Idoani Confederacy
Encyclopedia
The Idoani Confederacy is a traditional state based in the town of Idoani
in the Ose
Local Government Area of Ondo State
, Nigeria. The origins of the state date back at least to 15th century, when the Oba Ozolua
"the Conqueror" (c. 1481–1504) fathered the Alani of Idoani, which he made a vassal state of the Benin Empire
.
communes: Ido, Amusigbo, Isure, Iyayu, Isewa and Ako.
Some of these had two concurrent rulers in the past.
The communities that formed the confederacy had suffered during the 19th century wars, with many people migrating to other areas.
During the struggle with the combined forces of Ijesha
and Ekiti in 1879 they were forced to ask for help from Ibadan
, and formed the confederacy the next year.
British missionaries introduced Christianity in the late 19th century, along with new farming methods, and Idoani became part of the Lagos colony
, later the protectorate of Nigeria.
The communities were merged in 1921. The first confederate traditional ruler was appointed after the death of Alani Adesunloye Atewogboye on 3 January 1921.
Falade I ruled as Alani from 1921 to 1958, and was succeeded by Akingboye Falade II on his death.
The military government then installed an Alani of their choice in the traditional ruler's palace, who was accepted by some but not all of the chiefs.
When the civilian Bamidele Olumilua
became governor (1992–1993) he imposed traditional law, and Oba Aderemi Atewogboye was elected.
However, the usurper remained in the palace, and the town was divided between the two.
After the return to military rule, the Administrator of Ondo State from August 1996 to August 1998, Anthony Onyearugbulem
, presented the staff of office to the rival Alani of Idoani, a person said by some to have no royal blood.
He continues to perform duties such as intervening in family disputes or cases of violence against women.
In April 2009 he led a delegation of several hundred people from the Ose community to protest against delays in ratifying that area's designate for a commissioner in the state government.
In 2009 Atewogboye called on the government to improve the roads, which had suffered years of neglect and were impassable at some times of the year.
Idoani
Idoani is a quiet small town in Ondo State of Nigeria where the Federal Government College, Idoani, is located.It is the seat of the Idoani Confederacy, a Nigerian traditional state....
in the Ose
Ose, Nigeria
Ose is a Local Government Area in Ondo State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Ifon. It is made up Okeluse,Ijagba, Umoru, Ifon. The major activity of this region is farming. They are in cocoa and plantain farming....
Local Government Area of Ondo State
Ondo State
Ondo State, Nigeria was created on 3 February 1976 from the former Western State. It originally included what is now Ekiti State, which was split off in 1996. Akure is the state capital.-Government and society:...
, Nigeria. The origins of the state date back at least to 15th century, when the Oba Ozolua
Ozolua
Ozolua , originally called Okpame, was an Oba of the Kingdom of Benin.During Ozolua's reign, Benin's armies successfully attacked the Kingdom of Owo. While historical accounts of the battle differ, the end result left Owo with its independence while still requiring that it pay tribute to Benin....
"the Conqueror" (c. 1481–1504) fathered the Alani of Idoani, which he made a vassal state of the Benin Empire
Benin Empire
The Benin Empire was a pre-colonial African state in what is now modern Nigeria. It is not to be confused with the modern-day country called Benin, formerly called Dahomey.-Origin:...
.
Early years
The present confederacy, which dates to 1880, includes six eastern YorubaYoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
communes: Ido, Amusigbo, Isure, Iyayu, Isewa and Ako.
Some of these had two concurrent rulers in the past.
The communities that formed the confederacy had suffered during the 19th century wars, with many people migrating to other areas.
During the struggle with the combined forces of Ijesha
Ijesha
The Ijesha , are a sub-ethnic of the Yoruba. This group is predominantly from the city and environs of Ilesha and the historic state of Ilesha in the same area....
and Ekiti in 1879 they were forced to ask for help from Ibadan
Ibadan
Ibadan is the capital city of Oyo State and the third largest metropolitan area in Nigeria, after Lagos and Kano, with a population of 1,338,659 according to the 2006 census. Ibadan is also the largest metropolitan geographical area...
, and formed the confederacy the next year.
British missionaries introduced Christianity in the late 19th century, along with new farming methods, and Idoani became part of the Lagos colony
Lagos Colony
Lagos Colony was a British colonial possession centered on the port of Lagos in what is now southern Nigeria. Lagos was annexed on 6 August 1861 and declared a colony on 5 March 1862....
, later the protectorate of Nigeria.
The communities were merged in 1921. The first confederate traditional ruler was appointed after the death of Alani Adesunloye Atewogboye on 3 January 1921.
Falade I ruled as Alani from 1921 to 1958, and was succeeded by Akingboye Falade II on his death.
Disputed succession
In the early 1970s, Akingboye Falade II died and a temporary regent was installed by the traditional authorities, who ended up ruling for 14 years due to a dispute between the chiefs and the government over the succession process.The military government then installed an Alani of their choice in the traditional ruler's palace, who was accepted by some but not all of the chiefs.
When the civilian Bamidele Olumilua
Bamidele Olumilua
Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua is a Nigerian politician who was the elected Governor of Ondo State, Nigeria from January 1992 to November 1993 during the Nigerian Third Republic, elected on the Social Democratic Party platform...
became governor (1992–1993) he imposed traditional law, and Oba Aderemi Atewogboye was elected.
However, the usurper remained in the palace, and the town was divided between the two.
After the return to military rule, the Administrator of Ondo State from August 1996 to August 1998, Anthony Onyearugbulem
Anthony Onyearugbulem
Anthony Ibe Onyearugbulem was a Nigerian navy captain who served as Military Administrator of Ondo State during the military regime of General Sani Abacha...
, presented the staff of office to the rival Alani of Idoani, a person said by some to have no royal blood.
Recent times
With the return to civilian government in 1999, Aderemi Atewogboye was recognized as the ruler.He continues to perform duties such as intervening in family disputes or cases of violence against women.
In April 2009 he led a delegation of several hundred people from the Ose community to protest against delays in ratifying that area's designate for a commissioner in the state government.
In 2009 Atewogboye called on the government to improve the roads, which had suffered years of neglect and were impassable at some times of the year.