29/07/2017
The Aare Ona Kakanfo!
The Untold Story of How MKO Abiola Was Nearly
Prevented From Becoming the Generalissimo
Where were you in 1987? That was the year Oba Yesufu
Oloyede Asanike, Olubadan of Ibadan made history.
Olubadan installed Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola
as the Bashorun of Ibadan. It was a prestigious title
befitting of a distinguished personality in the mould of
MKO Abiola.
That was the title of the legendary Bashorun Oluyole
who was the paramount chief of Ibadan in 1850. It was
also the title of Bashorun Ogunmola who reigned
between 1865 and 1867. It was therefore historic that
exactly 120 years after the death of Ogunmola, MKO
Abiola became the fourth person to be conferred with
the prestigious title.
It was indeed a befitting honour for someone who had
amassed chieftaincy titles from almost every town in
Nigeria. As of the time of his installation in 1987, MKO
Abiola was reputed to have over 150 chieftaincy titles.
He was the Bobajiro of Ode-Remo. He was the Bada
Musulumi of Gbagura Egba.
As he drove out of the palace of Oba Asanike that
fateful day with his son by his side, MKO must have
thought that he had reached the peak of traditional
chieftaincy in Nigeria.
He was just settling down in his Ikeja home when he
was informed that he had a call. Who was on the line?
He asked before collecting the phone. It was the Alaafin
of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi III.
MKO snatched the phone. “Iku Baba Yeye, Igbakeji
Orisa! Kabiyesi!” The newly installed Bashorun paid his
homage to the foremost traditional ruler. Alaafin must
be calling to congratulate me, MKO thought. Kabiyesi
was however not calling to congratulate the business
magnate.
“We have decided that you are to be conferred with the
title of Aare Ona Kakanfo!” Kabiyesi informed him.
The phone nearly dropped from the hand of Bashorun.
Aare Ona Kakanfo! The Generalissimo of Yoruba race!
The Field Marshall for all descendants of Oduduwa! The
portfolio held by Afonja, the founder of Ilorin! The title of
Aare Obadoke Latosa of Ibadan – the scourge of
Efunsetan Aniwura! The position held by the last premier
of Western Region, Ladoke Akintola of Ogbomoso!
For a single person to be Bashorun and Aare was
unheard of. It was the ultimate! Traditionally, Bashorun
is the Prime Minister. Aare is the Field Marshall. When
Bashorun Gaa moved against Alaafin Abiodun around
1770, it was Oyalabi from Ajase (now Republic of
Benin), the Aare Ona Kakanfo that came to the powerful
monarch’s rescue. Now, Abiola was going to be both
the Prime Minister and the Field Marshall!
Alaafin had spoken. MKO Abiola had no choice. The
news spread like wildfire. Congratulatory messages
poured in from all over the globe. Aare Ona Kakanfo was
not just another title. It was the title. It was the father
of all traditional titles. Father ke? No, it was the
Grandfather of All Titles. If it were to be a national
honour, it would be the equivalent of the Grand
Commander of the Federal Republic!
Everybody in and outside Yorubaland was ecstatic at
the choice of Abiola as the 14th Aare Ona Kakanfo. Well,
almost everybody.
It happened that the Ashipa of Oyo, Chief Amuda
Olorunosebi was not pleased with the choice of
Bashorun MKO Abiola as the Aare. Ashipa was one of
the prominent chiefs of Alaafin. He objected to the
choice of the flamboyant publisher, an Egba man, as
Aare Ona Kakanfo. He went to Kabiyesi to protest. Iku
Baba Yeye was adamant that MKO was eminently
qualified to be the Aare Ona Kakanfo.
The Ashipa went back to his quarters at Isale Oyo. As
MKO Abiola and the Alaafin were preparing for the
installation of Bashorun, Chief Amuda was consulting
with his lawyers. This was however unknown to the
Alaafin. It was assumed that the Ashipa had been
convinced to support Abiola’s candidacy.
Abiola was no ordinary person by any standard. He was
larger than life. He was flamboyance personified. He
was determined to make the chieftaincy installation as
grand as possible. He invited all his contacts from all
over the world. All the military governors were invited. A
special invitation was delivered to the President, Ibrahim
Babangida, who was a close friend of the Bashorun.
African Heads of States cleared their schedules in order
to honour MKO. Nigerian Embassies were issuing visas
on daily basis. It was going to be a grand occasion.
Then the unthinkable happened! It started as a rumour.
It was days to the installation.
