Oba Adolo
 

Oba Adolo

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Last Update July 30, 2020

ODIN-O VDA was crowned Oba of Benin in 1848 with the title of Adolo. His brother Ogbewekon was born in the morning and Odion-Ovba in the evening of the same day, but as Ogbewekon’s mother, Eghori, concealed the birth of her son from the Oba for some days, Odin-Ovba’s birth vas reported first and he was counted the eldest. When Eghori was asked why she had acted so foolishly, she said that the people of Ogbe had advised her not to announce the birth of the child, as perhaps he might not live, as it was thought he had been born and had died in infancy several times before. His father therefore narned him Ogbewekon, meaning ‘Ogbe has made fool of you’.

Ogbewekon rebelled against his brother, and went to live in his mother’s town Igueben in Ishan, and from there did much to disturb the Oba’s peace. The Amaho rebellion and similar risings in Ishan were instigated by him, but they were suppressed in 1853 and 1854 by troops led by Ebohon of Ova. The Oba however. did not bear him any malice, and when on being told in 1880 of his death.. someone spoke of him as his enemy, the Oba replied: “Do not say that Ogbewekon was my enemy. He was no enemy to me at all, but was my real brother. We were born on the same day. If he is dead it is an indication that my own death is also approaching”.

In 1888 Ezomo Osarogiagbon, the successor of Uzama, invaded and captured Uhie, Uhobe (Sobe), Umoru and other towns, and brought many of their people captive to Benin City.
Ebohon was born and trained at Ova, a village in the Benin District. He was a very tall and valiant man.His extreme outrage soon marked him out in the village and consequently he was placed in command of various Royal Troops by Oba Adolo. He won some splendid victories and was known as a famous General.

He led the Benin Army against Prince Ogbewekon in Ishan in 1853-4 and successfully gained the victory. He was also dispatched to Urhuekpen with an army to check Ogedengbe’s depredation. To meet his scheme, Ebohon posted himself at Orhua, eagerly watching the opportunity to attack the invader. Firstly, he sent an imperative message through Otubu and others to Ogedengbe to return home-ward from the Benin Division which he was aiming to invade, otherwise Benin would likely have been into struggle to check his depredation.

This warning Ogedengbe obeyed and returned homeward after having seen Ebohon personally and shaken hands warmly with him for his surpassing courage. Ebohon then marched back to his camp in an exalted state of mind which often attended the consciousness of one having performed a noble deed.

Ebohon gained many splendid and formidable victories in the various campaigns which he undertook. Latterly he was hailed as a hero and satisfactorily rewarded by the Oba in token of his victories. Finally Ebohon was awarded the title of the Iyase of Udo, but the hero unfortunately died at Ikoka where he made a halt on his way to Udo to assume his new office. His remains were interred there and he was mourned by all. An Iroko Tree miraculously sprang out at the side of his head at the spot on which he was buried.

Soon after this in 1879, llesha was taken by Ibadan troops under Ajayí Ogboriefon and Ogbedengbe had to take refuge at ltagbolu in Ekiti A few years later, the Ibadans under Babalola, Ajayi Ogboriefon’s son. Invaded Ekiti. Under the leadership of Ogedegbe and the Balogun Asa, the Ekitis resisted the invaders for months, but becoming exhausted they applied to Oba Adolo for help. Hundreds cf soldiers were immediately sent and the Ibadans were compelled to conclude peace with the Ekitis. In token of their gratitude to the Oba, the Ekitis sent valuable presents to him and continued to pay a yearly tribute.

The Balogun Asa mentioned above was the son 0f Omemu who led the armies of Benin against the Akures and Ekitis in the last reign. He succeeded his father in the command of the army, and continued his victorious campaigns in those parts untíl his death in 1896. He was the maternal grand-father of Yesufu Eke.

