HISTORY OF IBADAN PART 36: THE REIGN OF LATOOSA AS THE AARE ONA KAKANFO
After the death of Baale Orowusi and Ajobo has been banished, Latosa who was the Otun Balogun became the Aare Ona Kakanfo on the 3rd of October 1871
Latoosa is the second person to ever have this title in Ibadan because there was someone who has held this position before in Ibadan and that was Oluyedun, but Oluyedun didn’t live long and he couldn’t do anything tangible with the position of Aare Ona Kakanfo when he was alive and in power, this position stands as the Balogun for the Alaafin, Alaafin is the one who chooses whom to become the Aare Ona kakanfo.
There are two things we have to notice about this position of Aare Ona Kakanfo, the first one was the Afonja who became the Aare Ona Kakanfo in Ilorin, he became the enemy of Alaafin Atiba who made him the Aare Ona Kakanfo and he was an enemy to all the Alaafin of his time, he was the one who brought the danger of enemies onto Yoruba Land and its Kingdom which led to the destruction of Oyo Ile.
The second one we are to examine is that of Kurunmi of Ijaiye, after Kurunmi ascended the position of Aare Ona Kakanfo, he became the enemy of the Alaafin Atiba who made him the Aare, he was also always at loggerheads with his son Adelu till he(Aare) died. There is no town that houses this title and knows peace, during the time of Afonja as Aare Ona Kakanfo was when Ilorin got destroyed and the Fulani people took it from Yoruba, during the time of Kurunmi as Aare Ona Kakanfo was when Ijaye was invaded and destroyed, during the time of Latoosa too, Ibadan was almost destroyed to non-existence but it stood only by the grace of God. There is no reign of any baale (town head) with so much conspiracy, crisis, violence, and war like that of Latoosa. Ibadan people have never declared war and end up not being able to fight it except during the reign of Latoosa, Latoosa himself died at the war front. No Baale of Ibadan have been killed at the war front except Latoosa
A lot of elders concluded that Aare Ona kakanfo is an unfortunate title and they always pray that may nobody from Ibadan bear the title of Aare Ona Kakanfo again.
The story of Ibadan chieftaincy during the reign of Latoosa
Almost all the chiefs who started life with Latoosa died before him and almost all the offices were replaced two times consecutively during his life. Many of these chiefs died of conspiracy, wars killed some while charms, spells, and spiritual attacks killed some.
Ajayi Ogboriefon was the balogun (1871-1879) he died after Jalumi war
Ali laluwonye (elder brother to Apannpa) was the Otun Balogun and he died in 1882
Ayorinde (Aje) – Osi Balogun, HE DIED IN 1876
Ilori (Ogunmola’s child) – Osi Balogun II after the death of Aje, was carried away by Ogun Jalumi in 1878
Akintaro (Akere’s child) – Osi Balogun III after the death if Ilori, he died in the Kiriji war in 1880
Lawoyin was the Seriki since the time of Orowusi, he died at war too
Iyapo (Ibikunle’s child) – became Seriki II after the death of Lawoyin, he killed himself when other chiefs conspired against him
Ajayi Osungbekun (the son of Orowusi) – was the Seriki III from the year 1880 and he is the one who brought an end to the reign of Latoosa.
Keredolu (Omo Baale Orowusi) – Otun Seriki 1, he died not long after he became the Seriki
Amoo – Otun Seriki III, He died in war too
Tajo who was the Otun Baale Orowusi was the Otun for Aare Latoosa as well.
Here is the list of some people who died in the war:
Ogunsola (Baba Akinwale Otun baale) died in the Kiriji war on the 17th of March 1880
Ogunpolu – he died on the 21st of may 188
Amodu (Ali Iwo’s child) – he died in Kiriji war on the 2nd of February 1882
Aderibigbe (Baale Olugbode’s child) – he died in the Kiriji war on the 11th of March 1882
Belo (child of Osundina and elder brother to Basorun Apannpa) he died in 1882
Sodeinde Elesin nla – died on the 16th of April 1880.
