Ibadan Mogaji Rebuts Hon. Akeem Adeyemi’s Claim on Alaafin as The Southern Protectorate Head

In a recent speech delivered at the palace of the Sultan of Sokoto, Honourable Prince Akeem Adeyemi, son of the late Alaafin of Oyo, boldly claimed that the Alaafin was the leader of the Southern Protectorate during the colonial era, just as the Sultan of Sokoto was regarded as the leader of the Northern Protectorate. While his assertion may have stemmed from a place of deep pride in the legacy of his father and the Oyo Empire, it is essential to revisit the historical context in order to provide clarity and ensure that the legacies of our royal fathers are preserved with accuracy and respect.

Historically, when the British established control over the territories that would later become Nigeria, they did so by creating two major protectorates in 1900 — the Northern and Southern Protectorates.

The Northern Protectorate was largely under the influence of the centralized Islamic Sokoto Caliphate, with the Sultan of Sokoto serving as the spiritual and political authority across a vast area. This allowed the British to implement indirect rule effectively through the existing structure of emirs under the Sultan’s leadership. This centralized governance made the Sultan a natural figurehead in the north.

On the other hand, the Southern Protectorate was made up of diverse ethnic groups, each with their own traditional rulers and systems. Among the Yoruba alone, the Alaafin of Oyo stood tall with historical prestige as the head of the once-powerful Oyo Empire. However, there were also other significant monarchs including the Ooni of Ife, who held spiritual authority, the Alake of Egbaland, the Awujale of Ijebuland, and the Oba of Benin, among others. The British did not centralize leadership in the South under any single ruler. Instead, they interacted with multiple traditional authorities, each within their respective domains, in a more decentralized system of indirect rule.

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While the Alaafin was undeniably one of the most respected and powerful monarchs within the Yoruba and southern context, there is no historical record to support the claim that he was recognized as the singular or official leader of the entire Southern Protectorate.

The Alaafin’s influence, while significant, did not extend as a unifying political authority over all southern ethnic nationalities during the colonial period. This distinction is important to maintain, not to diminish the heritage of the Oyo throne, but to acknowledge the unique and decentralized nature of southern traditional structures compared to the north.

It is understandable that Prince Akeem Adeyemi would wish to uphold and elevate the memory of his royal lineage, especially given the immense contributions of his late father, Alaafin Oba Lamidi Adeyemi III.

However, history must be told as it was, not as we might wish it to be. The greatness of our traditional institutions lies not only in their power but also in their resilience, dignity, and role in preserving culture and identity through centuries of change. By presenting history accurately, we strengthen the legacy of our fathers rather than diminish it.

In celebrating our diverse traditional institutions, let us strive to do so with reverence, pride, and historical integrity.

The Alaafin of Oyo remains a towering figure in Yoruba history, but not as the official leader of the Southern Protectorate. That role never existed in the colonial framework. By honoring truth, we ensure that future generations inherit not only pride in their heritage, but also the wisdom and accuracy that builds strong cultural identity.