Do anyone know or point to (credible) of this write-up. Thanks in anticipation
The write-up collaborate some earlier accounts and research articles. There are also some gaps requiring further careful engagements.
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*TRAVAILS OF OBA ABRAHAM ADESEMOWO*
– THE PARAMOUNT TRADITIONAL RULER OF ORIMOLUSI KINGDOM –- (1929 – 1947)*
“Comprehensive Historical Reflection On The Dynamics Of Chieftaincy Detractions Of The Ancient Stool”
By Dr. Saint | Feb 25, 2021
The aftermath of post-colonial chieftaincy travails, which was orchestrated when British took control of the indigenous traditional administration of Ijebuland, inadvertently, spawned a heroism out of the indefatigable Paramount ruler of Orimolusi kingdom, *Oba Abraham Adesemowo*, who will ever remain an unforgettable icon of regeneration in the history of Ijebu Igbo chieftaincy.
The late Oba Adesemowo, a gentle, dynamic, patriotic and bodacious personality of a concise stature, who was born in the year 1853 at Odoramusegun Ijebu Igbo, ascended the ancient throne of his forbearers at the critical period that the radiating aura emanating from the Stool was scaring most other interested Princes away.
It must be recalled that the mysterious death of Oba Meleki in 1905 and Oba Sodipe in same year 1905 bitterly got Ijebu Igbo people traditionally dumbfounded and consequently put Orimolusi Chieftaincy in abeyances for many years.
Hence, the fear of losing one’s life if ascends the throne became a serious dilemma, at initial stage, for any interested Prince to succeed Oba Sodipe. The aftermath subsequently subjected the traditional sovereignty of Orimolusi kingdom to be absorbed for 23 years by the successive Baales (Olori Ilu) of Oke Sopen in acting capacities as Regents.
Chronologically, after the demise of Oba Sodipe in 1905, Baale Osofisan Alewenla from ibido in Oke Sopen ruled Ijebu Igbo as Regent from 1905 – 1917. Baale Fowora Ogidi Digbamu from Agbole Olowu in Oke Sopen ruled as Regent from 1918 – 1926. Lastly, Baale Shittu from Agbole Ologben in Oke Sopen ruled as Regent from 1926 – 1928.
Under exploratory review, the 23 years of rulership of the Baales as Regents recorded to had created some imbroglios that almost absorbed the Orimolusi Chieftaincy into extinction. The protracted representations of Orimolusi kingdom by Regent Baales in the comity of the traditional rulers during colonial dispensation, even up till Ijebu Province was created, subjected Ijebu Igbo town to be misconstrued, projected and enlisted amongst the towns in Ijebuland that existed without coronet status then.
By year 1927 when the discriminatory assaults towards Orimolusi Stool began to take a new paradigm, the Ijebu Igbo Elite (IPS), traditional Chiefs, members of ruling family and some leaders of thought in the town took proactive steps to convene an important meeting with primary objective of aborting the unfavouring rulership of the Baales and their subtle attempts to submerge the traditional status of the town.
In the proactive synergy to abort the interregnum, a-three man committee who were also members of IPS were inaugurated to research and publish the history of Ijebu Igbo wherein details about crown ancestry of Orimolusi was propagated. That, hitherto, marked the first time the history of Ijebu Igbo would be literarily documented.
Furtherance to the set objective, another strong committee was setup with Prince Bakare Adenaiwo Adebonu - the then head of Orimolusi Ruling family, to work out an appealing modality to woo a candidate for a new selection.
Providently, the outcome of the constituted committee was the nomination of Oba Abraham Adesemowo - *Omo Ogbonko Akala A Dele Teji Teji*, who was caught unaware at his farm village where emissaries went to relay the message of his selection to him. But, immediately news about Adesemowo as Orimolusi-elect spread over, opposition amongst the Princes from ruling family emanated to contest his nomination. But the Elders were able to manage the contention amicably.

Meanwhile, in 1927 when attempt to install a new Orimolusi kick-started, the conspiracy against the resuscitation of Orimolusi Crown equally got thicken, to the extent Ijebu Igbo people had to struggle for two years until fate brought about the deposition of Oba Adenuga Folagbade and Baale Shittu.
Upon the deposition of Oba Adenuga Folagbade on February 4, 1929 in Ijebu Ode, Ijebu Igbo expedited action to woo his successor, Awujale Ogunnaike – an Octogenarian gentle man who was said to be a good friend of Oba Adesemowo, for his consent before the colonial Resident officer P. A. Talbot.
Resident Talbot held an Inquiry into the Ijebu Igbo claims to the Obaship and the outcome produced favorable result. Thereafter, all necessary arrangements were formalized within shortest period of time through the intervention of district Officer Dew so as to get Native Authority Consent in Ijebu Ode.
Officer Dew and Prince George Adeyemi Dosumu took application to Oba Ogunnaike in Ijebu Ode. It was recorded that, within a few minutes, Oba Ogunnaike endorsed his thumb print as his consent approval for Oba Adesemowo to be crowned as an Oba. His approval obliged the Resident Officer to append his final endorsement. Then, on March 11th, Oba Adesemowo emerged a new king of Orimolusi Kingdom at the age of 76.
The grant of Colonial Resident’s consent reportedly said to had marked a new sphere in the history of Chieftaincy affairs in Ijebu Igbo. It was a victory remarkably credited to the IPS members which was celebrated all across the entire kingdom with massive coronation ceremony. Records have it that Oba Adesemowo was glamorously adorned with dignity and majestically enthroned with the original beaded crown that the pioneer Orimolusi used in early 15th century.
Nigerian Daily Telegraph of 24th and 25th July 1930 reported the event that: *“About 10:30am, Mr. J. S. Oshikoya - the Orimolusi clerk arrived with the crown encased in a cardboard and just a few moment afterward a great shout with the arrival of the Orimolusi…the crown is of velvet ornamented with brass workings. It has a bird patched on the top of it. No sooner than his highness put out an appearance people shouted Owo oooooooo….”* quote.

