaye. On getting there, it was said that Oluyole got wind of it and linked up with Kunrunmi. Elepo was sent to attack ILE-BIOKU from where he did not return. Kunrunmi, the Aare Ona-Kakanfo entered Ogboni house (CULT HOUSE) and came out with Atipo's head (I.B. Akinyele, 190 pg. 42).
The consequence was very disastrous for Elepo and his brothers as they ended their career in Ijaye in disgrace. Elepo's attitude did not portray him as a visionary and amiable leader like many war Leaders in Ibadan in the nineteenth century. His selfish ambition led him to join his brother, Atipo at Ijaye to make name, but his calculation was wrong. Kunrunmi, as a dictator would not allow competition for power and control Ijaye.
Considering what he did to his Balogun Aasu one of the founder of Fiditi and the conflict for power between him and Oluyole that caused BATEDO war in 1844, he was a different man not to be trusted.
Thanks for this brief historical pieceon my hometown. Kudos.
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