By Olatunde Abatan
…Says, it’s just a creation of Alaafin of Oyo
Professor Dele Adeoti,former head of department of History at the Lagos state University has debunked the claim by Aare Gani Adams that Yoruba obas are under him.
Professor Dele Adeoti, former HOD History, Lagos state University,LASU
He described the Aare Onakakanfo title as only an ordinary chief with no power outside Oyo kingdom.
In an exclusive interview with Newdawnngr, Professor Adeoti said it is wrong for any Aare in Oyo to claim seniority over any Oba in Yorubaland since he is just a title holder under Alaafin.
“Aare is a mere creation of Oyo.He has no power outside Oyo kingdom.” He declared.
Adeoti added that with all the power attributed to it, Aare Onakakanfo has no power to remove Bashorun who is the head of Oyo mesi while Basorun can remove the Alaafin who appointed Asre into office.
To show the lack of influence of Aare Ona kakanfo on other Yoruba towns,Adeoti contended that the old Oyo empire with it’s strength did not extend to Eastern Yorubaland.
Professor Adeoti said that only Ibadan has influence over other Yoruba towns in Eastern Yorubaland and not Alaafin.
He recalled that the first three holders of the office of Aare title created by Alaafin Ajagbo were from Togo and Benin Republic adding that the appointment of late Afonja as Aare in Ilorin marked the beginning of the end of power of the Aare outside Oyo empire..
He revealed that the turning point for Alaafin Aole came when Afonja rebelled against him and this led to the loss of Ilorin and beginning of the fall of old Oyo kingdom and the beginning of crisis in Yorubaland which it is still battling to overcome till date.
He revealed further that it is only Yoruba people in Kaaba that speaks the variant of Yoruba language till date and could be said not to reject being under old Oyo empire.
Adeoti said the Yoruba language was later extended to other eastern parts of what was formerly Old Oyo empire like Ibadan,Ekiti,Ondo, Ijebu and later Egba who later fought for their independence from Alaafin rule.
He said that until 1859 when the British reduced Yoruba history to writing through the publication of Iwe Irohin – the first newspaper publication in Nigeria, towns like Ekiti,Ibadan, Ondo,Ijebu are not called Yoruba adding that except for some parts of Egba that were conquered by the Oyo army,they refused to be led by Oyo.
On this note,it will be recalled that foremost Egba warrior leader, Lisabi Agbongbo Akala, led the rebellion against Alaafin by killing all the Ajeles (homage tax collector’s) in Egba and eventually overthrow Oyo yoke on Egbaland.
Professor Adeoti added that the British use Yoruba hitherto called Aku people as a coinage to described a people.
It will be recalled that Aare Gani Adams the current Ona kakanfo declared recently that Yoruba Obas are under him and should pay obeisance to him.