Oba Adesemowo was massively supported, welcomed and celebrated by the people of good conscience towards the course of Ijebu Igbo progress. His remarkable emergence, especially at the most crucial time in the history of the town, prestigiously built a new and prominent dynasty in the ruling family lineage till date (the Adesemowo’s lineage).
Furtherance to the detail on the 1929 letter of his appointment, Oba Adesemowo’s name said to have reflected the suffix title *Kupakude V* and described to have hailed from the lineage of Osinumesi Kupakude. But maternally, his mother’s name was recorded as Princess Okusowobo who married Ogunribigbe at Odoramusegun.
The predestined and fortunate new king whose excitement generated the exclamatory remark - *ADE-ṢẸ-ṢẸ-MỌ-ỌWỌ* that subsequently became a prominent household nomenclature was Christened Odumosu Ogunribigbe at birth. Been one amongst the early converts when Christianity was introduced to Ijebu Igbo in 1893, he further received a new baptismal name called Abraham.
Oba Abraham Odumosu Ogunribigbe Adesemowo was a potential farmer before his ascension as Orimolusi. Even though he was not that privileged to western education, with the loyal educated subordinates in his cabinet he was able to fight a good course for the emancipation of the town from imperial imposition and usurpation from Ijebu Ode authority.

Records have it that, Oba Adesemowo, upon his ascension, notably inherited a balkanized and hostile chieftaincy institution in Ijebu Igbo, consequent upon the alleged misnomer activities of the past Regent Baales.
In his patriotic zeal to conscientiously restore sanity to the political affairs of the town, Oba Abraham Adesemowo severely encountered series of persecutions from both internal saboteurs and external imperial usurpers. He relentlessly fought the alleged conspiracy of the sectional Baales against the resuscitation of Orimolusi crown.
During his 18 years reign as Orimolusi, he was extremely favoured by providence for escaping series of plots meant to jail and depose him by the colonial instrument of Power vested in Ijebu Ode.
Before his death in September 11, 1947 at the ripe age of 94 years, he worked assiduously to harmonize the members of Orimolusi ruling family into one. He laid the foundation of the master plan later built on by his successor to establish secondary education in Ijebu Igbo. He proposed the building of a new palace and high-marked the present land occupied by RCCG at Oke Tako.
During his reign, the Postal Agency was opened in Ijebu Igbo in 1937. As legends posited, Oba Adesemowo promoted the extension of Christianity and worship centers with free allocation of lands for the Missionaries. Economy of the town gained exponential improvements through his free allocations of land for cocoa plantation farmers.
Hence, in spite of all oppositions towards the emancipation struggles, he was credited for the attainment of Subordinate administration known as IJEBU IGBO SURBODINATE NATIVE AUTHORITY in 1939 subject to the report of McKenzie security report, 1939.
Through historical reminiscence of British incursion after 1892 expedition, it must be recalled that Orimolusi throne was also vacant from 1887 to 1899 after the death of Oba Adefolabo. The long interregnum then was managed productively well by Balogun Ogunsigun - the Baale of Oke Sopen and the Regent who fought to resuscitate the Orimolusi Crown for the possible ascension of Oba Meleki in 1899.
After 1892, the first step of colonial government was the appointment of Awujale as the head Chiefs of the Ijebu territory to reconcile all the traditional rulers subject to the aftermath of the 1892 war loss. In further commitment, he became the mouth-piece of the British, the position he built on to become an influential authority over the entire Ijebu region.

