Ifeanyi Ibe
AdminNigeria’s traditional polity has had its own fair share of turbulence, looking back in time. The earliest political system which is closer to the people brings to reality the axiom that “man is a social animal.”
This statement is writ large in the scheming, schism, turmoil, backstabbing, war and death that characterise the institution as ambition gains ascendancy over the collective interest. Often, the opulence and glitterati of kingship, palace and, indeed, royalty, drive the ambition and greed of those who go miles to remove the sitting king. In other times, the clash of interest between the government of the day and the king is an issue. Constitutional government compromises the power of the traditional institution which, though closer to the people, is subject to the dictates of the government. There are times the government wants to bulldoze its way to control the population but meets a brick wall. The king becomes a target when he is not cooperative owing to his own interest which he wants to preserve.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe clash, in many instances in Nigerian history, has led to dethronement, banishment of the king. It has also led to division of a kingdom, sharing it out into two or more kingdoms to assuage certain interests.
Prime Business Africa herein gives you the top 20 instances of dethronement of some prominent traditional rulers in Nigeria.
1. Ooni of Ife– Ogboru.
He was the 19th Century Ooni of Ife. He was dethroned mischievously by Ife Palace Chiefs who got tired of his 70 years reign. His reign was considered by ambitious chiefs to be too lengthy and therefore affected their own ambitions. To achieve their plan to remove him, they tricked him into coming out of his palace to make an observation of a certain development at the Atiba square of the ancient Ile-Ife town. The Ooni was not allowed to return to the palace. A coup had been executed. He angrily left to found a town called Ife-Odan where he settled. However, it’s interesting to note that about six successive Ooni of Ife installed after him died in succession under six months. This development was interpreted as a repercussion thereby necessitating a search for the dethroned Ooni.
When the Ife chiefs found him at Ife Odan, Ogboru rejected their request to return to the Ife throne. He, however, gave them his daughter, Moropo, to make some sacrifices at the palace after which his son, Giessi, became the next Ooni after him.
2. Emir of Bauchi – Umar Mohammed.
Mohammed was deposed on February 16, 1902 by Lord Luggard’s second in command, William Wallace. Certain allegations were leveled against him, including insubordination against the British government, misrule and slavery. His son was installed as the new Emir.
3. Emir of Kano- Aliyu Ibn Abdullahi Maje Karofi.
He became the Emir of Kano in 1894 following the death of Emir Muhammad Bello. A war of rebellion, “Bassa”, which is known as the Third Kano Civil War, was setoff by him, along with his elder brother, Yusuf, when the Sultan of Sokoko announced another prince called Tukur as the new Emir of Kano. The war lasted for a year when Aliyu popularly called the Sango of zaki (the gun runner) or Ali Balads, for his heavy use of explosives in most wars, conquered Kano and became the Emir in 1894. He was dethroned in 1903 following an homage visit to the Sultan in Sokoto when the British-French forces attacked Kano and brought an end to his reign. He was exiled to Yola, and later to Lokoja, the seat of new Northern Nigerian government where he died in 1926.
4. Emir of Ningi – Dan Yaya.
Dan Yaya was deposed by the British months after Umar Emir of Bauchi was sent away in July 1902, for terrorizing his people which led to the killing of a mallam, and taking sides with Emir of Bauchi. A new Sarkin Ningi was enthroned who was the heir, by the name Mammadu. Dan Yaya escaped to Bura town where he was eventually killed by the Bura people for his continued terrorizing acts in 1905.
5. Olu of Warri – Erejuwa I
Erejuwa was the traditional ruler of Itsekiri at two different times, between 1951-1964 and 1966–1989. A Senior Officer with UAC before becoming king, he was unfortunately removed and deposed by the NCNC in 1964, for his support for Awolowo’s Action Group, which was the party of many prominent Itsekiris. The Mid Western states were created as a result of the deep-seated political rivalry then. Erejuwa was exiled to Ogbesse. He was returned by the military government of David Ejoor in 1966. His reign ended in 1989.
