THE STORY OF HOW OBA AWUJALE OF IJEBU LAND “ADESANYA” WAS SHOT

THE STORY OF HOW OBA AWUJALE OF IJEBU LAND “ADESANYA” WAS SHOT.

As fate would have it, Ademolu Ogunaike reigned for less than 4 years and paved way for a successor from the Gbelegbuwa family in 1933.

Daniel Adesanya succeeded Ademolu Ogunnaike. His ascension was described as a form of usurpation characterized with manipulations and fraud. His membership of the Gbelegbuwa family was through his mother. His real name was Daniel Otubusin but assumed his mother’s family name of Adesanya only upon selection for the throne.

Thus, the other ruling houses saw Adesanya as an unfit candidate for the Awujale throne – not being of the male lineage and also not being an “abidagba” (born of a ruling Awujale). And majorly, it was said to lack probity to qualify him to occupy the monarchial seat.

These supposed deficiencies led to the clamour for the reinstatement of the deposed Adenuga by the Tunwashe family. However the Ijebu Chiefs stoutly opposed the return of Adenuga because “a criminal offence was an irremovable barrier to public office”

Subsequently, Adesanya was installed as Awujale amidst all oppositions. It was said that he was imposed against the Oracle’s dictate and the wishes of people. As a result, On the 20th of October 1934, one Yesufu Idumota, a fanatical supporter of Adenuga, grievously attempted to assassinate the Awujale Adesanya for the reasons stated previously.

After the coronation of Adesanya, all attempts were said to have been made to dethrone and execute him which recorded failed. But on the day when Adesanya was celebrating the first anniversary of his installation, Mr. Jonathan Adebanjo (a.k.a Yesufu Idumota) perfected his plan and fired gun shots at Awujale Adesanya during the gathering in attempt to kill him. Fortunately, the assassination attempt failed, but his gunshots caused fatal damages to Awujale’s right hand to the extent the hand was eventually amputated.

Upon his arrest, Idumota claimed he acted on his conscience because the Adesanya has no right to the throne but was foisted on Ijebu by the British administrator.

Hence, consequent investigations of the incident led to the arrest and prosecution of eleven men including the ex- Awujale, Adenuga, as Idumota’s accomplices. They were charged with conspiracy and incitement to commit murder. Their arraignment was essentially based on the discovery of a number of written correspondence between them and the ex-Awujale, Adenuga as well as witness accounts.

However, on 18 February 1935 they were all convicted and sentenced to varying jail terms with hard labour at the Abeokuta prison. Adenuga received four years. During his trial Idumota refused to make any disclosures, that is he decided not to confess and implicate any one upon the torture. At the end, he was sentenced to fourteen years imprisonment on 14 November 1934, but died shortly afterwards.

Thereafter, Awujale Adesanya reigned till 1959 before he joined his ancestor, which paved way for Awujale Adetona in 1960.

Credit: The Headies and Ijebu Rewa