Reinstate Ataoja’s Fourth Position Among Osun Obas — Osogbo Royal Families Tell Adeleke

By Michael Ojo, Osogbo

Prominent Osogbo figures have urged the Osun State government to reinstate and uphold the Ataoja of Osogbo’s historic fourth position in the state’s hierarchy of traditional rulers, countering what they called an “unwarranted and unsubstantiated” claim of superiority by the Oluwo of Iwoland, Oba Abdulrosheed Adewale Akanbi.

This demand was made during a press briefing addressed by the members of the royal houses in Osogbo, on Wednesday, where descendants from royal houses, and community leaders reaffirmed the long-standing historical position of the Ataoja dating back to the colonial era.

The princes directed their demands to Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, calling for strictly adherence to established records to ensure the Ataoja’s position is respected.

They called on the State Government of Osun to urgently reinstate the Ataoja of Osogbo to its rightful fourth position in ranking of the Osun Council of Obas, arguing that the Oluwo of Iwo is historically, traditionally and legally unfit to occupy it.

Raising objections to what they described as “an anomaly”, the royal families of Ataoja of Osogbo jointly addressed a press conference at Aruru Gbaemu compound in Osogbo, and called on the state government to immediately return Ataoja throne to the fourth position.

Speaking on behalf of the royal houses, Prince Lekan Salami explained that the Ataoja’s crown was inherited from his forefather, Oba Ajibogun, a direct son of Okanbi, the only son of Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yoruba race.

While the Oluwo’s lineage is described as maternal, linked to Luwo Gbagida, the first and only female Ooni of Ife and wife of High Chief Obaloran of Ife, Ataoja of Osogbo is therefore paternally related to Oduduwa”, Salami explained

He further explained that – Sogbo, Lahanmi and Matanmi – “Oluwo of Iwo has no paternal affinity with Oduduwa but, Ataoja of Osogbo has paternal affinity with Oduduwa.”

Going memory lane while reading the text of the address on behalf of the royal families, Prince Lekan Salami, explained that the Ataoja is one of the direct descendants of Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yoruba race and first king of Ile-Ife.

He added that the occupants of the stool of Ataoja, from Ataoja Larooye, the first Ataoja of Osogbo who is the fifth generation to Oduduwa, wear beaded Are crown and Opaga staff popular till date in Ijesaland, a situation that attests to the long-standing seniority of Ataoja throne when compared to Oluwo’s.

According to Prince Salami, historical documents from the colonial and Western Region administrations confirm that the Ataoja has always occupied the fourth position after the Ooni of Ife, Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, and Orangun of Ila in the order of seniority among traditional rulers in Osun.

“It is in Osun State’s hierarchy was consistently recognized from the colonial period through the administration of former Governor Bisi Akande. It was only during Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola’s tenure that this order was allegedly “unjustifiably tampered with” in favor of the Oluwo, while the late Ataoja, Oba Iyiola Oyewale Matanmi, was out of the country.

“The alteration of this long-established order only occurred during the administration of former Governor Olagunsoye Oyinlola, when the Ataoja, the late Oba Iyiola Oyewale Matanmi, was away from the country. This change was unjustified and must be corrected,” he said.

On the other hand, Salami claimed it was not the case for Oluwo stool as the first Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Adekola Telu, was the son of the first and the only female Ooni of Ife, Oba Luwo Gbagida. “She was the immediate Ooni of Ife reigning after Ooni Giesi. She hailed from Otaata family, Owode Compound, Okerewe, Ile-Ife. As a woman, she was married to High Chief Obaloran of Ilode compound of Ife and the union produced the founder of Iwo, Oba Adekola Telu who equally was the first Oluwo of Iwo.

“Thus, Oluwo of Iwo’s claim of seniority to Ataoja of Osogbo, in the roll-call of Obas in Osun State, is not only a farce, but could not be substantiated. His only claim to Oduduwa is through her mother Ooni Luwo Gbagida. In other words, Oluwo of Iwo is not paternally related to Oduduwa, the godfather of Yoruba race. Oluwo of Iwo, without mincing words, is only maternally related to Oduduwa through her mother, Queen Luwo Gbagida, the daughter of Ooni Otaata, while, Ataoja of Osogbo is a son of Ajibogun, the first Owa Obokun of Ijesa Land and a direct son of Okanbi, the only son of Oduduwa,” Salami disclosed.

Supporting his claims with copies of letter numbered 1985/433 of 3rd May, 1948, which was addressed to Senior Resident, Oyo Province, Oyo by the District Officer in charge of Ibadan Division; and another letter numbered 1372/164 of 28th June, 1948, and addressed to the Secretary, Western Province, Ibadan, the royal families noted that the letters captioned, “Chiefs Wearing Beaded Crowns” categorised the list into two – Ibadan Division and Ilesa District. “Under Ibadan Division of the above second letter, Ataoja was listed as number one (1) while Oluwo of Iwo was listed as number seven (7). This was so because Ooni of Ife, Owa Obokun of Ijesaland and Orangun of Ila, occupy the first three (3) positions in that order.

“This is the message and response of Osogbo to the unwarranted and unsubstantiated seniority claim of Oluwo of Iwo over Ataoja of Osogbo. From the colonial era to the administration of His Excellency, Governor Bisi Akande, the Ataoja occupied the fourth (4th) position in the hierarchy of Obas as it affects Osun State. It was only during the administration of His Excellency, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, that this established seniority ORDER was unjustifiably tampered with in favour of Oluwo of Iwo while the late Ataoja of Osogbo, His Majesty, Oba (Alhaji) Aransi lyiola Oyewale Matanmi III, was out of the country,” they explained.

“In essence, our position is that the traditional fourth position of Ataoja in the roll-call of Obas in Osun State is dated back to the colonial administration period. Therefore, the only demand and prayer of Osogbo and her people to His Excellency, Senator Ademola Jackson Nurudeen Adeleke, the Executive Governor of Osun State, is that the State Government should ensure that the fourth position of Ataoja of Osogbo is well respected as contained in the records.”

Alhaji Kamorudeen Ayodele Makinde, National President of the Osogbo Progressive Union (OPU), appealed for swift intervention of the governor of Osun state, Ademola Adeleke to preserve peace.

“Osogbo is a peaceful city and home of hospitality,” Makinde stated.

“According to history, it is very clear that Osogbo has been in the fourth position even before now. I’m just appealing to the government to do something urgently about it and put Osogbo to where Osogbo belongs”. Iwo is not in any way superior to Osogbo, so let it be like that so that we can continue to live in peace and harmony.” Makinde said.

Also speaking, Omooba Deacon Agboola Adejobi, encouraged independent research to verify Ataoja’s ranking and urged the government to prevent any deprivation of rightful status.

Prince Yekeen Oyeniyi highlighted the disparity in ranks between the Ataoja and Oluwo, pleading for the fourth position to be maintained.

Prince Tafa Matanmi also stressed that reallocating the position is uncalled for, urging Governor Adeleke to reinstate the Ataoja’s fourth position for the sake of justice and fairness.