6. Alaafin of Oyo – Oba Adediran Adeyemi II.
Oba Adediran Adeyemi II (the father of late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi) was 84 years old when he was dethroned following intense political rivalry between Chief Awolowo- led Western government and the NCNC led by Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe. Oba Adediran had given his support to the opposition NCNC. There had been intense disagreement and conflict with the AG leader, Bode Thomas. The Oba was consequently dethroned and sent away from Oyo in July 1955. His exile was in Lagos where he was received and accommodated by Alhaji N B Soule, a wealthy NCNC member.
7. Timi of Ede – Abibu Lagunju.
Timi Abibu Languju was an acclaimed first Muslim Yoruba king in history. He reigned between 1855-1892 and was deposed and exiled by the British government to Ibadan where he lived with Sunmonu Apampa, the Asipa of Ibadan at the time. He died in 1900. One of his children, Raji Lagunju, whose birth was by an Ile-Ife mother, was to become the second Chief Imam of Ile-Ife.
8. Awujale of Ijebu-Ode Oba Adenuga 1892 -1925
Awujale Adenuga Folagbade was made an Awujale of Ijebu Ode on November, 1925. He was 33 years and was lived with his mother in Igbeba, a small village near Ijebu Ode. He was the choice of the “Odi”, (Ijebu kingmakers) for the Tunwase ruling house which didn’t go down well with some chiefs who felt he was too young and premature for the exalted stool. He was eventually deposed in 1929 and exiled to Ilorin, for corruption around forestry fees and influencing the choice of the selection of Oba Onipe of Ibu. He was succeeded by Oba Ogunnaike who died in 1933.
9. Akarigbo of Remo –Oba Oyebajo
Oba Oyebajo was the traditional head of Ijebu Remo. He was in his mid twenties when he reigned between 1811-1915. He was deposed by the British for being a de-facto ruler who refused to regard his principal chiefs (Bademowo – The Lisa of Remo and Awofala, the Losi, and denied them their shared parts of the duly entitled stipends to them, as part of 1914 amalgamation rule that local rulers should be part of native courts. Akarigbo chief leveled many allegations of corruption against him. The British Officer in charge of the Administrative district, H F Ducoumbe, not only deposed him but also sentenced him and two others to prison with hard labour at Ijebu-Ode and was released six months later, after which he later settled in Sagamu.
The Alase of Remo, High Chief Awolesi, was made the new Akarigbo in a flamboyant coronation ceremony attended by the British Officer, Ducoumbe. Awolesi died shortly on February 25, 1916 and the British made Oba Oyebajo’s clerk, an educated public writer, the new Akarigbo of Remo. With increased disturbances by Oyebajo’s factions for his reinstatement, he was arrested with another supporter called Ali and banished to Calabar in 1918 where he lived for only just three months. Ali died in 1922 after his plea of clemency was rejected by the governor.
10. Osemawe of Ondo – Oba Adekolurejo Jimosun II (Otutubiosun).
The Oba whose reign was from 1918-1925 was removed and banished to Ile-Ife in 1925, where he lived and died. The Ondo Boys High School, the first secondary school in Ondo, was established during his reign.
11. Osemawe of Ondo – Oba Adenuga Fidipote II
Oba Adenuga was reported to be a wealthy king of Ondo town and was on record to be the one who built the first modern palace for Ondo town. He reigned for seven years and was deposed and chased away from the town to Ibadan in 1942.
12. Oba of Lagos – Ibikunle Akintoye and Kosoko
Oba Akintoye reigned twice as Oba of Lagos, first between 1841-1845, when he was deposed to Badagry town for his anti-slave trade advocacy. He was succeeded by Oba Kosoko who was equally deposed for having a rift with the British government when he resisted submitting Lagos Colony to the British and ordered the British government to meet the Oba of Benin. In retaliation for his gut, the British government brought back Ibikunle Akintoye who had been on exile in Egba and Badagry in 1851. He reigned for the second time till September 1853 when he died and Oba Dosumu took over. Oba Kosoko was later recalled to Lagos and made a High Chief, the Oloja of Eleko, a salaried title in Oshodi Tapa Epetedo. He died in 1872.
