Alaafin Aole Surnamed Arogangan

 

After the reign of Alaafin Abiodun, none of his children succeeded him on the throne.

Aole, a tall and handsome Prince, a cousin of the late King was elected in his stead. But unfortunately, his reign was a very unhappy one; it marked the commencement of the decline of the nation until it terminated in the tragic end of the fifth king after him. The cup of iniquity of the nation was full; cruelty, usurpation, and treachery were rife, especially in the capital; and the provinces were groaning under the yolk of oppression. Confiscation and slavery for the slightest offence became matter of daily occurence, and the tyranny, exacutions and lawlessness of the Prince and other member of the royal family, were simply unsupportable. Oath were no more taken in the name of the gods, who were now considered too lenient and indifferent; but rather in the name of the King who was more dreaded. "Idà Oba ni yio je mi" (may the King`s sword destroy me) was the new form of oath! Aole was unfortunately saddled with the ill fate of the nation, as the following ditty commonly sung would show: "Laiye Abiodun l`afi igba won wo, Laiye aole L`afi adikale" (in abiodun`s reign money we weighed by bushels Lit with Calabashes, in Aole`s reign, we packrd up to flee).

but there was nothing more in his actions than in those of his predecessors to warrant this saying, on the contrary, he was probably too weak and mild for the times. The Nation was ripe for judgement, and the impending wrath of God was about to fall upon it; hence trouble from every quarter, one after another.

On the King`s accession, according to custom when the time came for him to send out his first expedition, he was asked who was his enemy, that they should fight him. He named Baale of Apomu, and hence Apomu was doomed.

The alleged cause of offence will clearly show how much of corruption there was at the fountain head in those days.

Apomu was the market town where Ọ̀yọ́s, Ifes, Owús and Ìjẹ̀bús met for trade. It was situated in Ife territory, and in the border of the Olowu's dominion. raidingand man-stealing were rife at those times. Ọ̀yọ́s particularly were in greater danger, as they came from afar. During the last reign several Ọ̀yọ́s were stolen and sold here, and hence King Abiodun sent order to both the Olowu and the Owoni of ife to keep a strict watch and prevent turn sent strict orders to the Baálẹ of Apomu to be on the watch, and arrest any offender.

Aolẹ who was then a private man used to trade in these parts with a friend who was also his attendant; and one occasion, he bartered away his friend for merchedise! So faithless and heartless were the princes in those days. The Ijebus were actually taken him away when it was reprted to the Baale of Apomu that an Oyo man was being sold away. Fortunately for the man by the prompt action of the Baálẹ he was rescued at a certain spot named Apata Odaju (the rock of the heartless), perharps so named from this circumstance, and brought before the Baálẹ. Investigation soon showed who the slave dealer was; but as Aole was an Akeyọ́ (Prince) and could not more severaly be dealt with in order that justice may not miscarry, he was ordered by the Baale to be severely flogged. This was the reason why Aole now named the Baálẹ of Apomu as his enemy.

When the Baálẹ of Apomu heard that war was declared against his town on his account he took refuge in the court of the Owoni of ife his over-lord, and whose orders he obeyed. But as the offence was against the Suzerain, even the Owoni could not save him; so this faithful chief, in order to save his town and his people from destruction, committed suicide, and his head was cut off and sent to Oyo to appease the offended mornarch!

But an expediction must in any case be sent out, the king was, therefore, approached again and asked to name his enemy. But he replied, "My enemy is too formidable for me." being pressed, he named the pwerful chief Afonja, the Kakanfo residing at Ilorin.