‘Eti Oba nile, eti Oba l’oko, eniyan lo n je be.’ The ear of
a king is everywhere. Iku Baba Yeye was in his palace
when he heard from the grapevine that a case had been
filed to stop the occasion! “Ewo! Sango o ni je! Abiodun
o ni je! Aole o ni je!” Kabiyesi went on to invoke the
names of his predecessors on the royal throne of
Alaafin!
It was around noon when the phone rang in Ibadan. It
was from the Palace, Oyo Alaafin. Chief Afe Babalola,
the famous legal practitioner, picked the phone. After
exchange of homage and royal blessings, Alaafin
informed Afiwajoye of Ado Ekiti that Ashipa had filed a
suit against the installation of MKO Abiola. Not only
that, a motion ex parte for interim injunction had also
been filed. It was apparent that Ashipa was not ready
to gamble with his chance.
Though Kabiyesi did not say it, Chief Afe knew the
urgency involved. Installation was on Saturday. The call
came in on Tuesday.
Less than thirty minutes after the call, Chief Afe was
almost at Oyo. The legendary lawyer covered the 57
kilometres between Oyo and Ibadan as if he was on a
chariot. He proceeded to court where he met the court
registrar. Of course, the registrar knew Chief Babalola. It
is doubtful if there is anyone in the Judiciary who does
not know the Mayegun of Modakeke. Mayegun paid the
requisite fees and conducted a search of the court’s file.
It was there! Alaafin’s information was correct!
Iduro ko si, ìbèreè ko si fun eni ti o gbe odó mi. A
person who swallows a pestle can neither stand nor sit
comfortably. Installation was on Saturday. The search
was conducted on Tuesday! The motion ex parte was to
be heard the following day, Wednesday.
Time was of the essence! Chief Afe turned his car
around, off to Emmanuel Chambers, Ibadan. Before the
car reached Fiditi, he had mentally finished composing
the processes. He was nodding as the cases and other
relevant authorities began to surface in his mind.
By the time he reached his office, the mental process
was complete. In a minute the Counter-Affidavit was
ready. There was no need for a Written Address.
Professor Yemi Osinbajo was then a Special Assistant to
the Attorney General of the Federation. It would be
years later before he introduced Written Address as the
Lagos State Attorney General. The counter-affidavit was
filed and served on counsel to the Ashipa.
On Wednesday, the court was full. Chief M. L. Lagunju,
Ashipa’s counsel was in court. He adjusted his wig and
checked his books. He smiled. It was a Motion Exparte.
It won’t be contested. He checked his time. Then there
was some commotion at the entrance of the court.
Chief Lagunju blinked! He blinked again! Walking in
majestically was the Afiwajoye of Ado-Ekiti, the Balogun
of Mobaland, the Mayegun of Modakeke, Chief Afe
Babalola in flesh! He was followed by a host of other
lawyers, each armed with bags of legal authorities
enough to open a law library. Chief Lagunju didn’t know
when he said: “The game is up!”
On the dot of 9 O’clock, the Court began sitting. The
trial judge was a royalty himself. Justice Aderemi’s
father was the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Sir Tadenikawo
Adesoji Aderemi, the first Governor of Western Region.
The case was called.
The plaintiff’s counsel sought to move his application.
The learned counsel informed the court that it was an
ex parte application and therefore the other party had
no right of audience.
His Lordship turned to Chief Afe Babalola. The court
was as silent as a ghost town. Young lawyers craned
their necks to hear what the Legend was going to say.
They have been taught in law school that Ex Parte
Motion was for only one party. Some of them must
have been wondering what magic the Mayegun of
Modakeke was going to perform.
Chief Afe Babalola brought out the White Book. Oh!
Sorry, you don’t know the White Book? The White Book
is an important book for lawyers. It contains the
sources of law relating to the practice and procedures
of the High Court. Ask your lawyer friend to show you a
copy. He won’t charge you, unless you open it.
The Legal Colossus was on his feet. He was vibrating
like a trumpet, but his voice was as soft as velvet. He
began to reel out authorities after authorities to the
effect that a defendant who became aware, anyhow,
that a party had gone to court and was about to obtain
an order ex-parte that would affect him, had a right to
appear in court and to insist on being heard.
His Lordship – a brilliant Judge from the Source of
Yoruba Race – was nodding as he scribbled down the
authorities being cited by the Legendary Advocate. His
Lordship was not the only one writing. Most lawyers in
court were writing furiously. One old man turned to his
friend and whispered: “I don’t mind selling my house,
Mufu, my son must become a lawyer like this man.
Look at the way he is speaking English as if he is
chanting oriki Sango!”
