'Onpetu Atoyebi Ruling House accepts Soun as supreme father,' Mogaji declares, clarifies relationship with Baale Ijeru

‘Onpetu Atoyebi Ruling House accepts Soun as supreme father,’ Mogaji declares, clarifies relationship with Baale Ijeru

Khalid ABRAHAM

The Mogaji of Onpetu Atoyebi Ruling House, Prince James Oyetunde Atoyebi, has declared that their branch of Onpetu Ruling Dynasty is not contending the supremacy of the Soun in Ogbomosoland asserting the Soun is their host and supreme father.

Prince Atoyebi said he spoke as the supreme head of all the Onpetu Atoyebi Ruling House of Ijeru and Oje and whose progenitor brought the Onpetu Ruling Dynasty to Ogbomoso n the 19th century, while citing the timeless book – “Iwe Itan Ogbomoso,” authored by N.D. Oyerinde, as his source.

Mogaji Atoyebi made this declaration while addressing the press in the presence of other family members at their residence at Temidire Atoyebi area, along Otamokun road, Ogbomoso.

He affirmed Oje town, the ancestral home of the Onpetu, beyond Oje river along Otamokun road, was laid desolate by a warrior named Sikako, stressing this vicissitude forced the then reigning Onpetu, Atoyebi, to flee from Oje. He however revealed Atoyebi first headed to Ikoyi to seek refuge from Onikoyi, who was his friend.

But according to the Mogaji, Onikoyi was an adversary of the then Soun, Oluwusi (1826 – 1836), who however was his personal friend. He informed this rivalry between Soun Oluwusi and Onikoyi often made the latter to speak ill of the former, which Atoyebi was often uncomfortable with, and so often cautioned him.

Mogaji Atoyebi who informed he had been appointed Mogaji since the year 2000, stated this posture of his great grandfather angered Onikoyi who as a result plotted to eliminate Atoyebi. Oba Atoyebi however got wind of the satanic plot and so fled to Ogbomoso.

Atoyebi, upon arrival in Ogbomoso, was first hosted by Akinola Jalodo at today’s Akinbola compound at Laka. News got to Oluwusi that his friend Onpetu Atoyebi was at Akinbola Jalodo compound at Laka and so sent for him. (Note Akinbola Jalodo compound is where late Premier of defunct Western Region Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola was born, less than 100 years after the arrival of Onpetu Atoyebi).

Click to register

Soun Oluwusi, Mogaji Atoyebi maintained, subsequently directed Onpetu Atoyebi to rather proceed to the other side of Laka at Oke-Ijeru to live among his brethren who had earlier deserted Oje for Ogbomoso after its fall – Olude and Olufimo also of Onpetu Royal Dynasty were their leaders. Mogaji Atoyebi stated Onpetu Atoyebi heeded the directive and moved in with his brothers – Olude and Olufimo, insisting this affirmed the refuge status of the Onpetu in Ogbomoso.

Affirming the Atoyebi Onpetu Ruling Family accepted the supremacy of the Soun he debunked the claim that the Baale Ijeru Chieftaincy Family was their host in Ijeru, though clarifying that the Atoyebi Onpetu family does not have contentious relationship with the Baale Ijeru Chieftaincy Family. He disclosed rather they are in – laws. He said nonetheless there was need to make that clarification against the backdrop of an earlier report that Ajayi Baale Ijeru received Onpetu Atoyebi when he was asked to relocate to Ijeru.

Mogaji Atoyebi emphasized that Onpetu Atoyebi Ruling House of Onpetu Dynasty, which he underlined brought the Onpetu throne and crown to Ogbomoso, forever has cordial relationship with Soun, accepts his overlordship and recognises him as father.

(Note: Lagbami, Atobatele, Oluya, Olude/Olufimo and Atoyebi though not in that order are the other ruling houses of Onpetu today).

He added that of all the crowned kings of the classical towns that surround Ogbomoso – Onpetu (Oje), Alajaawa (Ajaawa), Aresa (Iresa), Onikoyi (Ikoyi) and Olugbon (Igbon), Oje is the nearest to Ogbomoso and is within the Ogbomoso confines. He noted it was mischievous to claim otherwise.

His statement in full, which he originally relayed in Yoruba language:

My name is Prince James Oyetunde Atoyebi, the Mogaji of Atoyebi Onpetu Ruling House, whose great grandfather was the first Onpetu in Ogbomoso.

