Olubadan
Encyclopedia
The Olubadan is the royal title of the king of Ibadan
land in Nigeria
, now a largely symbolic role. Ibadan was founded in the 16th century, but the present Yoruba people
only took control around 1820. By 1850 they had established their unusual succession principle, which is quite different compared with other traditional Yoruba rulers in that it alternates between two lines. It usually takes decades to groom an Olubadan for the stool through stages of chieftaincy promotion, thus meaning that just about any male born title-holder of the metropolitan center is a potential king.
, Ijebu
, Ife
and Oyo
people won the town during their wars with the Fulanis
. After a struggle between the victors, the Oyo gained control in 1829. A system where the Baale line (civic) and Balogun Isoriki line (military) shared power was established by 1851, subject to a traditional council representing both lines.
In 1885 C.E. the Royal Niger Company
became effective rulers of the area, signing treaties with local powers such as the Olubadan, and in 1900 the British
government formally assumed authority over Nigeria as a "Protectorate". The British created the Ibadan Town Council in 1897, using the traditionally powerful local chiefs to administer their town. In 1901 the Governor Sir William MacGregor
introduced an ordinance whereby the Baale became the president of the Council while the Resident was only to advise when necessary (Rulers of Ibadan were generally referred to as Baale until 1936, when the title of Olubadan was resuscitated).
On October 1, 1960, Nigeria gained its independence from the United Kingdom
. Various juntas then ruled for almost forty years. In 1999, a democratically elected government came into power.
as a result. Others are the Osi Olubadan, Asipa Olubadan, Ekerin and Ekarun, as well as Otun Balogun, Osi Balogun, Asipa Balogun, Ekerin and Ekarun Balogun, while the Seriki and Iyalode, ("mother of the town", female chief) are also members of the Olubadan's privy council
.
The 11 high chiefs that formed the Olubadan-in-council, apart from the Seriki and Iyalode, are recognised as the traditional head of each of the 11 LGs in Ibadanland. It was learnt that the progenitors of Ibadan frowned on the involvement of the senior chiefs in partisan politics because of the salient neutral roles they were expected to play in their domains. For instance, they are appointed as presidents of customary courts, who are expected to adjudicate on matrimonial, land, boundary and other communal disputes.
to seek redress from the government and the courts when his chieftaincy title was also pegged, was reported to have failed. Although he was said to have been forgiven after seeking help outside the courts, his juniors who had been promoted above him were said to have remained his seniors thereafter.
In 1983, the late Olubadan, Oba Yesufu Asanike, withdrew the honorary title of Are Alasa from the then Governor of the old Oyo State
, the late Chief Bola Ige
, for an act considered as being disrespectful to Ibadanland.
Ibadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
land in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, now a largely symbolic role. Ibadan was founded in the 16th century, but the present Yoruba people
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
only took control around 1820. By 1850 they had established their unusual succession principle, which is quite different compared with other traditional Yoruba rulers in that it alternates between two lines. It usually takes decades to groom an Olubadan for the stool through stages of chieftaincy promotion, thus meaning that just about any male born title-holder of the metropolitan center is a potential king.
History
According to the outline history of Ibadan by Oba Isaac Akinyele, Ibadan was founded in the 16th century. Around 1820, an army of EgbaEgba
The Egba are a clan of the Yoruba people who live in western Nigeria. Many Egba live in the city of Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State.- History :...
, Ijebu
Ijebu
Ijebu was a Yoruba kingdom in pre-colonial Nigeria. It formed around the fifteenth century. According to legend, its ruling dynasty was founded by Obanta of Ile-Ife...
, Ife
Ife
Ife is an ancient Yoruba city in south-western Nigeria. Evidence of inhabitation at the site has been discovered to date back to roughly 560 BC...
and Oyo
Oyo Empire
The Oyo Empire was a Yoruba empire of what is today southwestern Nigeria. The empire was established before the 14th century and grew to become one of the largest West African states encountered by European explorers. It rose to preeminence through its possession of a powerful cavalry and wealth...
people won the town during their wars with the Fulanis
Fula people
Fula people or Fulani or Fulbe are an ethnic group spread over many countries, predominantly in West Africa, but found also in Central Africa and Sudanese North Africa...
