Oyo Empire reached its climax in 18th
century, unfortunately, it began declining towards the end of the century.
Political struggle between Alaafin Abiodun and Oyo Mesi over the policy thrust
of a peaceful diplomacy against military adventurism of Oyo Mesi for the Empire
led to the gradual disintegration of the empire. Although, there were many open
confrontations between some political leaders and Alaafin Abiodun, even there
was a revolt, in which Alaafin defeated his opponents. We should also remember
that Alaafin Abiodun had just ridden Oyo of Basorun Gaa’s intransigence and
notoriety. Regardless of Alaafin’s military successes, no respite for the
empire, rather an intractable constitutional crisis had been created, as years
rolled by, crisis from it hastened the fall of Oyo Empire. After the death of
Alaafin Abiodun, the internal crisis in Oyo took a new dimension as the
succession rate to the throne was so high, the situation created political
instability that weakened the stool of Alaafin. Records show that some Alaafin
stayed less than six months on the throne, even there was a period of political
interregnum. More worrisome, was the conspiracy and distrust that engulfed the
entire Oyo. As Oyo was struggling with the domestic/internal problems, insurrections
became the order of the day as people became resentful of Oyo’s hegemony.
Yoruba Egba revolted, declared independence under its leader, Lisabi
Agbongbogbo Akala. In 1818, Abomey revolted and stopped paying tributes to
Alaafin, other sub groups within Oyo Empire joined in the race to become
independent. This spirit of independence in the air showed that Oyo’s authority
and influence, made posible by political and military power, would soon be
gone. The immediate cause of the fall of Oyo was the rivalry between
Are-Ona-Kaka-Nfo Afonja and Alaafin Aole. Earlier, Aole had ordered Afonja to
attack Iwere-Ile (a Yoruba town and maternal home of Alaafin Ajagbomogun Ileti
Are Elemele), the order was not only ignored by Afonja, but created distrust
between Aolẹ and Afonja. Within a short period of time the supremacy battle and
suspicion (between the duo) resulted in attack on Oyo by Afonja with the help
of the Fulanis (under Alimi) the new settlers in Ilorin. Oyo was destroyed and
a new location was sought at Ago Oja to form a new Oyo under Alaafin Atiba.
Shortly there after, Afonja was killed in a political intrigue that followed in
Ilorin. Yoruba lost Ilorin its northern gateway to the Fulani led Islamic
administration in Sokoto to Malam Alimi, Usman Dan Fodio’s representative. The
destruction of Oyo spelt a doom for entire Yorubaland as there was no more
central or unified defense system, more important, there was a radical shift in
power in Yorubaland. Four different power blocs emerged (two military powers, one
economic power, and a confederate/
multi kingdom power). Besides,
several towns and communities were formed to care for hundreds of thousand
Yoruba refugees; more pathetic was the social and political dislocations (intra
tribal wars) Yoruba witnessed between 1826/
1827 (when Oyo fell) and 1885, when
the British led armistice treaty was signed by various warring groups in Yoruba
land. The new political powers in Yoruba land were: Ibadan a military power
which produced Basorun such as: Oluyole, Oderinde, Ojo, Ogunmola, Latosha etc.
Ijaye a military power that revolved around a supreme commander and a dictator
Kurunmi. Egba, a confederate political system, based not on military power
alone, but on the moral force of Christianity, power of education, and industrialization.
These factors made Egba a different political power in Yoruba land. Ijebu an
economic power because of its geographical location. A major trade route
between Lagos and several Yoruba towns and villages. Ibadan A new Political
Power in Yoruba Land. Ibadan (Eba-Odan) meaning by the side of thick forest was
initially established by Lagelu an Ile-Ife (commander in chief). For several
years, Jagun Lagelu (oro, a pata maja) and his subjects were living together in
peace in their first settlement at Awotan, in Apete in the present Ido Local
Government Area, until an incident happened. From history, we are told that
certain individuals disrobed Egungun in Eba Odan, the Egungun was brought to
market where he suffered more humiliation before women and children. In Yoruba
tradition, Egunguns are revered dead forefathers. when Sango, the Alaafin of
Oyo heard of the incident, he ordered the destruction of Eba Odan. Those who
survived the attack ran to a nearby hill, lived on (Oro fruits), much later,
when life returned to normal another settlement was formed. Ibadan, from
records was attacked on three other times. However, the modern Ibadan was
established in 1829, after the fall of Oyo. Refugees from several Yoruba towns
and villages came in droves and settled in Ibadan when Oyo was destroyed around
(1826/1827), by 1850 the city population had grown to over 250,000 this made
Ibadan to become a heterogeneous and the largest Yoruba town; more so, it
became a safety net for the war displaced people. Because of its location,
population, military exploits under various garrison commanders, Ibadan town
became the most powerful, politically, and economically in Yorubaland. In no
time, Ibadan filled the political vacuum created by the fall of Oyo. Although,
Ibadan is a Yoruba town, it operated a different political system ever known in
Yorubaland. Ibadan had no Oba, whose occupant is by inheritance, because of its
formation; rather, it created four high offices: two military positions, one
civil office, and one office for women leadership. The offices are:
“Iba” or “Baa’le” civil, head of the
town
“Balogun” later “Basorun”; head of
Ibadan military
“Seriki” second-in-command, military
office
“Iyalode” head of all Ibadan women, a
powerful office.
