“THE OGU’JA OLU-ISA (OLISA) OF IJEBU-ODE”.
THE OLISA OF IJEBU-ODE: TO CONTINUED MEMBERSHIP OF THE IJEBU TRADITIONAL COUNCIL OR NOT.
Minutes of the third meeting of Ijebu Traditional Council held at
Itoro Hall, Ijebu-Ode on Monday 24th October, 1977.
Present:
(1) Oba Alaiyeluwa S.K. Adetona, Ogbagba II
The Awujale of Ijebuland – President
(2) Oba D.M.O. Fibigbede, The Ebumawe of
Ago-Iwoye. – Member
(3) Oba D.A. Jaiyeola, The Oloko of Ijebu
Imusin. – Member
(4) Oba S.A Sole, The Olomu of Omu – Member
(5) Oba P.F. Oduko, The Liken of Ibefun – Member
(6) Oba Kafaru Adeyemi, The Olowu of Odolowu
Aiyepe – Member
(7) Oba E.A Deinbo, the Alaiye Aba of Aiyepe – Member
(8) Oba A.O Odebunmi, The Olowu of Owu – Member
(9) Oba A.A. Oyenuga, The Ajalorun of Ijebu-Ife – Member
(10) Oba I.I. Owoaje, The Molode of Odogbolu – Member
(11) Oba E.T. Otubadejo, The Gbegande of Ososa – Member
(12) Oba L.F. Ogunbanwo, The Liken of Iwopin – Member
(13) Oba Alademerin, The Akija of Ikija – Member
(14) Chief L.A. Akinsanya, The Olisa of
Ijebu-Ode – Member
(15) Chief Bisi Onabanjo, Chairman, Ijebu-Ode
Local Government. – Ex-officio Member
(16) Mr. M.A. Badejo, Chairman, Ijebu East
Local Government. – Ex-officio Member
(17) Mr. D.A. Badejo, Chairman, Ijebu North
Local Government. – Ex-officio Member
Absent:
(1) Oba E.A. Olaneye, The Dagburewe of Idowa
(2) Oba Adetayo Sami, The Orimolusi of Ijebu-Igbo
(3) Oba J. Dairo, The Lenuwa of Ode-Omi
(4) Oba A. Ologbon, The Onipe of Ibu (Arijan)
(5) Oba B.A. Ogunnuga, The Akalako of Aiyepe
(6) Oba M.A. Fakoya, The Oremadegun of Odogbolu
In attendance:
(1) Mr. E. O. Madendola, Secretary to the Traditional Council
(2) Mr. T. O. Sakariyau, – Recorder.
Opening:
The meeting was declared open with a short prayer said by Oba E.A. Otubadejo, The Gbegande of Ososa at 10.40 a.m
Members deliberated on a letter No. CHM. 5/26/27 dated 3rd October, 1977 from the secretary to the Military Government and the Head of Services, Ogun State requesting the traditional Council to advice the Government on the relative status of the Olisa of Ijebu-Ode to justify his continued membership of the Ijebu Traditional Council because he was a chief whereas the membership of the traditional Council is strictly restricted only to Obas.
The President (Alaiyeluwa Oba S.K Adetona the Awujale of Ijebu-Land) then called on Chief L.A Akinsanya (The Olisa of Ijebu-Ode) to substantiate his claim as to his entitlement to continue as a member of Ijebu Traditional Council.
At this juncture, Chief L.A Akinsanya (The Olisa of Ijebu-Ode) read out a memorandum containing the history and status of the Olisa of Ijebu-Ode to show his importance in Ijebu Traditional Council. The contents of the memorandum are subjoined hereunder:-
HISTORY AND STATUS OF THE OLISA OF IJEBU-ODE
1) The Olisa came with Ogboroganda, otherwise known as Obanta now known as the Awujale of Ijebu-Land about a thousand years ago.
2) Before the Olisa joined the entourage of the first Awujale to Ijebu-Ode, he was an Oba and therefofe head of his domain known as ISA somewhere in the area now known as Ekiti in Ondo State. (Imesi)
3) The Olisa was prevailed upon by Ogboroganda to accompany him on his journey having left Ile-Ife. They will their entourage eventually arrived at the place known as Ijebu-Ode.
4) The Olisa came to Ijebu-Ode with his beaded crown, brass sword and other objects signifying his status as an Oba in Yoruba Land.
5) The Olisa of course acknowledge the supremacy of the Obanta, and both of them settled at Ijebu-Ode where the Olisa had his Palace at Ijada (Aba-Ilisa) with his Palace staff. He used his beaded Crown on appropriate occasions.
