Alaafin urges Nigerian leaders not to bow to foreign threats

The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Abimbola Akeem Owoade I, has urged the country’s leadership not to bow to foreign threats but to show courage in defending Nigeria’s sovereignty.

Oba Owoade said the nation can only progress and achieve lasting stability when its leaders stand firm.

The monarch gave this charge during the grand finale of the week-long memorialisation of the 1895 “Ogun Pepe” (Pepe War), which devastated Oyo town, held at the Old Oyo National Park, Oyo.

Oba Owoade encouraged the people of Oyo and Nigerians at large to learn from the bravery shown by the ancient Oyo monarch and his people, urging citizens to confront Nigeria’s challenges head-on and never give up.

Also speaking, the Chairman of the Ogun Pepe Memorialisation Committee, Dr. James Adesokan Ojebode, said the memorialisation “marks a historic moment—one that brings together memory, heritage, unity and purposeful reflection, even as its legacy has shaped the community and will continue to inspire generations.”

He noted that Ogun Pepe represented courage, sacrifice, resilience and an unwavering pursuit of justice, adding that the ceremony was a testament to the fact that the stories of great men never truly fade but live on in the hearts of their people.

Ojebode added that the Ogun Pepe Committee worked tirelessly to ensure the memorialisation was not just an event but a foundation upon which future generations can build. He urged the people of Oyo to understand that memorialisation is not only about preserving the past but also about using history as a guiding torch for a better future.

Ojebode, founder of Atiba University, Oyo, thanked the Alaafin for his support as well as the dedication of the committee members, including Archbishop Ayo Ladigbolu, Professor Sunday Olawale Okeniyi (Vice Chancellor, Atiba University), Princess Folasade Adeyemi (a.k.a. Arewa), Mr. Segun Oke, Hon. Wale Ogunsola, Gbemisola Faleti, and several traditional chiefs.

In his remarks, Bishop Ayo Ladigbolu noted that the 130th anniversary of Ogun Pepe—an invasion by a foreign power—coincided with a recent threat of invasion by another foreign power, the United States. He said Nigeria must learn from the courage displayed by the Oyo people during Ogun Pepe by showing resilience and refusing to bow to pressure.

He maintained that if ancient Oyo could not be destroyed at the time, Nigeria too can overcome not only foreign threats but also its present security, socio-economic, and political challenges, if it emulates the resilience shown during the Pepe War.

Highlights of the event included performances by the queens of the late Alaafin, Oba Adeyemi III, cultural presentations by various groups, Sango dance displays, and a fundraising segment.

The name “Ogun Pepe” originated from the sound of the Gatling gunboats used by the British imperialists during the invasion 130 years ago. During the attack, the Alaafin was shot and wounded but mysteriously escaped, hiding on Owinni Hill for six days before making a triumphant return to the palace.

Oba Alowolodu had refused to submit to British authority over a local judicial matter concerning a royal messenger, Bakare, who served in the court of the Aseyin of Iseyin. Bakare was accused of committing adultery with one of the king’s wives and, according to tradition, was to be castrated. Captain Bower considered this punishment an affront to British authority and demanded that the Alaafin surrender both Bakare and the official who carried out the punishment, Kudeefu.

The Alaafin rejected Bower’s demands, ordering Bakare’s execution and protecting Kudeefu to assert his sovereign authority. This defiance led to British retaliation and the subsequent Pepe War against the Alaafin and the Oyo people.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE