Post by Shymmex on Jan 8, 2016 14:33:47 GMT
Ọyọ and the Fight to Re-Claim Ilọrin
Ogele War
The first attempt by Yoruba to re-gain Ilọrin from the Fulani was through Ogele war. Immediately Ilọrin became an emirate in a predominantly Yoruba controlled society through treachery and blood, Alimi’s children knew that Ilọrin take-over could backfire, quickly they created three sectional Baloguns to appease, more important, to buy the loyalty of the three leading ethnic groups in Ilọrin- Yoruba, Hausa, and Fulani, which ultimately helped in consolidating Alimi descendants’ hold on Ilọrin, Igbomina and further incursion into Yoruba land in the years that followed.
Toyejẹ, the Baalẹ of Ogbomọsọ, who dubbled as Arẹ-Ọna-Kan-Kan-Fo re-organized the Yoruba army to challenge Ilọrin. Unfortunately, Toyejẹ lost to Ilọrin superior fire power ran by these three sectional Baloguns: Yoruba, Hausa, and Fulani, coordinated by Abdulsalami and his younger brother, Shitta.
Mugba-Mugba War
Ogele war was a disaster as Yoruba lost making the Fulanis undisputed leaders in Ilọrin; again, Toyeje organized his army with a support from Monjia, the Ọbaro of Kabbah, sad to say, Adegun, the Onikoyi that should have supported his brother, Arẹ Toyejẹ, supported Ilọrin against Yoruba forces.
Moreover, the Fulanis of Ilọrin played on the division and suspicion that had plagued Yoruba military/political leaders to their advantage, more so, they had superior fire weapons to prosecute their wars against Yoruba.
Finally, the emirate allegiance to Sokoto paid-off, as the Khalifa (Sokoto political/religious leader) always extended help and assistance to Ilọrin, whenever in need. Again, Yoruba lost Mugba-Mugba war to Ilọrin. Mugba-Mugba derived its name from Ìgbá (locust bean tree) that served as food for the soldiers during the war.
Kanla War
Would Yoruba stop from going to war against Ilọrin Fulanis and engaged in diplomacy? Or would Yoruba resign to fate? Although, Yoruba had lost so much, Ibolo –the South East of Ẹkun-Osi (Irẹsa Township) had been destroyed and absorbed by Ilọrin, Ọyọ was constantly under attack either from Ilọrin or its allies. Several towns form both the Ẹkun Ọtun and Osi (Ikoyi-from Osi) had either been destroyed, refugees from destroyed towns relocated to more secured towns.
Some thought Diplomacy was good, but not the best option-maybe as a temporary measure to buy time for Yoruba to put its house in order and re-organized for the future war (or wars as the case would be) against Ilorin; in fact, this was the thinking of Alaafin Amọdo, who revived the old Ọyọ practice by creating friendship through marriage. He gave his daughter in marriage to Chief Lanloke of Ogodo, a Nupe-turned-Yoruba-town. Alaafin Amọdo thought his kind gesture would be reciprocated through a strong friendship between Ọyọ and Ogodo with the aim of creating joint military alliance against Ilọrin onslaught; rather, Chief Lanloke turned against Ọyọ with the support from Fulani Ilọrin.
Amọdo, could not explain the cause of this treachery, rather he went back to re-strategize and to gather what was left from Yoruba army under Onikoyi and Edun of Gbogun- again, the suspicion, the treachery and the division among Yoruba created easy passage for the Fulani army-this time several Yoruba towns were destroyed, even, Ọyọ was not spared. Alaafin Amọdo did not recover from the outcome of Kanla war until he died. Even, the next war-Eleduwe was worse, perhap disastrous as Oyo was destroyed beyond repairs; this led to the creation of the new Ọyọ at Agọ-Ọja, when Ọyọ-Ile (Igboho) was destroyed.
Eleduwẹ War
The fourth war between the Fulani Ilọrin and Yoruba (under Ọyọ) to re-claim Ilọrin after the death of Afọnja was the Eleduwẹ war. This war was different from other wars for three reasons:
One, the first war fought after the new Ọyọ was established at Agọ-Ọja.
