The 1st Eletu-Odibo of Lagos was Chief
Akinwon who came with King Ashipa from Benin City in 1630. Chief Akinwon died
without any issue and was succeeded by his brother Chief Orishajo (the 2nd
Eletu Odibo of Lagos) who on his death left two sons Kumeyifo and Jose-Ajoyin.
Chief Kumeyifo succeeded Chief Orishayo as the 3rd
Eletu Odibo of Lagos. Chief Kumeyhifo gave birth to Ojomo-Oloro the father of
Alli-Idosu.
Chief Jose-Ajoyin became the 4th
Eletu-Odibo while his son Chief Oshobule succeeded him as the 5th
Eletu-Odibo of Lagos.
Chief Oshobule was killed by King Kosoko in 1845 and
was never buried at Maworun. His Grandson Chief Amusa Gbadesere the father of
Mr. Taju Eletu who died in 1960 was not buried at Maworun until the 25th day of
June, 2004.
Upon the death of Chief Oshobule, Chief Jiyabi was
elected to succeed him as the 6th Eletu Odibo but died before his coronation
and was succeeded by Chief Ada Ogbelege as the 7th Eletu Odibo
Chief Ada Ogbelege died without any issue and was
succeeded by Chief Ogabi as the 8th Eletu-Odibo of Lagos. Chief
Ogabi was succeeded by Chief Alli-Idosu as the 9th Eletu-Odibo of
Lagos.
Chief Alli-Idosu became 9th Eletu-Odibo of Lagos on
26th June 1906 during the tenure of Oba Eshugbayi Eleko of Lagos and
died in 1912 leaving 8 issuesa behind
Chief Alli-Idosu works and deeds before and during
his tenure as the 9th Eletu-Odibo of Lagos were indelible and have
not been matched by any Eletu-Odibo till date.
In 1898, before he became the Eletu-Odibo, the Oba’s
mosque (Okiti) Lagos was pulled down and in the process of rebuilding, it was
extended to cove r some adjoining lands belonging to Eletu-Odibo Chieftaincy
and Musa Okunnu. There was serious protest which stalled the construction of
the Mosque but due to the intervention of Chief Alli-Idosu among other people,
the matter was resolved amicably. Chief Alli-Idosu also contributed among other
people to complete the construction of the mosque.
During the reign of Late Chief Ogabi the 8th
Eletu Odibo of Lagos, Chief Alli Idosu acquired the Ogun Shrine at Enu Owa and
removed the said Ogun Shrine to a piece of land opposite Iga Eletu behind
Bakare Atobajehun House. After the removal of the shrine, the acquired land was
later used for the Enu Owa Mosque with the support of Late Disu Labulo, Yesufu Fasanya,
Late Chief Adamu Akeju, the Obanikoro of Lagos and others.
After he became the 9th Eletu-Odibo of
Lagos, Chief Alli-Idosu capped late Buramoh Akinlagus as the Chief Onilegbale
of Lagos on Thursday 28th June 1906 with the consent and approval of
late oba eshugbayi eleko of lagos.
In 1908, chief Alli Idosu replanted “obun tree”
popularly known as olobun tree in a miraculous way at enu owa by church street/
decemo street, lagos.
The first olobun tree was brought from Benin to
lagos and planted by both late chief Akinwon and his brother chief Orishajo the
first and second eletu odibo of lagos respectively at the main road of enu owa
by church street and along decamp street, in lagos in the year 1630.
According to history, the tree has great historical
connection with the emoting tree of Benin kingdom. The first olobun tree was
cut off by the lagos town council in the year 1908 during the time of governor Egerton
because it was alleged that the tree was causing obstruction on the road. The
day the tree was cut off was a bloody day as all the officials and workers from
lagos town council who cut off the tree died immediately after cutting the tree
and also blood was flowing from the tree on the road. The British government
later sent emissaries to oba eshugbayi of lagos to help make sacrifice to the
tree for peace.
Oba eshugbayi eleko of lagos directed the officials
from the government to late chief Alli Idosu who was the incumbent chief eletu
odibo of lagos by that time for the sacrifice which was later performed by
chief Alli Idosu. On the day of the sacrifice, the British government offered
late chief alli idosu the sum of sixty pounds (
for the sacrifice. It was a lot of money in
those days. The British government also some of their officials to witness how
the sacrifice and replanting of the tree was to be done. The government
officials who came to witness the ritual ceremony slept off at the corridor of
armoire palace near the place the tree was, until sacrifice was concluded. He
thereafter directed someone to wake them up at where they slept.
for the sacrifice. It was a lot of money in
those days. The British government also some of their officials to witness how
the sacrifice and replanting of the tree was to be done. The government
officials who came to witness the ritual ceremony slept off at the corridor of
armoire palace near the place the tree was, until sacrifice was concluded. He
thereafter directed someone to wake them up at where they slept.
The government officials were so surprised when they saw the
tree grown the same day and went back to their office and delivered the message
to the governor which prompted the government to make it permanent on the
present site up till date.
Money is always given to any incumbent chief eletu odibo of
lagos whenever the sacrifice to the tree is going to be performed. Late chief
alli Idosu performed the sacrifice to that fateful day as both the incumbent
chief and grandson of the 3rd chief eletu odibo of lagos state,
kumeyifo.
The site of the tree became the ritual performing site on any
traditional ceremonial occasions. Any incumbent chief eletu odibo of lagos, has
a right to enter into the shrine room and perform the ceremony whenever it is
necessary to do so in company of his followers to the site of the tree.
In case there is no chief in the palace of eletu odibo the descendants’
of late chief alli Idosu can be called to perform the ceremony. There are many
examples to that effect during the life time of both oba Fafolu and oba Musendiku Adele II of
lagos.
Late chief alli Idosu performed the coronation of inure ceremony
for both late oba eshugbayi eleko of Lagos and late chief Oluwa Akinboi in the
year 1910 adamu orisha play was performed in memory of late chief Ogabi the 8th
chief eletu odibo of lagos who was the son of oshobile on 11th of
august, 1906, two months after alli idosu’s installation.
Chief alli Idosu died in 1912. His corpse was buried in iga
court yard and adamu orisha was organized in his memory by the 10th
eletu odibo of lagos, chief Abdullah Bamgbopa and entire members of the family
on 24th of April 1918. Since then no adamu orisha play has ever been
performed for any chief eletu odibo of lagos.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks for publishing this record. Barring some spelling errors, a great record of part of the history of Eko. Please publish more so that we indigenes have something to pass on to our children.
ReplyDelete....wow this is a wonderful work from you but please can I get full history of chief Alliu idosu... Because one of Alliu idosu children in person of zainab elegba happens to be my great great grandmother... So I want to know more please
ReplyDeleteSame here too, I'm a descendants of chief alli idosu but it's worrisome there's not enough data to trace our ancestors. As I'm speaking I am doing my research on one the husband chief alli idosu's daughter(which is my grandmother) married. And I also need to know what's the fight between the oshobiles and the alli idosus
Deletewhat a nice history.I am proud to be an Indigen of lagos State.
ReplyDeleteThanks for this historical account. The descendants of Ali-Idosu have been denied access by some who do not have clear picture of history. We need elders and well-meaning Lagosians to settle this rift.
ReplyDeleteOh my God, this is the same problem that leads to my research. We are really suffering from lack of data in this country
DeleteWonderful history am proud to be a descendant of alli idosu.
ReplyDelete