REFUTATION OF THE CLAIM THAT AWOLOWO ELEVATED ỌỌ̀NI TO KINGSHIP STATUS

This is Ọọ̀ni Ademiluyi Ajagun. He was the 48th Ọọ̀ni of Ifẹ̀, the paramount traditional ruler of Ile-Ifẹ̀, the ancestral home of the Yorùbá people and other tribes originating from Ifẹ̀. He reigned from 1910 until 24 June 1930 and was recognized as one of the most formidable and respected kings in Africa and around the world. Ọọ̀ni Ademiluyi Ajagun succeeded Ọọ̀ni Adekola and was followed by Ọọ̀ni Adesoji Aderemi.

Throughout his reign, he played a crucial role in mediating conflicts between indigenous people and the colonial authorities of the time.

It is important to note that when Ọọ̀ni Ademiluyi Ajagun ascended the throne, Obafemi Awolowo was merely a one-year-old toddler. Obafemi Awolowo was born in 1909. By the time Ọọ̀ni Ademiluyi Ajagun passed away, Awolowo was a 21-year-old young man, still finding his footing in life and far from entering the political arena.

Egbé Ọmọ Odùduwà, the launch pad which Awolowo used for his political career was established in 1945 by Adeyemo Alakija as President, Yekini Ojikutu as Vice President, Obafemi Awolowo as General Secretary. In 1927, he enrolled at the University of London as an External Student and graduated with the degree of Bachelor of Commerce (Hons.) The import here is that Awolowo was still a student in 1930 when Ọọ̀ni Ademiluyi Ajagun died.

This timeline clearly refutes the false claim that Awolowo played any role in elevating Ọọ̀ni Ademiluyi Ajagun or any other Ọọ̀ni to kingship status. Colonial Masters had already recognized Ọọ̀ni and used the seat to gain political control of the indigenous people because they know the aborigine have a high respect for the office of Ọọ̀ni in traditional political organogram. It is disheartening to see many Yorùbá people subscribing to such fabricated stories simply because of their affiliation with Aláàfin.

Empire rises and falls, but you will not see British empire denying the existence of Roman empire or Ottoman empire.

A Yoruba saying goes, "A snake remains a snake; it will bite you no matter how well you feed it." Once detractors are finished disparaging the Ọọ̀ni, they will turn their attention to the Aláàfin. When the head is cut of the body is easily destroyed. An African proverb aptly states, "If fire can consume the pangolin with its iron scales, what chance does the fluffy squirrel with its bushy tail have?"

A word is enough for the wise.