The system that produces Olubadan
(formerly known as Iba) consists of two lines: the Otun and the Balogun. Each
line has 23 steps on the rung for a would be Olubadan to climb before
appointed. Vacancy is created when the occupant dies, becomes incapacitated or
removed (which happens seldon) the next in rank moves a step up. The journey to
Olubadan office is very long and enduring. Otun line is for the civil office,
while Balogun is for the military leadership. However, most senior title holder
from either lines can become Olubadan, when the stool becomes vacant. Iba or
Baa’le was the political head of Ibadan, the office was opened to the next in
rank or second in command whenever the occupant died. The is practice is still
same even (with Olubadan throne) to date. Balogun (later changed to Basorun by
Alaafin Atiba, but installed by Iba on the orders of Alaafin) and Seriki were
the two prominent military leaders in the land (and to date) are opened, not by
inheritance, but to the next in rank. Other high and middle level military titles
were:
Otun (General, right division);
Osi (General, left division);
Ekerin, Elarun, Ekefa (head of
fourth, fifth, sixth divisions).
Interestingly, these titles though,
no longer in military format or structure still exist in Ibadan political
system/
arrangement; even, with several
reforms, structural and administrative changes Ibadan had witnessed as a city
over the years. The fourth political office is that of Iyalode, the leader of
Ibadan women. At inception, there was Traditional Council (Igbimo Ilu) membership
was drawn from both Otun line (civil) and Balogun line (military) to help Iba
with day to day administration. Over the years, several administrative and
political reforms had taken place in Ibadan, the most prominent were 1936
creation of Olubadan office, and 1976 when Olubadan became a permanent member
of Western State Council Obas and Chiefs.
There are other several titles by
household or compound, the most common is Mogaji the family head. The High
Chiefs and Mogajis carried out the civic duties which enabled the indigenes
accessed the land and to exercise their civil rights. Ibadan, under the
leadership of Oluyole played a major role in Yoruba land. Oluyole was a
grandson of Alaafin Abiodun (through Agbonyin, Abiodun’s daughter).
He fought several wars, which he won:
Ibadan versus Ijebu
Ibadan /Owu war
Ibadan/Ife war
Ibadan /Egba war
Ibadan/Egba war was a game changer in
the post Oyo politics in Yoruba land, his defeat of the Egba at Ipara led to
the take over of several Egba towns including Ibadan. Consequently, Oluyole
became Areago of Ibadan, later he took the Osi Ona-Kaka-Nfo title, second to
Kurunmi the Are-Ona-Kaka-Nfo (Generalissimo) of Yoruba land. The leadership of
Ibadan over Yoruba did not come by accident, rather, it came as Ibadan checkmated
the rampaging Fulani warriors after the fall of Oyo. Yoruba had lost Igbomina;
Ekiti and Akoko at this time were under threat. Ogbomoso, Ede, Iwo, axis were
under attack even Osogbo had been defeated, occupied by Fulani. In fact, the
entire Yoruba land was under Ilorin Fulani siege. Ibadan would not allow the
onslaught to continue, by 1840, Ibadan soldiers defeated and pushed Fulani
warriors back to Ilorin. However, the only regret was Ibadan did not follow
through to Ilorin. This military success stopped further Fulani attack on
Yoruba land throughout 19th and early 20th centuries the period that covered
British annexation of Lagos from 1860 through the creation of Southern
Protectorate British’s political design meant to promote, protect, and to preserve
the commercial interest of Royal Niger Company; the creation of Northern
Protectorate and the amalgamation of January 1, 1914, leading to the formation
of Nigeria. Ibadan was not done with wars yet, because it engaged in many more
wars in Yorubaland in order to establish its supremacy. One of such war was
Ibadan/Ijaye war of 1860-1861. We should remember that Atiba, Oluyole and
Kurunmi were trio who fought the Eleduwe war during Alaafin Oluewu, to liberate
Yoruba from the Fulani in Ilorin. At the war front these three warriors became
covenanted friends. At the end of the war their friendship became even stronger
especially so, when Atiba succeeded Eluewu as the new Alaafin. Unfortunately,
their friendship later turned sour when Alaafin Atiba changed an age long
tradition in Oyo by abolishing the practice of Aremo from dying with Alaafin.
