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1 IN SEARCH OF JUSTICE (EVENTS IN EGBA HISTORY) 2 IN SEARCH OF JUSTICE (EVENTS IN EGBA HISTORY) 3 To Mark the 10th Year Coronation Of Kabiyesi Alaiyeluwa Oba Adewale Adedapo Tejuoso M.A., M.B; CH.B; B.A.O.; D.T.M. & H.; D.P.H.; F.M.C.G.P.; F.W.A.C.P Patron of Rotary Recipient of Rotary International “SERVICE ABOVE SELF" Award Patron of the African Church of Nigeria (Oranmiyan) Karunwi III Osile Oke-Ona Egba By Chief Lekan Ogundimu Akingbotun Oke-Ona Egba District Governor Plus 1996-97 R.I. District 9110 Nigeria His Royal Majesty Oba Dr. Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso (JP) All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission of the publishers, Kabiyesi Oba Dr. Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso and the Author. First Published 1999 ISBN: 978-34838-8-9 4 TABLE OF CONTENTS Prologue ix Kabiyesi's Profile xiii Chapter 1 An Overview - It Is True 1 Chapter 2 Egba Roots Traced 11 Chapter 3 Life Demands Service, Courage & Sacrifice .. 37 Chapter 4 Upgrading of Obas in Ogun State 45 Chapter 5 Land Matters 57 Chapter 6 The Alake Lays Claim to Egbaland173 Chapter 7 For Record Purposes 189 Chapter 8 Conference of Egbado Obas 209 Chapter 9 Gathering of the Storm 219 Chapter 10 Upgrading of the Three Obas to Paramount Status 313 Chapter 11 The Alake Versus the Others 325 Chapter 12 Oke-Ona, Gbagura, Owu Cry Out Foul 353 Chapter 13 The Peace Makers . 367 Chapter 14 Can We Learn From Others? 405 Chapter 15 Oke-Ona Egba Chieftaincy Affairs 417 Chapter 16 Fate Takes A Hand 523 Chapter 17 The Report of 10 Years' Coronation Events... 531 Chapter 18 The 10th Year Coronation Anniversary Fallout 543 Chapter 19 Oba Dr. Tejuoso's Suggested Solution to Egba Problem Chapter 20 Epilogue 623 Chapter 21 About The Author 627 Chapter 22 A Twist In the Tale 629 5 Chief Mrs. Bisoye Tejuoso Yeye Oba Oke-Ona Egba The 3rd lyalode ofEgbaland (1916-1996) 6 Dedication Happy are the memories of the righteous. This book is dedicated to God and the sweet memory of our amiable Mama, Chief (Mrs.) Esther Bisoye Tejuoso, lya Ijo of St. James' African Church, Idiape, Abeokuta. Yeye Oba Oke-Ona Egba; The 3rd Iyalode of Egbaland The First Woman Industrialist in Nigeria "God blesses those who mourn, for they will be comforted" Iyalode Bisoye Tejuoso was born on 22nd June 1916 to the Royal Family of Oba Karunwi Oke-Ona Egba in Abeokuta. She was a trained teacher who distinguished herself in Trading, Entrepreneurship, Agriculture, Housing and Commerce; she was the first woman industrialist in Nigeria. She was a business woman of great repute, hard working, enterprising and reputed to have the "MIDAS TOUCH". She was recognised for her contribution to the economic development of Nigeria and was awarded the order of the Niger (OON) in 1982, also the Nigeria - American Chamber of Commerce gave her an outstanding achievement award. Chief (Mrs.) Esther Bisoye Tejuoso was simply a very likeable person, a philanthropist; who contributed significantly to the development of education, promotion of Christianity and of helping the poor and the needy. She was a Paul Harris Fellow of Rotary International. The kindhearted woman, a devoted mother and Christian, was brutally murdered by mindless assassins a few months after her 80th birthday celebration on 19th September 1996 at her.residence. Chief (Mrs.) Esther 7 Bisoye Tejuoso left a legacy of hard work, good deeds, a reputation of honesty and above all a good name, a well visioned son who reigns on the throne of Oke-Ona Egba, many grand children outstandingly good natured and productive. The legacy continues. Sincerely, Chief Lekan Ogundimu 8 Prologue In Search of Justice Why this book is written? Definitely not for sensationalism nor to usurp other people's rights, but to state unequivocally what history has left behind. It is written to make information available to those who ordinarily would not have had access to such information and more importantly to let posterity have access to the truth. To allow the unbiased reader reach his or her own conclusions about the issues raised, and this is the essential reason I have had recourse into Kabiyesi's Archives to record each incident as it occurred in history without prejudice. It is written to salute the courage, the determination, the doggedness and the stick-to-itiveness ("stickete") posture of His Majesty Oba Dr. Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso, Osile Oke-Ona, Egba-Karunwi III, when he wrote his famous letter of the 31st of January, 1990. With the words "I am inspired today to write. I believe, he was truly inspired, and he had written it with candor, scholarship and statesmanship befitting his status as modem day Monarch. He raised an HONEST issue, but alas others saw it as stirring the hornets' nest. In fact, Kabiyesi gave an eight years grace for the matter of Egba Federation to be discussed, debated and resolved. This book is written and catalogued with details in order to state facts and not fictions. It happens that history is repeating itself. The problem with Egba Federation ran into trouble when Governor McCullum of Lagos forged an administrative alliance between the FOUR Obas in Abeokuta in 1898 at the close of the 19th century. And whereas in 1903, the Oba Alaiyeluwa Olubuse I, was on the throne at lie- Ife, and it was his pleasant duty to 9 confirm to Governor MacGregor of Lagos the list of the twenty-one (21) High Chiefs (Obas) who were entitled to wear beaded crowns in Yoruba land, needless to repeat that the FOUR Abeokuta Obas were included in this list of Paramount Obas in Yoruba land as at 1903. History, as I ventured to say, may be repeating itself. Alaiyeluwa Arole Oodua Olubuse II is seated on the throne at Ile-Ife, what has he to add to what his grandfather made available to posterity? It behoves us to ask the question why are we left with only One Paramount Oba. We should cry out that we have been shortchanged; especially when the Obas who were non-existent in 1903 in history are now upgraded to the status of FIRST CLASS Obas. Should we honestly adopt the posture of the "Ostrich and bury our heads in the sand just to wish away a glaring injustice? OR to use the current parlance "SIDDON LOOK" made famous by Chief Bola Ige (SAN) Former Governor of Oyo State. We have been robbed!!! Late Chief Bisi Onabanjo did not turn a blind eye to the issue; he raised it in 1982 asking for three nominations for FIRST CLASS OBAS in the four divisions of Ogun State. The idea was killed. The affected sections of Egbaland raised some protest but it was too late. The dastardly act had been done! What is strange and baffling is that all Military Governors and Administrators after Chief Bisi Onabanjo never ever replied in writing to this issue of Paramountcy or for that matter any issue raised by the "OGO Obas" and communities. (Oke-Ona, Gbagura and Owu.) How can one honestly categorise their SILENCE? It would go away syndrome! No. This book- "In Search of Justice" - is chronicled so that the new generations of Egbas could know and appreciate the injustice that has been perpetrated against them by their ancestors. Their fathers' crowns were subdued, their lands were raped and their honest endeavours 10 tainted as confrontational. "How long shall a man cry, before you can hear his cry; the answer my friend in blowing in the wind". The peace seeking Egba Emergency Committee headed by the elder statesman Baapitan Egbaland Chief Biobaku's report even shot over the bar. The committee did not bother to look for the truth about Paramountcy, whether the three sectional Obas had a good case or not; instead of a restitution to their rightful places in history they were being offered a recommendation for a plate of porridge" - when in actual fact, they do not even depend on their salaries from the State for sustenance. In fact Oba Dr. Adedapo Adewale Tejuoso's entire stipend for the past ten years has been going directly into the accounts of the Oke-Ona Egba Dynasty Fund for scholarships to all deserving Nigerian students' that apply, for educational assistance, Hundreds of Nigerians have benefited from this scheme over these ten years. At the close of this century this charade may play itself out and a new dawn 21st century shall surely bring its abundant blessings of freedom and justice, to the oppressed and downtrodden. The Psalmist has this comforting words to say to the battle weary Israelites (in his 126th Psalm) thus: 1. "When the Lord brought us back to Jerusalem, it was like a dream! 2. How we laughed, how we sang for joy! Then the other nations said about us "The Lord did great things for them". 3. Indeed he did great things for us How happy we were! 4. Lord make us prosperous again Just as the rain brings water Back to dry riverbeds 5. Let those who wept as they planted their crops gather the harvest with Joy! 6. Those who wept as they went Out carrying the seed Will come back singing for Joy, 11 As they bring in the harvest" TEV SO LET IT BE LORD" Kabiyesi Alaiyeluwa OOa Dr. Adadapo Adewale Tejuoso 12 KABIYESI'S PROFILE KABIYESI ALAIYELUWA OBA DR. ADEDAPO ADEWALE TEIUOSO. ORANMIYAN. KARUNWI III.
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