Two, the war was fought under a new military alliance by Atiba (Ọyọ prince), Kurunmi of (Ijaye) but later Arẹ-Ọna-Kan-Kan-Fo of Yoruba land, and Oluyọle (the Iba and the Balogun of Ibadan).
Three, the war drew support outside Yoruba geographical enclave-the supports came from Ibariba led by its leader, Warukura.
The war, according to history was fought because of the personality clash between Alaafin Oluewu and Shitta, the Emir of Ilọrin and the underlying issue-the Ilọrin question. At a time, Shitta invited Alaafin Oluewu to Ilọrin, but seized the Gbẹdu the royal drum associated with the stool of Alaafin, claiming that there could not be two kings in the same territory at the same time. Alaafin Oluewu felt humiliated, when second invitation was extended to him, he did not honor it, the Emir Shitta felt insulted-what result?
Another war over the horizon, Emir Shitta had tactically supported Chief Lanloke of Ogodo to attack Ọyọ and its satellite towns-which he did; immediately, Alaafin Oluewu organized the Yoruba army under Kurunmi (of Ijaye), Atiba (Ọyọ prince), Balogun Oluyọle (Iba of Ibadan), and Warukura of Ibariba to attack Ogodo, Ilọrin and the surrounding towns. The war was very successful, as Ogodo was razed to the ground and Ilọrin next on line. Shitta, the Emir knew the implication of defeat, Ilorin would be lost, Fulani’s administration- the extension of Sokoto Caliphate in Yorubaland would be gone.
Immediately, Shitta sent to Sokoto for help, before the help would arrive- Shitta had penetrated the ranks of Yoruba military/political leaders. In fact, history says these leaders preferred the Emir to Ibariba military leaders-those favored by Alaafin because of their cruelty to war captives.
Besides, two other events helped Ilọrin the death of Alaafin Oluewu and Ibariba military leader, Warukura. As Ọyọ was mourning the passage of the king- whose political dexterity checkmated the Fulani Ilọrin, some of these leaders were going behind to form alliance with Ilọrin
Ogele War
The first attempt by Yoruba to re-gain Ilọrin from the Fulani was through Ogele war. Immediately Ilọrin became an emirate in a predominantly Yoruba controlled society through treachery and blood, Alimi’s children knew that Ilọrin take-over could backfire, quickly they created three sectional Baloguns to appease, more important, to buy the loyalty of the three leading ethnic groups in Ilọrin- Yoruba, Hausa, and Fulani, which ultimately helped in consolidating Alimi descendants’ hold on Ilọrin, Igbomina and further incursion into Yoruba land in the years that followed.
Toyejẹ, the Baalẹ of Ogbomọsọ, who dubbled as Arẹ-Ọna-Kan-Kan-Fo re-organized the Yoruba army to challenge Ilọrin. Unfortunately, Toyejẹ lost to Ilọrin superior fire power ran by these three sectional Baloguns: Yoruba, Hausa, and Fulani, coordinated by Abdulsalami and his younger brother, Shitta.
Mugba-Mugba War
Ogele war was a disaster as Yoruba lost making the Fulanis undisputed leaders in Ilọrin; again, Toyeje organized his army with a support from Monjia, the Ọbaro of Kabbah, sad to say, Adegun, the Onikoyi that should have supported his brother, Arẹ Toyejẹ, supported Ilọrin against Yoruba forces.
Moreover, the Fulanis of Ilọrin played on the division and suspicion that had plagued Yoruba military/political leaders to their advantage, more so, they had superior fire weapons to prosecute their wars against Yoruba.
Finally, the emirate allegiance to Sokoto paid-off, as the Khalifa (Sokoto political/religious leader) always extended help and assistance to Ilọrin, whenever in need. Again, Yoruba lost Mugba-Mugba war to Ilọrin. Mugba-Mugba derived its name from Ìgbá (locust bean tree) that served as food for the soldiers during the war.
