By: DAYO AJIBOLA Esq.
Anytime govt of Oyo state wants to amend the Obas & chieftaincy laws, many may not know why previous ALAAFINs and most especially the immediate past ALAAFIN of Oyo, Kaabiesi ATANDA MOROUNDIYA OLAYIWOLA ADEYEMI always insist that OLUGBON is made the permanent second in command (Vice Chairman of the council of Obas in Oyo state).
In the old Oyo empire there is EKUN Otun and EKUN osi.
OLUGBON was the head of EKUN Otun, he leads the war directly behind the ALAAFIN in all battles, his prominence is such that the running of the empire was practically in his custody hence the popular song in Yoruba land "laye OLUGBON, moya iborun meje ,,,,,,, laye Aresa ,,,,,,,"
He had powers to do and undo except, if the issue/offense of the person in question has to do with killing a fellow citizen, as ONLY THE ALAAFIN OF OYO has power over such.
This is made manifest in his tittle, IKU BABA YEYE - he is death to the none-conformist, father to all & mother to the law abiding.
OLUGBON seat on top the ALAAFIN war council along his cousins brothers (Onikoyi & Aresa), till date only these three families or clan uses AGBE in their family totems, you can't do deep family Oriki of OLUGBON without the mention of features of Ikoyi and vice versa, same for Aresa.
In the old Oyo empire, the 3 of them must appease the gods connected to a certain river in today's OGBOMOSHO together at the same time while OLUGBON leads.e
He has the sole privilege of making the tribal marks on the face of the Royal family of Oyo hence that appellation of OLUGBON Omo onikola, AGBE omo olola tin sha keke, jagbon ni GBON Omo erelu abe".
Also ALAASA (shield bearers), OLOKO( spear bearers) & SARUMI's (soldier on horses) are direct ALAAFIN's war soldiers/war lords, but only OLUGBON has the direct command of them all in those days aside IKU himself.
Such was the influence of that Royal stool the Olugbon commanded in the olden days.
So many great men have come out of that clan - mentioning them here will be like a waste of time - when as a boy,growing up, I was told of my history by elders in my family, I saw the pride in them.
I watched them tell me stories of great men and the history behind many things of the old Oyo empire.
For a fact, an uncle told as a small boy, before I later read the full story in "WHY WE STRUCK", in my adult life, of the story of the Premier of the old western region and Aare Ona kakanfo of Yoruba land, Chief SLA AKINTOLA, who faced and confronted the Coupist of 1966, in Ibadan government house singlehandedly, (yes he died), but according to that my uncle, he died with full honor as an OLUGBON CLAN member, he was of Ogunboola branch of Igbon dynasty.
An OLUGBON descendant must die with full honor of NEVER SURRENDERING even in the face of death.
I was proud of my ancestors.
I held myself high that I am from OLUGBON clan.
Today, this is the same OLUGBON STOOL!!!
It is well!!!
Source: Facebook
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