“There is merit in the case of the Defendants. I agree
with Chief Afe Babalola, the Defendants deserve to be
given the right to be heard. Case is hereby adjourned to
tomorrow for arguments on the Motion on Notice.” His
Lordship rose.
It is doubtful if the parties involved in the case slept
that night. Whilst the lawyers checked and re-checked
the authorities, the litigants were in anxiety mode. Chief
MKO Abiola’s invited guests had started arriving from
their various bases. Musicians engaged for
entertainment had begun to set up their instruments in
Oyo and Ikeja. Caterers had booked all the cows in
Ilorin, Oyo and Ibadan. Local drummers had cancelled
all engagements. The royal poet, Lanrewaju Adepoju
had finished composing his masterpiece. All roads led
to Oyo Alaafin.
If the court was filled to the brim on Wednesday, it was
spilling over on Thursday. Litigants, journalists, lawyers,
in fact everybody was in court that day. Chief Lagunju
stood up. The learned counsel knew what was at stake.
He argued his application expertly. He guessed the likely
issues that Chief Afe would raise. He addressed each
comprehensively. It was advocacy at its best.
Then the Balogun of Mobaland stood up. Like a surgeon,
Chief Afe surgically cut through the issues deftly. He
was not going to take any prisoner. After cutting
through the issues, the authorities followed. From
Halsbury’s Law of England to Commonwealth Law
Reports, from decisions of House of Lords to decisions
of Court of Appeal, from WACA to White Book, and then
finally to the Supreme Court. The authorities were
flowing like water from Asejire Dam. There was no
stopping the deluge.
“In the light of the copious authorities cited by the
learned counsel for the plaintiff and the defendants, the
Court will be adjourning to……” There was pin-drop
silence in Court. The installation was only two days
away. “…Friday” Ha! Palpable relief went through the
court.
On Friday, Chief Afe Babalola’s phone began to ring
from dawn. “Chief, E ma lo gba ruling yin l’Oyo loni o.
Please send your junior o.” Clients, friends and well
wishers who witnessed or heard of the tension soaked
session in court on Thursday were justifiably
apprehensive. But Chief Afe was not the Balogun of
Mobaland for nothing. A General must not be afraid of
the warfront. Off to Oyo.
Chief Afe had hardly left Ibadan when he started seeing
policemen at strategic junctions on the road to Oyo. As
they approached Fiditi, the number of policemen
increased. By the time they got to Jobele, it was as if
the Police College had moved its campus there. In the
forest, on top of trees, in the bushes, and on top of
buildings, the police were everywhere.
The Courtroom itself was no exception. More than fifty
police officers joined lawyers and litigants in the
courtroom. If you were not wearing a wig and you were
not a party to the case, you would have to stay outside.
Court!
Justice Aderemi went straight to the business of the
day. “RULING” His Lordship began. Time stood still as
His Lordship went on to review the facts of the
application and the authorities cited by the counsel for
the parties. “In the final analysis…” Counsel and cops in
the court became tense. “This application fails and is
hereby dismissed.”
As if by telepathy, the crowd outside heard the ruling
immediately! Shouts of joy erupted. Drummers who
must have been hiding theirgangan drums under their
agbada sprang out.Sekere came out. Agogo was not to
be left behind. Chief Afe Babalola was pulled out of his
car, The Balogun was placed squarely on the roof of the
car. Women danced, men jumped. I’m not sure but one
of the songs on that day must have been “Ajekun Iya ni
o je”. I have to confirm this from Chief. May God
preserve his life.
Alaafin was waiting in the Palace with his Council
Members. For a moment, the Sango of our time, Iku
Baba Yeye was close to tears. It was an emotional
moment. MKO Abiola was called. The Bashorun
shouted: “Allahu Akbar! Alhamdulillah.”
On Saturday, January 14, 1988, Oba Lamidi Olayiwola
Adeyemi III installed Bashorun Moshood Kashimawo
Abiola as the 14th Aare Ona Kakanfo. The famous
Yoruba Poet, Lanrewaju Moshood Adepoju was then
called to the podium. In his deep and flawless Yoruba,
Adepoju movingly rendered traditional poetry tracing the
history of the title and the qualities of the new Aare Ona
Kakanfo.
Abiola smiled.
It was indeed a glorious day for the husband of Simbiat
Atinuke.
In recognition of his service to the Crown and the Law,
Alaafin later conferred Chief Afe Babalola with the
prestigious title of Aare Bamofin of Oyo Empire.
Thank you for your time.
Need an area to reside don't just go far EPE ìs the best place ,good road networkgood water,cool a
