Thread by @YorubaHistory

The Civil Murder of Chief Aijenku the Fohoko.

The Are now began to evince more and more the characteristics of a Kakanfo. Experience has shown us that a Kakanfo always caused trouble at home and abroad.

Sources:

Text: The history of the Yorubas by Johnson, Samuel; Johnson, Obadiah (1921)

Image: illustration of a Yoruba compound from Seventeen years in the Yoruba country. by Hinderer, Anna Martin published 1877

Their paths were always marked with blood. We have only to recall the history of Afonja of Ilorin, Edun of Gbogun and Ojo Amepo who were rivals, of Kurumi of Ijaye among others ; and now Latosisa of Ibadan was on the same track.

His primary object was to suppress all the leading chiefs who were his equals or superiors, and the first man to feel his power was Chief Aijenku that old and experienced war-chief, who had made a name in the field when the Are was nowhere.

He was the only check on him at the commencement of his administration. Aijenku was amongst the first settlers of Ibadan. He entered the town on horseback being then a little chief.

He was a powerful man as we saw that he alone opposed the whole forces of the Egbas before Ijaye, when Ogunmola & the other chiefs were absent at Iwawun & , although fortune did not set him at the head of affairs yet he was, as he had always been, one who could not be overlooked.

He was never a private man at Ibadan. He was the Asaju for Oluyole the first Basorun when the Are was only a palm tree dresser! And, although fortune had now raised Latosisa the Are above him, ...

... yet Aijenku was like a king in his own quarter of the town, where he was acknowledged, loved, and venerated by all the Oke Asa people, a tribe in the Ekun Osi province now resident at Ibadan.

Aijenku at the public meetings in course of debate often told the chiefs of the administrations of former distinguished rulers that made Ibadan what it was to-day.

This the Are and others of grasping propensities like him never liked to hear, and the Are in particular was ever on the look out for an opportunity of putting an end to this " historian."

Aijenku on the other hand whenever he spoke did so boldly as one who by age, experience, and past services in many a bloody field was competent to give them advice.

He had little sympathy even amongst the junior chiefs, who were all affected with the prevailing avarice; for he was said to be of an irritable temper, too bold and pointed in his remarks, and when he reproved, did so without respect of person or rank;...

... and being so capable a warrior there was a latent fear that if this man was backed up and eventually placed at the head of the government he would rule with rigour and become oppressive.

At length an opportunity afforded itself for taking revenge on this chief, and the Are and the other chiefs were not slow to make use of it.

Igbajo was one of the tributary towns under him.

The people of that town being dissatisfied with their ruling chief deposed him and appointed another Aregbajo.

The deposed came to Ibadan to ask the aid of the Ibadan government to reinstate him. The Are and the other chiefs were for reinstating him, but Aijenku was opposed to that measure and gave his reasons.

He spoke in his usual authoritative way which offended his brother chiefs and hence on the 13th of January, 1877, he was rejected by all the chiefs in the public meeting, ...

... and that declaration was confirmed by his being deprived of all the towns hitherto tributary to him, including this very Igbajo.

He bore his humiliation patiently and the next day (14th) went to the adjourned meeting with a few slaves to offer to the assembly in payment of fines, and to ask to be pardoned.

The chiefs refused to pardon him, they further disgraced him ; he had to return home disappointed and with a heavy heart.

But what roused the old Lion to desperation was the attempt to deprive him of the tolls of the Abeokuta gate. This was on the 20th of January, when the chiefs sent other gatemen there, and drove his men away.

He was exasperated beyond measure, and was resolved upon civil war, come what may. Said he : — " The Abeokuta road was opened at the peril of my life...

... ,the scars in my body and my disfigured hands were the result of that special conflict when none of the present chiefs was in existence, and while I am living no one will deprive me of this."

He drove away those who had displaced his men and resorted to arms, defying anyone who would oppose him.

The town was in commotion, the excitement in that part of the town was very great, but no one came forward to oppose him. The C.M.S. agents waited on the Are to express their regrets for the events of the day.