. After a struggle between the victors, the Oyo gained control in 1829. A system where the Baale line (civic) and Balogun Isoriki line (military) shared power was established by 1851, subject to a traditional council representing both lines.
In 1885 C.E. the Royal Niger Company
Royal Niger Company
The Royal Niger Company was a mercantile company chartered by the British government in the nineteenth century. It formed the basis of the modern state of Nigeria....
became effective rulers of the area, signing treaties with local powers such as the Olubadan, and in 1900 the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
government formally assumed authority over Nigeria as a "Protectorate". The British created the Ibadan Town Council in 1897, using the traditionally powerful local chiefs to administer their town. In 1901 the Governor Sir William MacGregor
William MacGregor
Sir William MacGregor GCMG, CB was a Lieutenant-Governor of British New Guinea, Governor of Newfoundland and Governor of Queensland.-Early life:...
introduced an ordinance whereby the Baale became the president of the Council while the Resident was only to advise when necessary (Rulers of Ibadan were generally referred to as Baale until 1936, when the title of Olubadan was resuscitated).
On October 1, 1960, Nigeria gained its independence from the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. Various juntas then ruled for almost forty years. In 1999, a democratically elected government came into power.
Ruling Lines
There are two ruling lines to the throne of Olubadan, Egbe Agba (civil) and Balogun (military), from where Olubadans are appointed on rotational basis to occupy the stool on the death of a monarch. The next to Olubadan and most senior on both lines are the Otun Olubadan and Balogun, who under the Western Nigeria Law are recognised as second class traditional rulers and who are included on the Nigerian equivalent of a civil listCivil list
-United Kingdom:In the United Kingdom, the Civil List is the name given to the annual grant that covers some expenses associated with the Sovereign performing their official duties, including those for staff salaries, State Visits, public engagements, ceremonial functions and the upkeep of the...
as a result. Others are the Osi Olubadan, Asipa Olubadan, Ekerin and Ekarun, as well as Otun Balogun, Osi Balogun, Asipa Balogun, Ekerin and Ekarun Balogun, while the Seriki and Iyalode, ("mother of the town", female chief) are also members of the Olubadan's privy council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
.
The 11 high chiefs that formed the Olubadan-in-council, apart from the Seriki and Iyalode, are recognised as the traditional head of each of the 11 LGs in Ibadanland. It was learnt that the progenitors of Ibadan frowned on the involvement of the senior chiefs in partisan politics because of the salient neutral roles they were expected to play in their domains. For instance, they are appointed as presidents of customary courts, who are expected to adjudicate on matrimonial, land, boundary and other communal disputes.
Accession Process
The Olubadan has the sweeping powers to depose or peg a chief, irrespective of the person's position on the chieftaincy line. By implication, high chiefs on the lower cadre could be promoted above a high chief whose position was pegged. Even when forgiven, in the event that he was penitent, the promotion would not be reversed while the offending high chief served his punishment. For instance, during the reign of Oba Fijabi II, between 1948 and 1952, a wealthy Balogun, who was next to Olubadan, was said to have had his chieftaincy pegged. About the same time, a holder of the title of Osi-Olubadan was also hammered for acts of disloyalty to the cause of Ibadanland, an offence regarded as treasonable felony. Spirited efforts made by a former Minister in the old Western RegionWestern Region, Nigeria
The Western Region was a subdivision of the federation of Nigeria until 1967. Its capital was at Ibadan.It was established in the 1930s under British rule as a subdivision of the Southern Nigeria colony...
to seek redress from the government and the courts when his chieftaincy title was also pegged, was reported to have failed. Although he was said to have been forgiven after seeking help outside the courts, his juniors who had been promoted above him were said to have remained his seniors thereafter.