Thereafter in 1914, following the amalgamation of Nigeria, Sir Frederick Lugard created a larger role by the new enactment of constitution where Awujale became the Sole Native Authority in Ijebu territory. What this means is that the colonial government appointed him to rule the Ijebu territory according to native laws and customs.
The Sole Native Authority was the instruments of State Power of the modern government to lead all other Ijebu traditional rulers, control Native treasuries and enforce government ordinances.
Statutorily, the style of the Native administration demanded that the officials from other towns including Ijebu Igbo will have to visit Ijebu Ode for meetings, to report activities, to pay taxes and remit other revenues to the colonial treasury. This originated the vesting of the consenting authority clause in the Chieftaincy law of Ijebuland.
It was reported that the inter-communal conflicts within Ijebu territory took a new dimension when Oba Adesanya Daniel ascended the throne of Awujale in 1933, and the instrument of authority vested on Awujale throne allegedly turned to an instrument of exploitation, imposition, oppression, relegation, assault and all manners of abuse of office.
In the height of this abuse, Akarigbo and Orimolusi (Oba Adesemowo) reportedly embarked on series of petitions that led to the Martindale Commission of enquiry 1938 and McKenzie security commission of enquiry 1939.
Providently, it is pertinent to ascertain that the prestigious Orimolusi kingdom had been a prosperous, dynamic and versatile conglomeration from time immemorial. It was a large constituent clan that covers wider villages than her contemporaries. The advantage of geographical location also added to the economic explosion to the envy of many others because Orimolusi’s annual revenue from tributes and taxes was so exorbitant that it was recorded to have covered about 70% of the years remittances to the colonial treasury in the entire Ijebuland by year 1935.

History recalls that by 1930s, Cocoa had become the most successful export from western Nigeria, contributing to the emergences of more colonies under the sovereignty of Orimolusi. So, Orimolusi generated more revenues from tributes for the free lands allocated to the farmers.
The resources generation was considered as an advantageous factor that contributed to the grant of a Sub-Native Authority statues and Sub-treasury as recommended by the then Acting Resident Officer, Mr. J. A. McKenzie.
Hence, the Cocoa prosperity in early 1930s also recorded to had induced series of land disputes amongst the neighboring towns and contributed as well to the conflict between traditional rulers over the exercise of authority on land. The aftermath of this economic rivalry said to have instigated animosity against the Orimolusi authority as crowned monarch.
During the preparation towards the coronation anniversary of Oba Adesemowo in 1935, there was a publication of Nigerian Daily Telegraph of 4th February, 1935 where Oba Adesemowo was eulogized, celebrated and referred to as coronet Oba of Orimolusi kingdom in the category of Ajalorun, Akarigbo and Olowu.
The publication was reportedly said to have sparked another mischievous revolution against Oba Adesemowo by Awujale Adesanya who felt embarrassed and ridiculed by the accolade attributes the publication used to dignify Orimolusi Stool.
Consequent upon that development, it was recorded that Oba Adesanya expended the instrument of power vested in him as Sole Native Authority to relegate and break the Orimolusi kingdom. Those villages that constituted the former Ilugun-Alaro district Council like Imewuro, Imoro, Oke Aye. Omu-Gbawolo, Odo Deyo and a host of other were previously under the sovereignty of Orimolusi. But, Awujale Adesanya mischievously detached them from Orimolusi sovereignty hoping to cut the revenue generation of Oba Adesemowo.
Further more, Oba Daniel Adesanya also instituted a fictitious accusation against Oba Adesemowo that Orimolusi was not entitled to a beaded crown and as a result has limited authority over land matter jurisdiction. This antagonism degenerated to an authoritative influence on the Ijebu Mohammedian Society to publish the photograph of Oba Adesemowo in their yearly almanac as ordinary Chief.
Oba Adesemowo faced with all manners of fictitious allegations and accusations. It further degenerated to the extent some Ijebu Igbo indigenes testified with fable myth that Orimolusi was a mere Chief - Agemo Moki Priest. The agitation was so intense that the anniversary was aborted.
The plot to relegate Orimolusi Stool continued till 1939 when Oba Adesemowo marked his 10th year coronation anniversary. It was a celebration that rang bell across the length and breath of Ijebuland. It was during this event that the history of Ijebu Igbo was published for the second time. The event marked the second time the ancient beaded crown (ADE ISEMBAYE) was brought out during Oba Adesemowo’s reign.
Bitterly, Oba Daniel Adesanya, by the instrument of power, summoned Ijebu Igbo with query on the right the town had for the use of the beaded crown. Upon all the evidences portrayed that Mr. P. A. Talbot approved the resuscitation of the crown, all efforts proved abortive. This further degenerated to the level of anarchy where Oba Adesemowo subsequently refused to respond to the colonial memoirs emanating from Awujale.
According to the file reference (NAI, IjeProf.2, File No. C.S4, vol 1), Ijebu Igbo people submitted petition in this regard to the Chief Commissioner of Central government in Lagos. They fought the injustice to a stand still in 1939 and 1940.
From 1940, it was unknown that Oba Daniel Adesanya had trickily hidden his plan against Oba Adesemowo until 17th February, 1942 that the most sacrilegious cruel act against tradition manifested. During this fateful day in Ijebu Ode, Awujale plotted the seizure of Orimolusi beaded crown, confiscated the crown and Oba Adesemowo had to cover his head with handkerchief back home.
Though, the crown was returned in 1950, but it was after the demise of Oba Adesemowo when the mission had been accomplished. After his demise, *THE STRUGGLE CONTINUES*

Oba Adesemowo joined his ancestors in September, 1947 at age 94years.
May His Soul Rest On…….

Oba Abraham (Odumosu Ogunribigbe) Adesemowo | 1853 – 1947

*The research credited to Dr. Saint @2021*

I like history