Ogagun was one of the sons of Obegbo of Ugboko in Iyekorhiomwo, Benin Division. He was strong, keen and quite industrious During the reign of Oba Osemwede, Ogagun left Benin City to the Ekiti hinterland for trade and was stationed at Igbara Oke where he remained many years trading. He subsequently returned to Benin City early in the reign of Oba Adolo and the title Osasemwoyen was conferred on him by the Oba Adolo

He was an influential and famous magician of his day, honoured, respected and feared by the citizens through his great knowledge in magical art. He married his eldest daughter, Arokun, a beautiful lady to crown Prince Idugbowa who later became (Oba Ovonramwen). Prince Idugbowa  thereupon committed adultery with one of the younger wives of his father-in-law, and the issue of this adulterous union was Aiguobasinmwi who was so named in parabolic term  Ogagun for the horrible crime or offence committed by Crown Prince Idugbowa (Ovonramwen)  his son in-law.

It was this child Aiguobasinmwi who through the will of God became Oba of Benin with the title Eweka II in 1914. It aggrieved Ogagun so much that he also named his grandson Usuanlele born for Crown Prince Idugbowa (Ovonramwen) by Arokun his daughter by another parabolic attribute which means that what Crown Prince Idugbowa (Ovonramwen) did to him can never be obliterated in his memory. Both Crown Prince Idugbowa (Ovonramwen) and his father, Oba Adolo, greatly resented these odd parabolic names and therefore consciously began to trouble Ogagun in all ways posible.
Whenever Crown Prince Idugbowa (Ovonramwen) got a slight fever and especially Oba Adolo would resort to an oracle and the predictions would be nothing else but against Ogagun on the whole especially when Crown Prince Idugbowa () lost one of his children. Consequently, Adolo went to Ogagun in parabolic language that he should sleep that is, to commit suicide because he was endangering his son’s life, but Ogagun sent a reply back to the Oba that he did not wish to sleep yet and could not be compelled to do it.

Then began a series of horrible sacrifices under gone by Oba Adolo during this occasion both to preserve the life of his son and also to compel Ogagun to commit suicide. To these sacrifices Ogagun proudly uttered the following contemptuous words :- Tell Adolo to send the necessary victims to me direct to be slaughtered and eaten instead of sending them to Squares and high places because I am not a lower creature to eat sacrificial victims in the Squares like dogs. But, willingly or unwillingly, Ogagun was subsequently forced to commit suicide after a considerable time in 1882.
A Comet and other bad signs appeared soon after his death and were counted as a result of his power and skilful knowledge in the magical art. He was very rich and powerful. For this reason, soon after his accession to the throne, Ovenramwen was contemplating not accepting Aiguobasinmi, as his heir but the advice of Egiebo the Uwangue, and that of the unseen power prevailed.

People used to be very frank in speaking to the Obas of Benin. For instance, on a rainy day in 1883 during one of the ceremonies at the palace a man named Obakpolo Uzazakpo (or Ovbi-Uzazakpo) boldly said to Oba Adolo, when he saw the chiefs kneeling before him in the rain “Why is it that you, Odin-Ovba. the son of Ugiomo, sit magnificent on the throne and let your chiefs kneel in the rain as if they were your bought slaves. Are they not the same creatures of God, born by women, as you are? Let them rise up and get out of the rain”. When one of the kneeling chiefs tried to interrupt Uzazakpo, Adolo told him to be silent saying that Uzazakpo had boldly expressed what the chiefs had been afraid to say. He ordered the chiefs to rise and get out of the rain. After thanking Uzazakpo for his plain speaking, he gave him a present of food and drink and sent him home.

Adolo was a kind-hearted and prudent Oba, beloved and respected by his subjects for his just and wise rule. He was rich and industrious. He purchased many slaves and founded many towns and villages for them to dwell in. He encouraged commerce and established various markets such as Ekiadolo, which bears his name. He was very generous and provided for the upkeep of the aged and helpless. He reigned forty years and left four sons, Idugbowa, Orokhorho, Idusere, and Erese, and four daughters, Ehendia, Izegbuwa, Idefua and ldehen.

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