In 1983, the late Olubadan, Oba Yesufu Asanike, withdrew the honorary title of Are Alasa from the then Governor of the old Oyo State
Oyo State
Ọyọ State is an inland state in south-western Nigeria, with its capital at Ibadan. It is bounded in the north by Kwara State, in the east by Osun State, in the south by Ogun State and in the west partly by Ogun State and partly by the Republic of Benin....
, the late Chief Bola Ige
Bola Ige
James Ajibola Idowu Ige simply known as Bola Ige was a Nigerian lawyer and politician. He became Federal Minister of Justice for Nigeria...
, for an act considered as being disrespectful to Ibadanland.
Today
Oba Ogundipe, the 39th Olubadan, ascended the throne on 7 May 1999 and died in 2007 and the age of 87. He was succeeded by Oba Samuel Odulana, 93, Odugade 1. Although the role is now largely symbolic, the Olubadan is still an influential figure and is not hesitant to attack local political leaders on issues such as violence, corruption and lack of true democracy in the region.List of Olubadan
- Ba’ale Maye Okunade (1820-1830)
- Ba’ale Oluyedun
- Ba’ale Lakanle
- Bashorun OluyoleOluyoleFor the Local Government Area of Oyo State, see Oluyole, Nigeria.Oluyole was a distinguished, dominating army commander from Oyo. He rose to fame as Bashorun, a title he subsequently made famous, and was one of the leaders who contributed immensely to the military and economic development of...
1850 - Ba’ale Oderinlo 1850
- Ba’ale Oyeshile Olugbode 1851-1864
- Ba’ale Ibikunle 1864
- Bashorun Ogunmola 1865-1867
- Ba’ale Akere I 1867-1870
- Ba’ale Orowusi 1870-1871
- Are Ona KakanfoOyo EmpireThe Oyo Empire was a Yoruba empire of what is today southwestern Nigeria. The empire was established before the 14th century and grew to become one of the largest West African states encountered by European explorers. It rose to preeminence through its possession of a powerful cavalry and wealth...
Obadoke Latosa 1871-1885 - Ba’ale Ajayi Osungbekun 1885-1893
- Ba’ale Fijabi I 1893-1895
- Ba’ale Oshuntoki 1895-1897
- Ba’ale Fajinmi 1897-1902
- Ba’ale Mosaderin 1902-1904
- Ba’ale Dada Opadare 1904-1907
- Ba’ale Sunmonu Apampa 1907-1910
- Ba’ale Akintayo Awanibaku Elenpe 1910-1912
- Ba’ale Irefin 1912-1914
- Ba’ale Shittu Latosa (son of Are Latosa) 1914-1925
- Ba’ale Oyewole Foko 1925-1929
- Olubadan Okunola Abass 1930-1946
- Olubadan Akere I 1946
- Olubadan Oyetunde I 1946
- Olubadan Akintunde Bioku 1947-1948
- Olubadan Fijabi II 1948-1952
- Olubadan Alli Iwo 1952
- Olubadan Apete 1952-1955
- ObaOBAOba or OBA may refer to:* Oba , an African ruler or king* Oba , in Yoruba mythology* Oba, an island in the North Maluku province of Indonesia* Oba-Igbomina, a town in Nigeria...
Isaac Babalola AkinyeleIsaac Babalola AkinyeleIsaac Babalola Akinyele, OBE, KBE was the first educated Olubadan of Ibadan, and the second Christian to ascend the throne.-Family:...
1955-1964 - Oba Yesufu Kobiowu July 1964 - December 1964
- Oba Salawu Akanni Aminu 1965-1971
- Oba Shittu Akintola Oyetunde II 1971-1976
- Oba Gbadamosi Akanbi Adebimpe 1976-1977
- Oba Daniel ‘Tayo Akinbiyi 1977-1982
- Oba Yesufu Oloyede Asanike I 1982-1994
- Oba Emmanuel Adegboyega Operinde I (1994-1999)
- Oba Yunusa Ogundipe Arapasowu I (1999-2007)
- Oba Samuel Odulana Odugade I (2007-present)