The Are made only a cursory remark on the subject. He said "It is the public that is against him, not I, and we were surprised to hear that he was in arms, against whom, we know not."

Knowing his might, the chiefs moved cautiously to undermine his great power. Nothing was done till the following Monday the 22nd at the general meeting of the town council.

There they won over all the chiefs who were his personal friends, and to his subordinate chiefs they offered titles and ranks and tributary towns, and then decided to attack him in a body.

Having thus deprived him of all his mainstays, word was sent to him to quit the town, or die, or to prepare for the worst.

His slaves seeing their master in such a plight, and the impossibility of their being able to resist the whole town opposed to him sought each one his own safety by flight, some to one chief, some to another,

A private message was sent to him to seek refuge in old Tajo's house, who had received permission to shelter him, for if he resisted it would mean not only his own life, but also the lives of his wives and children.

As soon as it was known that he had left his house, the whole town in arms swooped down upon his quarter of the town, and sacked every house, ...

... removing everything, even to grinding stones, earthenware pots and dishes, doors, firewood, etc., leaving the whole place in desolation and ruin as a conquered town.

The writer could not suppress his emotion when he saw the sight the next morning. It was heartrending, especially when on reaching Chief Tajo's house he met the chief quite besieged by scores of mothers wailing the loss of their children.

Several interested friends called on him in Chief Tajo's house and even the Are himself called in the evening, disclaiming all responsibiUty. It was the doing of the town, said he, and not the work of an individual.

He was said to have offered him the following cold comfort : " Take comfort and be thankful your hfe is spared you.

Remember how many towns subverted by your arms have been made desolate, and how many kings have suffered as you now do. Be of good courage, be not cast down, all will be right."

At the public meeting of the town council of the 25th January, 1877, at the Are's, it was decided that he should return to his house, and hence, each of the principal chiefs cent his sword bearer to accompany him home from Tajo's.

Two days later the chiefs having heard that Tajo's people were taking advantage of the fallen chief s condition to pillage his farm, sent to warn the old chief to check his people ; the main object of the chiefs was to humiliate Aijenku and not to ruin him altogether.

On the 30th of January, 1877, the C.M.S. agents, by the permission of the Are, paid the fallen chief a visit in grateful recognition of his kindness and the protection he extended to the agent and the body of Christians in his quarter.

After some expressions of sympathy and a few words of comfort addressed to him, he said " I did not at first expect that matters would come to this crisis, but having come up to such a pass, ...

... I restrained my people from fighting as I was unwillng to shed a drop of blood in a town of which I was among the foremost of the settlers, and where I built houses, and where I was blessed with wives and children.

This is the third compound I have built at Ibadan. If I had chosen to go, I have friends at Abeokuta who might receive me with open arms; and who will dare pursue me if I leave the town ? But I prefer to die here, and to have an honourable burial."

But alas, the chief's troubles were not over. The matter was revived again by some of the ill-disposed. At one of the public meetings of the council it was insinuated by some that, ...

... "if he is not finished up with, such a man like that, a turn of the wheel of fortune may one day place him at the top, and woe betide any one of us or our offspring then living."

His slaves who had sought the protection of other masters, seeing their master now at home, began to return one by one to him.

So it was resolved by the chiefs in council that he should not receive them again but that each should return permanently to their temporary masters. The fallen chief submitted to this also.

Yet still at a meeting of the 12th February, 1877, word was sent to him that it was resolved that he should die ! " What else have I done ? " asked he of the messengers. They replied, " We do not know, we are only sent to tell you to die."

Aijenku went again to Tajo's house where he had taken refuge before, to ask for his interference again ; but this chief had been forewarned not to meddle in this matter again, and therefore he did not show his face to his doomed friend.

"The Master is not at home" is a well understood phrase, and the veteran soldier, overpowered with grief went home, gave his last orders to his children and retired finally to rest, by blowing out his own brains.

This was the second cold-blooded murder perpetrated by the Are.