Kanla War
Would Yoruba stop from going to war against Ilọrin Fulanis and engaged in diplomacy? Or would Yoruba resign to fate? Although, Yoruba had lost so much, Ibolo –the South East of Ẹkun-Osi (Irẹsa Township) had been destroyed and absorbed by Ilọrin, Ọyọ was constantly under attack either from Ilọrin or its allies. Several towns form both the Ẹkun Ọtun and Osi (Ikoyi-from Osi) had either been destroyed, refugees from destroyed towns relocated to more secured towns.
Some thought Diplomacy was good, but not the best option-maybe as a temporary measure to buy time for Yoruba to put its house in order and re-organized for the future war (or wars as the case would be) against Ilorin; in fact, this was the thinking of Alaafin Amọdo, who revived the old Ọyọ practice by creating friendship through marriage. He gave his daughter in marriage to Chief Lanloke of Ogodo, a Nupe-turned-Yoruba-town. Alaafin Amọdo thought his kind gesture would be reciprocated through a strong friendship between Ọyọ and Ogodo with the aim of creating joint military alliance against Ilọrin onslaught; rather, Chief Lanloke turned against Ọyọ with the support from Fulani Ilọrin.
Amọdo, could not explain the cause of this treachery, rather he went back to re-strategize and to gather what was left from Yoruba army under Onikoyi and Edun of Gbogun- again, the suspicion, the treachery and the division among Yoruba created easy passage for the Fulani army-this time several Yoruba towns were destroyed, even, Ọyọ was not spared. Alaafin Amọdo did not recover from the outcome of Kanla war until he died. Even, the next war-Eleduwe was worse, perhap disastrous as Oyo was destroyed beyond repairs; this led to the creation of the new Ọyọ at Agọ-Ọja, when Ọyọ-Ile (Igboho) was destroyed.
Eleduwẹ War
The fourth war between the Fulani Ilọrin and Yoruba (under Ọyọ) to re-claim Ilọrin after the death of Afọnja was the Eleduwẹ war. This war was different from other wars for three reasons:
One, the first war fought after the new Ọyọ was established at Agọ-Ọja.
Two, the war was fought under a new military alliance by Atiba (Ọyọ prince), Kurunmi of (Ijaye) but later Arẹ-Ọna-Kan-Kan-Fo of Yoruba land, and Oluyọle (the Iba and the Balogun of Ibadan).
Three, the war drew support outside Yoruba geographical enclave-the supports came from Ibariba led by its leader, Warukura.
The war, according to history was fought because of the personality clash between Alaafin Oluewu and Shitta, the Emir of Ilọrin and the underlying issue-the Ilọrin question. At a time, Shitta invited Alaafin Oluewu to Ilọrin, but seized the Gbẹdu the royal drum associated with the stool of Alaafin, claiming that there could not be two kings in the same territory at the same time. Alaafin Oluewu felt humiliated, when second invitation was extended to him, he did not honor it, the Emir Shitta felt insulted-what result?
Another war over the horizon, Emir Shitta had tactically supported Chief Lanloke of Ogodo to attack Ọyọ and its satellite towns-which he did; immediately, Alaafin Oluewu organized the Yoruba army under Kurunmi (of Ijaye), Atiba (Ọyọ prince), Balogun Oluyọle (Iba of Ibadan), and Warukura of Ibariba to attack Ogodo, Ilọrin and the surrounding towns. The war was very successful, as Ogodo was razed to the ground and Ilọrin next on line. Shitta, the Emir knew the implication of defeat, Ilorin would be lost, Fulani’s administration- the extension of Sokoto Caliphate in Yorubaland would be gone.
Immediately, Shitta sent to Sokoto for help, before the help would arrive- Shitta had penetrated the ranks of Yoruba military/political leaders. In fact, history says these leaders preferred the Emir to Ibariba military leaders-those favored by Alaafin because of their cruelty to war captives.
Besides, two other events helped Ilọrin the death of Alaafin Oluewu and Ibariba military leader, Warukura. As Ọyọ was mourning the passage of the king- whose political dexterity checkmated the Fulani Ilọrin, some of these leaders were going behind to form alliance with Ilọrin