6) The residence of the Olisa in Ijada has always been called Ilisa and the design is similar to the design of the other Afins in Yoruba Land.
7) The Olisa is an Oba right from his original domain in Imesi and since he resided in Ijebu-Ode with the Awulaje, it will be disrespectful for anyone to address the Olisa again as an Oba. This therefore explains why the expatriate administrators decided to address the Olisa as Chief.
8) The word “Chief” is an English word an which of course came into existence or being only during the Colonial rule and whereas the Olisa meaning the head of Isa has been in Ijebu-Ode since the settlement of the first Awujale at Ijebu-Ode over one thousand years ago.
9) The Olisa has many traditional rights he performs in Ijebu-Ode, and most of the rituals and ceremonies performed for the Awujale are also performed for the Olisa e.g. Agemo and Obirin Ojowu etc.
10) Succession to Olisa is hereditary and there are 7 ruling houses for Olisa, and up till the moment over sixty Olisas have been installed.
11) The Olisa sitting and administering with other Obas in the Old Ijebu Judicial Council is a good evidence of his status and position as an Oba (Court Oba Marun).
12) The Olisa was a member of the Old Ijebu Judicial Council which is the highest court in Ijebu. The court composed of 5 from amongst the important Obas in Ijebu-Land, Akarigbo, Olisa, Ajalorun, Dagburewe and Olowu. Other Obas who eventually served in the court were – Akija, Molode, Gbegande, Liken, Orimolusi and Ebumawe.
13) The Customary in the appointment of an Oba, the Olisa, immediately after his appointment moves to a place at Ijada knowns as “Afokoro”, whereas he resides for 3month and after which he moves to Ilisa, the traditional and official residence of Olisa of Ijebu-Ode.
14) The 7days at Ilisa is significantly marked by “Ileten” ceremony, Rituals and traditional ceremonies pertaining to the installation of the Olisa.
15) Obas in Ijebu-Land do not use Itagbe, but Chiefs use Itagbe as a symbol of office. The Olisa does not use Itagbe, he wears a beaded Crown as the symbol of his Office, just as the other Obas mentioned in paragraph 11 above.
16) All ancient Obas in Ijebu-land like the Awujale, the Ajalorun, Olowu, the Dagburewe have ODIS (traditional messengers). The Olisa also till today has his own Odis and Ogbeni Odi.
17) Chief do not have Odis or Ogbeni Odis.
18) Some Obas now create the post of Olisa, these new Olisa, use Itagbe. They do not have Afins of their own and no crowns as the Olisa of Ijebu-Ode. These new Olisas which tends to create confusion are more honorary Chief-Itagbe Chiefs.
19) Like other Ijebu Obas, the Olisa has Gbedu drums.
20) The Olisa of Ijebu-Ode is therefore distinguishable from the crops of new Olisas.
Signed. Alaiyeluwa (Oba) L.A Akinsanya
The Olisa Of Ijebu-Ode
The Olisa of Ijebu-Ode also tendered four photographs where he wore beaded Crown as an evidence that he is a Crowned Oba as follows:-
a) Photograph taken during the visit of Sir James Robertson, the then Governor-General of Nigeria.
b) Photograph taken during his coronation in 1953 with the pampa class of Chiefs in Ijebu-Ode.
c) Photograph taken during his coronation in 1953 with the Ilamuren class of chiefs in Ijebu-Ode and the Osugbos.
d) Photograph taken during his coronation in 1953 with his Oloris.
Thereafter, the Olisa was asked to and left the meeting.
Members discussed the issue extensively and at length, facts were elicited that because the seat of the Awujale of Ijebu-land was at Ijebu-Ode, the Olisa could not be called an Oba as a mark of respect for the Awujale.
All these facts were supported by the President Oba Alayeluwa Sikiru Kayode Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebu-land.
After exhaustive debate on the issue, the Traditional council.
‘RESOLVED’
“That from all available facts, records and history at its disposal, it has come to the conclusion that Olisa of Ijebu-Ode was of the status of an Oba and was automatically entitled to be and to continue as member of Ijebu Traditional Council.”
Closing:
The meeting ended at 03:45p.m. with prayer said by Mr. M. A. Badejo.
Signed:
Oba Alaiyeluwa S.K. Adetona,
The Awujale of Ijebu-Land,
President,
Ijebu-Traditional Council.
E. Oye. Madandola,
Secretary,
Ijebu Traditional Council.