On how Onpetu came to Ogbomoso, Atoyebi who brought the Onpetu throne to Ogbomoso was hosted by Oba Soun Oluwusi. Before the fall and desertion of Oje – Ile, Oluwusi Soun Ogbomoso and Oba Atoyebi Onpetu were friends. After Oje fell sequel to a war launched by Sikako, my father escaped first seeking refuge in Ikoyi but Ikoyi could not take in Onpetu Atoyebi because Onikoyi was an adversary of Oluwusi and was fond of speaking ill of Oluwusi, which Atoyebi found disagreeable and so often reprimanded him. This precipitated crisis between them.

This act of loyalty to Soun Oluwusi by my father provoked Onikoyi to scheme to kill my father which he became privy to. That was why we left Ikoyi for Ogbomoso when Oluwusi Soun was on the throne. When he first came my father lodged at the house of Akinola Jalodo at Oke-Laka. And when the news got to the ears of Oluwusi he accepted him wholeheartedly.

Meanwhile, Oluwusi was aware some of my father’s siblings had earlier fled to Ogbomoso before his arrival – those were Olude and Olufimo. They had sought refuge in Ogbomoso before that time and were residing at the other side of Laka. Oluwusi was aware of this, and so, he told my father, “My friend, you are here, your brothers have been refugees here previously, they are living at Oke-Ijeru. Go and live among them.” So, they were summoned and they received Atoyebi warmly as a child would receive his father.

So, if anyone says Ijeru is not in Ogbomoso, such a person is being mischievous – Bi igimu alagbase ba gun to Tapa, omo oloko ni yoo fi aala oko han (no matter the beauty of the physical attribute of the labourer, it’s the son of the farm owner that will show the farm land’s boundaries – an euphemism for someone subservient cannot be greater than his master). We are guests of Soun and we are never in rivalry with him, we are not against him because Oje-Ile is the closest to Ogbomoso among the crowned kings that surround Ogbomoso such as Ikoyi, Iresa, Ajaawa and Igbon. None of them is as nearest as Oje-Ile. As a result we are friends with the Soun and he is our father. So, the unsavoury insinuation that Ijeru is against Soun or Ogbomoso, is unfounded, it is a lie. Ijeru is not fighting Soun or Ogbomoso.

I, as the first Onpetu in Ogbomoso, as the heir (arole) to first Onpetu in Ogbomoso and the Mogaji of all sons and daughters of Onpetu Atoyebi, and on behalf of all true sons of Onpetu Atoyebi, declare that we are not in contention with Soun. All l have said is the truth, l speak as heir to the first Onpetu in Ogbomoso, Atoyebi.

On the claim of Baale Ijeru Chieftaincy Family

Furthermore, l want to shed light on another issue. All what l am saying is contained in “Iwe Itan Ogbomoso” by N.D. Oyerinde. My father bought it for me in 1942. I assert unequivocally that we are not guests of Baale Ijeru. But let me emphasize that we are not against Baale Ijeru, we are not enemies, we are in-laws. Nevertheless, they are not our host. Oluwusi is the father we know, he received us in Ogbomoso.

I also emphasize that Ijeru is not independent, that is bunkum, it is a lie, Ijeru is within Ogbomoso, even Oje, our ancestral home, is in Ogbomoso, but we are not guests of Baale Ijeru, never! It was our brothers, Olude and Olufimo Onpetu, that received their father warmly as a child would welcome his father, when we came to Ogbomoso through Soun Oluwusi. It is stated in Iwe Itan Ogbomoso.

Conclusion

In conclusion, l want the whole world to understand, particularly sons and daughters of Ogbomoso, that Atoyebi Onpetu Royal Family is not against Ogbomoso, we are integral part of Ogbomoso, we are Ogbomoso. And when our father (Oba Ghandi Afolabi Olaoye Orumogege III) came to Ajaawa (recently) l was there to receive him, we are Ogbomoso. When we talk of Onpetu Atoyebi family today, l am the Mogaji and l have been since the year 2000 – the Mogaji of Onpetu Atoyebi Royal Family. Atoyebi has no other father except Soun. Ogbomoso is father of all. Ogbomoso is one.

May God bless Ogbomoso.