13. Emir of Gwandu – Mustapha Jokolo
The Emir was deposed in 2005 by the Kebbi State government following different allegations leveled against him by his chiefs. He was consequently exiled to Kaduna. He was immediately replaced on June 2005 by Muhammadu Illyasu Bashar, a retired Major, who served as a military governor in the old Gongola State between 1976-1978. 15 years on, Jokolo is still challenging his dethronement in court.
14. Emir of Kano – Sir Mohammadu Sanusi I
Reported to be a powerful Emir in the colonial days of Northern Nigeria, Sanusi I was the Emir of Kano between 1954-1963. He was deposed by Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, who was a distant cousin of his following allegation of financial misappropriation in the emirate. He was deposed to Azare in 1964 and died in Wudil years after. Sanusi I is the grandfather of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the recently deposed Emir of Kano who reigned from 2014-2020, in a similar instance as his grandfather.
15. Olofa of Offa – Oba Wuraola Isioye
Oba Isioye was enthroned on January 5, 1957. He reigned as Offa District head for two years when he was deposed by Northern regional government following a successful move for Offa local court to be recognised and the long used Ilorin’s Alkali Court was abolished. This prompted the Sarduana to cause him to be deposed and exiled to Ogbomoso, where he lived till he returned in 1964. He was reinstated as Olofa till he died in 1969, even though his district title was not returned.
16. Sultan of Sokoto – Ibrahim Dasuki
The dethronement of Sultan Dasuki was probably the most widely reported case of removal of a king in Nigeria by the military government of Abacha in 1996. His removal was known everywhere to the extent that songs were recorded by musicians who ridiculed the action and saw it as a desecration of tradition. The action was mocked with the expression that “a new king cannot be crowned while another is alive.” One of such songs was “T’oba kan o Ku, Oba kan o je”, done by Yoruba Fuji singer, Abbass Obesere. There were speculations about the reason for Ibrahim Dasuki’s removal. One such rumour was that he had issues with Gen Sani Abacha bothering on alleged mismanagement of the property of one of Abacha’s relatives. Another speculation was that his removal was a result of his modernist style of rulership and many preferred Sultan Maccido, who later succeeded him.
17. Olowo of Owo –Oba Olateru Olagbegi II
Unarguably the richest and most influential Olowo of Owo town in Ondo State, Oba Olateru became Olowo in 1941 and reigned till 1966 when he took side with Chief S L Akintola against Chief Awolowo who was his ally. Of a fact, Awolowo’s Action Group was founded right inside Olowo’s palace and Owo for years experienced political and kingship battle, which came to a climax in 1966 following a military coup. The people of Owo revolted against their king and sent him away on exile where he lived for another 27 years. He was replaced by Oba Ogunoye. At the demise of Ogunoye, Olateru was reappointed as the new Olowo of Owo in 1993 and spent another five years on the throne till he died in 1998. His eldest son took over from him in 1999 and reigned for 20 years.
18. Deji of Akure – Oba Oluwadamilare Adesina Osupa III
The king was deposed on June 10, 2010 following the beating of his estranged wife at her home in Akure. The Ondo State government referred to the king’s behaviour as “a dishonorable, condemnable and disgraceful conduct unexpected of a king.” The government invoked a section of the state chieftaincy law of 1984 as amended. With an immediate action, a new Deji of Akure, Adebiyi Adeshida Afunbiowo II, was announced on August 13, 2010.
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19. Oba Awujale Sikiru
Adetona was deposed in 1981 after his suspension by a panel set up by the then Ogun State governor, Olabisi Onabanjo. He was found guilty of the charge leveled against him. He was later reinstated by Col Diya following a military coup.
20. Onojie of Uromi –
Anslem Aidenojie was suspended and later dethroned in 2016 by former governor Adams Oshiomole. Reasons for his dethronement include abuse of a woman, total disregard for constituted authority and for failure to apologize within two weeks he was given. Gov Obaseki however reinstated him in 2018.
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