Traditional rulers in Nigeria are revered and placed very highly by their followers. However, even these rulers have times when they overstep their boundaries such as rebelling against the existing cabal or kingmakers. In cases like these, many of them have lost their seat at the throne. Here are the top 10 traditional rulers in Nigeria who were dethroned.
Difference Between
1. Ooni of Ife – Ogboru
Ogboru is 19th-century Ooni of Ife dethroned mischievously by Ife Palace Chiefs who got tired of his 70yrs long reign. He was deceived by trick to come out of his place to come and see something at the Atiba square of the ancient Ile-Ife town and wasn’t allowed to return to the palace again. In what is considered a sort of throne bewitchment, six successive Ooni of Ife after him died in succession under 6 months. Ife Chiefs had to search for Ogboru to return to which he refused but gave his daughter Moropo to make some sacrifices at the palace after which his son Giessi became the next Ooni after him.
2. Oba of Benin Ovonramwen Nogbaisi (1888 – 1897)
The powers that be who caused the Oba’s dethronement were none other than the British. Their reason being the Oba’s monopoly over forms of trade which the British government under Vice-Consul Phillips Roberts found displeasing. The Consul tried to invade the Oba’s palace but was stopped by the palace’s emissaries who ambushed and killed the two British errands sent. This led to a military operation under Harry Hawson and Benin City was destroyed and the palace was heavily looted. The Oba was to be hanged but was lucky to escape after his dethronement was announced and was sent on exile in Calabar small town called Essien, where he died in 1914.
3. Emir of Kano Aliyu Ibn Abdullahi Maje Karofi
He became the Emir of Kano in 1894 following the death of Emir Muhammad Bello, and a rebellion war of “Bassa” called the 3rd Kano Civil War was kickstarted by him, along with his elder brother, Yusuf when the Sultan of Sokoto announced another prince called Tukur as the new Emir of Kano. The war lasted for a year when Aliyu popularly called the Sango of Zaki (the gun runner) or Ali Balads, for his heavy use of explosives in most wars conquered Kano and became the Emir in 1894. He was dethroned in 1903 following a homage visit to the Sultan in Sokoto when the British – French forces attacked Kano and brought an end to his reign. He first exiled to Yola and later Lokoja, the seat of new Northern Nigerian government where he died in 1926.
4. Oba of Lagos – Ibikunle Akintoye & Kosoko
Akintoye reigned twice as Oba of Lagos, first between 1841 to 1845, when he was deposed to Badagry town for his Anti-Slave trade advocacy. He was succeeded by Oba Kosoko who was equally deposed for having a rift with the British government when he resisted submitting Lagos colony to the British and ordered, the British government to meet the Oba of Benin. In retaliation for his gut, the British government brought back Ibikunle Akintoye who had been on exile in Egba and Badagry in 1851. He reigned for the second time till September 1853 when he died and Oba Dosumu took over. The deposed was later recalled back to Lagos, where he was made a high chief Oloja of Eleko, a salaried title in Oshodi tapa Epetedo. Where he lived and died in 1872.
5. Emir of Kano – SIR Mohammodu Sanusi I
Reported to be a powerful Emir of Influence in the colonial days of Northern Nigeria, Sanusi I was the Emir of Kano between 1954 to April 1963, when he was deposed by Alhaji Ahmadu Bello, a distant cousin, after an allegation of financial misappropriation in the emirate. He was deposed to Azare in 1964 and died in Wudil in years after. Sanusi I is the grandfather of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the recently deposed by Emir of Kano who reigned from 2014 to 2020, in a similar instance as his grandfather.
6. Sultan of Sokoto – Ibrahim Dasuki
The dethronement of Late Sultan Dasuki is probably the most widely reported case of the removal of a king in Nigeria by the military government of Abacha in 1996, as almost everyone in the late ’20s in Nigeria are aware of the development. There were even songs recorded by musicians to that effect on the continued change of traditions, that the usual saying that a new king can not be crowned while another is alive “T’oba kan o Ku, Oba kan o Je”, as waxed by Yoruba Fuji Singer Abbass Obesere. Ibrahim Dasuki’s removal was rumoured to be related to issues between him and Abacha, on mismanagement of the late Abacha’s relative’s properties. There was also speculation that it was due to reports of his modernist style of rulership and many preferred Sultan Maccido, who later succeeded him.
7. Olowo of Owo – Oba Olateru Olagbegi II
Unarguably the richest and most influential Olowo of Owo town in Ondo state, Oba Olateru became Olowo in 1941 and reigned till 1966 when he took side with Chief S.L Akintola against Chief Awolowo who was his ally. Of a fact, Awolowo Action Group party was founded right inside Olowo palace and Owo for years experienced political and kingship battle, which came to a climax in 1966 following a cold-blooded coup with many properties and lives lost in the course. The people of Owo revolted their King and sent him away on exile where he lived for another 27yrs, and his stool was taken over by Oba Ogunoye. At the demise of Ogunoye, Olateru was reappointed as the new Olowo of Owo in 1993 and spent another 5yrs on the throne till he died in 1998. His eldest son took over from him in 1999 and reigned for 20yrs.
8. Deji of Akure – Oba Oluwadamilare Adesina Osupa III
The inglorious exit of Oba Oluwadamilare as Paramount king of Akure is another reminder of the importance of carriage and conduct in kingship, as they are seen as leaders and role models. The king was deposed on 10th of June, 2010 following the beating of his estranged wife at her home in Akure, in what the Ondo state government referred to as, dishonourable, condemnable and disgraceful conduct unexpected of a king which invoked a section of the state chieftaincy law of 1984 as amended. With immediate action, a new Deji of Akure Adebiyi Adeshida Afunbiowo II was announced on the 13th of August 2010.
