Part 2 — Chapter 14

Chaptep XIV THE INTERREGNUM § I. Civil War at Abem6 Before the Eleduwe war broke out, a marked disaffection and rivalry was rife between the two leading chiefs of Abem6, Ayo the Bale and Okoyan alias Lahan the next man to him. The latter claimed relationship to Oyabi the late Kakanfo at Ajase and hence to Kurumi of Ijaye also. This rivalry became apparent during the expedition, for Lahan out of spite to his chief Ayg, went over to Kurumi, encamped with him and fought under his standard as if he was an Ijaye rhan. The disaffection now became an open rupture and it was evident to all that Lahan was secretly abetted by chief Kurumi of Ijaye. It subsequently became known that Lahan and Kurumi were plotting to fall upon Ayo suddenly and despatch him after their retreat, before reaching home. Ayo apprised of this, suddenly broke up his encampment, and by forced marches reached home a considerable time before Lahan who followed hard after him. But Ayo instead of entering his house remained squatting on a mat in the square in front of his compound, close by the spot where his women folk were dyeing cloths, his horse standing by his side, and his spear stuck in the ground close by him, Lahan halted outside the town walls, afraid to enter. When Ayo heard of it he sent to invite him to return to his house in peace, but Lahan suspicious and afraid to enter by the main gate took a circuitous route and entered by the one nearest to his quarter of the town where he commanded about 200 compounds. Their designs having now failed Kurumi became very anxious about the safety of his friend Lahan, and not wishing to leave him thus at the mercy of Ayg he attempted to bring about a reconcili- ation between them before proceeding home to Ijaye; but Ayo politely declined his interference saying that having just returned home from this great war it was too early to talk about such matters. Kurumi thus disappointed proceeded homewards but first despatched Amodu one of his distinguished captains on horseback to bid Ayo good bye and to say he would return in a short time to settle their difference. Amodu met Ayg on the same spot his horse still unsaddled but all his men had dispersed, only about 5 attendants remained L 269 270 THE HISTORY OF THE YORUBAS with him. Amodu having delivered his message returned to his master, and suggested to him that a better opportunity than this cannot be had of making short work of the whole affair ; Ayo's men having dispersed he could easily be surprised and killed. Kuruni took the hint and made for Ayo ; the latter surprised to see an armed force coming on towards him, hastily jumped upon his horse and was ready for action. Kurumi perceiving it would not be an easy matter to accomplish his purpose, did not venture upon an attack but speedily wheeled round and left the town by another gate. Ayo and his men thereupon became mad with rage and they fell upon Lahan, fired his quarter of the town, took his men with their wives and childien as captives of war ! Lahan himself was spared with but a few attendants, and allowed to shelter himself in a small house in that quarter which had escaped the conflagra- tion. Here he spent a most miserable night of grief, remorse and disappointment, having lost all his family and all his property. Chief Oluygle of Ibadan arrived at Abemg only a day too late to be of any service to his friends, and was very sorry that this had happened, especially at this crisis. He visited Lahan where he was to sympathize with him for his misfortunes having a reminiscence of his own troubles on his return from the Ota war. He went straight from Lahan to Ayo to effect a reconciliation between them and the release of those who were seized, contending that they cannot be regarded as prisoners of war but fellow towns- men and victims of a civil fight. He further showed the impolicy of having one part of the town desolate. He succeeded with Ayo and with some of his chiefs ; some had even set free their own captives. Thus, in order to assure Oluyole, one Oga appealed to Kukomi one of his followers in the presence of them all, "Have I not released mine ? " In the same way one Eku6debe appealed to one Bankole. The reply in both cases was in the affirmative. Thereupon one Akilapa and Agidi-ko-ko-iku who had not yet done so asked leave to go home and release theirs at once. Everything now seemed to make for a peaceful settlement, when one Ogun- gbade an Own man then residing at Abem^ raised a strong objection to the proceedings ; he declined to set his captives free and declared himself unconcerned as to the results even if it be the destruction of Abem6 and the loss of his own liberty. Said he " I am an Owu man by birth, my parents came from the ancient Owu Ipole to the city of Owu where I was born. The same fortune that smiled on my parents at Owu Ipole, smiled on them at the city of Owu, Here am I, fortune is smiling on me to-day although I was taken captive at the fall of the city of Owu. Let Abem6 be destroyed to-day and let me lose all I have and be taken captive, I shall still be a great man wherever I may be. 'Tis enough, Abem^ may be destroyed in part or in whole ; it matters nothing. We shall not release our prisoners." Unfortunately at such a crisis as this, Chief Ayo was in an inebriated condition, although he was conscious of what was going on and was able to signify his acquiescence to Chief Oluyole ; yet throughout all the proceedings and the wicked proposals of the Owu man he remained silent, and further, he displayed in the presence of Oluyole some of those disgusting habits customary with him of soiling himself while in that state. Oluyole was indignant with Ayo and his councillors and looked upon them all as a number of fools ; he, however, concealed his anger, but the whole affair was terminated abruptly and unsatis- factorily. About the time of Oluyole's departure however, Ayo was able to thank him for the interest he kindly took in the affairs of the town, and presented him with a young woman among the captives. Oluyole was dehghted with this acquisition to his harem. She was described as a young woman of great beauty, of a fair complexion and a slim figure. But the