Kurunmi became enraged with the change in custom and tradition of Oyo, vowed
not to recognize any Aremo chosen as Alaafin in Oyo. Alaafin Atiba died in
1859, his son Aremo Adelu became the new Alaafin, Kurunmi refused to recognize
Alaafin Adelu. Ibadan did not only recognize Adelu as Alaafin, but supported
Oyo, this created enmity between Ibadan and Kurunmi of Ijaye. Earlier, Alaafin
Atiba had made some far reaching administrative changes in Oyo, he divided Oyo
into two sections, Kurunmi headed the (west) and Balogun Oluyole in Ibadan led
the (east). These changes, regardless, created more problems than it solved,
because Kurunmi of Ijaye engaged in supremacy battle with Alaafin on who
controlled upper Ogun towns and villages around Saki. Since the matter was not
resolved before Alaafin Atiba’s death, Kurunmi saw his death as an opportunity
to establish his control over Oyo West; without delay, he declared war on Oyo in
1860. Ibadan war machine under Ogunmola came in support of Oyo, routed Kurunmi
Ijaye/Egba alliance (forces); more so, killed all his sons. When Kurunmi saw
the direction of the war that he was running against time, more important,
there was no how he could have upper hand in the war; rather than being
captured, Kurunmi committed suicide and Ijaye was destroyed by Ibadan army.
Although, Oyo/Ibadan alliance paid off, yet, the war created more troubles and
crises in Yorubaland for two more decades there was no peace in the land.
Again, another Yoruba town with its power and influence went out of existence
in Yorubaland. The Ibadan/Ijaye war had just established Ibadan military
superiority in Yorubaland, more important, the future role Ibadan would play in
the politics of the region. Ibadan was not done with wars in Yoruba land,
rather, it had just begun. Prominent Ibadan leaders of 19th century were:
Basorun Oluyole
Basorun Ibikunle
Basorun Ogunmola
Basorun Latosha
Iyalode Efunsetan Aniwura.
Between 1860 and 1885 Ibadan engaged
in five different wars simultaneously. In 1877, Ibadan went to war against
Egba/Ijebu for attacking Ibadan traders, when coming from Port-Novo. The
Ijesa/Ekiti seized the moment, in 1878, attacked despotic Ibadan Ajeles
(viceroys) in their territories; Ibadan declared war on Ijesha and Ekiti.
The conflict between Ibadan/Ijesha
& Ekiti went on for sixteen years, the worst war in Yorubaland.
Ogedengbe the Seriki of Ijesha army,
Fabunmi of Oke-Imesi, and Aduloju of Ado-Ekiti held Ibadan down as Ibadan
engaged in other wars with the Egba, Ijebu, Ilorin and the Ife. The
Ibadan/Ijesa & Ekiti parapo war got to its peak at Kiriji, near Ikirun.
As these wars raged on in Yoruba
land, no attempts were made to caution the warring groups, unfortunately, the
leaders (Obas) in Yoruba land then were suspicious of themselves, enmeshed in
bitter rivalry. The Church (CMS) and other religious organizations that should
have played the role of peace-makers looked the other way. Sad to say, Lagos
colonial administration stood aloof as entire Yorubaland was on fire. In 1884,
events changed, partition of Africa was under way, British, which had more
investments in the region than other rivals did not want the French or the
Germans to have an upper hand.The realities on the ground made British stepped
up, abandoned its lookwarm attitude, actively involved in resolving the
internal strife in Yorubaland. Through the Church Missionary Society (CMS) and
Lagos colonial administration, reconciliation began among the warring Yoruba
groups (Ibadan, Ijesha/Ekiti, Egba, and Ijebu). At a time, Lagos Governor
Maloney went to Ikirun in 1885 during the Kiriji War between Ibadan and
Ijesa/Ekiti alliance to find permanent solution to the crisis on hand. Finally,
the combatants in the crises were tired of several decades of wars.
Through negotiations undertaken by
the Church, which was spearheaded by Samuel Johnson, Charles Phillips, and
Lagos Governor Maloney in 1886, peace gradually returned to Yorubaland as the
warring groups sheathed their swords. At a time, Governor Carter had to use
force on some Yoruba groups to open trade routes earlier closed. According to
(Ayandele, 1967) the military onslaught on Ijebu in 1892 to open trade route
and the attack on Oyo in 1895, the defeat of Ilorin by the Royal Niger Company
in 1897 subdued entire Yorubaland. Thereafter, the history of Yorubaland
changed by 1900 and even beyond. Ibadan maintained its influence and dominance
on Yoruba, for years, it became the political and administrative headquarters
of Yorubaland. Even, if today’s politics have changed the dynamics of Yoruba
nation, Ibadan will always be remembered for its roles in shaping, and creating
a new Yoruba nation in the 19th century.
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