mother hastened forward with a tender appeal to Oluyole, and prostrating (after the manner of men) before him, said " She cannot be your wife, for she is your relative ; we also are of the Basgrun descent like yourself." Oluyole yielded to her entreaties but demanded 15 heads of cowries for her release; this was paid and the girl was handed to her mother. Oluyole left Abemo for Ibadan by way of Ijaye where he spent 5 days with Kurumi, and both of them being offended at Ayo's conduct the fate of Abemo was thereupon settled and sealed. § 2. The Destruction of Abem^ According to the settled arrangement between Kurumi and Oluyole during the stay of the latter at Ijaye, their movements were to be kept private as much as possible. Abem6 was to be taken by surprise in order to avoid the necessity of a siege. The Ibadan forces were to join those of Ijaye and in order to do this without their objective being known, Oluyole gave it out that the Aseyin was paying a visit to Ibadan and that they should go out and escort him to the town. As the head chief went outside the town wall, no war-chief dared remain behind ; hence, all went out according to custom. They went as far as Ijaye but when they saw the Ijaye army 272 THE HISTORY OF THE YORUBAS also marshalled forth then they knew that they were going against Abem6. It was quite late before Ayg knew that evil was determined against him. He went out that morning to review his troops. Two of his generals Aruna and Ajadi being accused of treason were before him, and whilst he was enquiiing into the charge they were interrupted by the approach of the enemy. The intrepid warrior at once jumped upon his horse, and dashed into the ranks of the enemy. He performed feats of valour that day, he broke through their ranks, had his horse shot under him and himself wounded in the leg. But he was not dispirited ; he called for another horse and fought bravely at the head of his people. The men of Abemg, however were overpowered by numbers, for whilst fighting braveh' at one gate of the town, the Ibadans entered by another and set fire to the town. All hopes being now lost, Ayo escaped with a few horsemen and followers to Ago Oja (the present Oyo) being hotly pursued by Ijaye and Ibadan troops. In order not to incur the displeasure of KurGmi and Oluyole the two leading chiefs of the country whom he hoped hereafter would be his back stay. Prince Atiba of Ago Oja told Ayo that he could not protect him and consequently he should leave the town before his pursuers arrived there. Ayo took the way to Ojomgbodu on his way to Ilorin, but after a while on considering the humiliation of it all and the grave probabilities that lay before him, he chose death rather than dishonour. He dismounted at a certain spot and sat. under a tree, his horse standing by him. He sent away his little band of devoted followers in order to die alone like a soldier. Here he calmly awaited his pursuers. According to one account, at the sight of them he sprang again upon his horse and made for them. He threw one Lakonu off his steed and brandishing his spear round and round him, exclaimed " But for Atiba you are a dead man," then the men opened fire upon him and he dropped down dead. But another account says he sat with calm dignity under the tree and offered no resistance whilst they showered their deadly weapons upon him and he dropped down dead. Thus perished one of the best and ablest of the Oyo or Yoruba generals. His remains were brought back to Ago Oja and interred there. Ayg like the late Ojo Amepo was a good horseman and one of the best generals of the day, but drink was his greatest vice, and to that may be attributed the cause of his ruin as well as that of Abem^. His aide-de-camp was nick-named Amu-igba-legb§-giri, i.e., one who grasps tight the sides of a drinking bowl ; because he himself was hardly inferior to his master in that respect as the name implies. Although the ruler of the town yet he often spent as much as three days and nights out of home attending " wakes " at night wherever he was invited, and during daytime dancing to the bMa drum in various quarters of the town hke the commonest citizen. He offered the right hand of fellowship to anyone who could drink like himself. He was by nature generous and merciful, in which respect he was most unlike his bloodthirsty peers of that age. As an instance of this a story was told of his favourite Amu-igba-legbe who on leaving the Bale's house quite late one night the worse for drink missed his way into his chief's harem, and slept by the side of one of his wives thinking he had got home ! When the woman awoke in the early hours of the morning, and saw a stranger by her side she cried out and roused the whole estabHshment. Amugba starting from his sleep being now sober, took in the situation at once and resigned himself to the only fate he felt sure was awaiting him under the circumstances. Overcome with fear he went home in great distress and when the matter was known in the house the whole compound was deserted for fear of the usual confiscation and punishment in such a case. Amugba expected nothing but death and when about noon he heard his chief's drum coming towards his house, he thought the fatal hour was come. Ayo entered and saw him trembling and attempting an apology; he simply jeered at him and said : " Why are you looking so dejected ? Is it because you missed your way last night ? Never mind the mistake, let's go out and drink away yesterday's occurrence." Amugba thought it was only a stratagem to get him out of his house to be arrested and executed; he followed, however, but was still dejected. Whilst drinking in a friend's house Ayo observed him still in that mood, and said to him with surprise, " Are you still downcast on account of yesterday's affair ? Why that is past and gone ; it only proved I can beat you in drink, for I drank far more than you did on that occasion, but was not in the least affected, whilst you, could not find your way home." So the matter passed off in jokes. Abemo and Ijaye were rival towns and the former had the sobriquet of " Abem6 siiru okg ilu bantatk " (Abemo small and compact, but the husband of a huge town) meaning Ijaye.