Royal Family of Ajike (Olowo of Owo Land)

Olowo Adeoye Ajike Atanneye II aka Atobatele.

(28th Ologho - 1938-1940)

Today marks the 76^th year that our beloved Father, Grandfather, Great-Grandfather, Great-Great Grandfather and Great-Great-Great Grandfather Oba Adeoye Ajike Atannaye II aka Atobatele du joba translated into greater glory.  

Oketedo male.
Agbogbomaja ekon
Ekon ilu ye pa tokoje
Abowoila jagwala
Oke ila eyin oghwo
Akata ila bori oghwo male
Oma ila gori egbon so
eleyinkuli atoghwire
Orisa dimise boluliyi
Kaba se boluliyi ke ma muwa Wu boluliyi
Osa shiojuhun gbe agbon adiye tore
Gbase Gbase ye sobiren oyen
Agboma  one buruku erun
Apiye poma bene pugba
Apone joku ma re
Asane mota marahun eniyan e rahun adae sororo
E ke baba ooooooooo

Five generations of your children today celebrate you. The name and legacy you left behind remain indelible in the history of the ancient city of Owo. We are all proud of you.

Nobody can contest the fact that you were the FIRST educated Olowo of Owo. The importance you gave to education lingers on from generation to generation. Today we have professors and professionals in all fields of life in the Ajike royal family. Not only were you the first educated Olowo; but you were also the first Christian Olowo. It is no wonder that you ruled in peace and with great wisdom. You were also the first Olowo to offer royal thanksgiving to commemorate your coronation in the church at St Andrews Anglican church, Owo. Your immense contributions to the establishment of at St. Patricks Anglican church Owo even before you were crowned attest to your Christian life. Your memories linger on and your legacy remains solid in the Ajike royal family.

Your brief life history and the history of your coronation as narrated on the Facebook page of Owo Kingdom depicts what your values and legacy were:

In 1938 following the death of Olagbegi, seven candidates contested the vacant throne (five of whom were educated). On March 12, 1938, the High Chiefs confirmed the rumors that Prince Adeoye Ajike Atanneye was the successful candidate as Olowo.

At O9:30am, the court hall was packed full of the townspeople who waited patiently for the arrival of the District Officer: Captain R. A. Vosper who arrived at 10:20am. Immediately upon his arrival, Prince Adeoye Ajike Atanneye, who had been waiting behind the Native Authority (NA) offices came into the hall accompanied by High Chiefs; Ojumu, Osere, Sashere, Elerewe and others.

Chief Elerewe, as was his traditional duty in such a public forum proclaimed: “Oke re ke”, meaning “Total Silence.” in the court hall. With this proclamation, the crowd that had formed within the court hall and overflow into the streets went silent.

Chief Ojumu stepped forward and raised Prince Adeoye Ajike’s hand as custom demanded and introduced the successful candidate to the people of Owo. Chief Ojumu stated that he was bringing Prince Adeoye Ajike forward to be crowned as the next Olowo and inquired from the people whether or not they would serve him as their Olowo. In the concourse, were the Quarter Heads, the Omolowos, the High Chiefs, the Ighare Chiefs, as well as representatives from all the surrounding communities, towns, and villages unanimously answered three times in the affirmative.

At that time Mr. Vosper, the District Officer (DO) expressed his pleasure in having been fortunate to witness such an honorable session in the history of Owo. He stated that March 12, 1938 was a historic day for the people.  Mr. Vosper stated that Ajike was the successful candidate who had been chosen to ascend the Owo throne and so had to be brought out that day for public confirmation. Mr. Vosper said that he was pleased at the concurrence of the townspeople in electing Prince Adeoye Ajike the new Olowo. He went further to say that although he had only known Prince Adeoye Ajike for three years, He had found him to be a kind hearted, hardworking man with an impeccable character which are the qualities required of the modern day Monarch. While concluding, he stated that Owo town could then be ranked as a town with an educated ruler.

He has found him to be a kind hearted, hardworking man with an impeccable character which are the qualities required of the modern day Monarch. While concluding, he stated that Owo town could then be ranked as a town with an educated ruler.

On May 8, 1938, at 04:00pm, Ajike was installed the Olowo of Owo by His Honor the Chief Commissioner Mr. G.G. Shute in front of the Government School House in the presence of tens of thousands of people, representatives from the Oba of Benin, the Owa of Ilesha, the Deji of Akure, the Ewi of Ado-Ekiti, the Osemawe of Ondo, and many others.

Ajike was born in 1889, the year his father, Atanneye I, came to the throne. He had his early elementary education in the African Baptist School, Owo. (Located at Chief Elerewe's compound,Ugboroko,Quarter). In 1903, he transferred to the newly opened Government School, Owo as one of the foundation pupils under the administration of the District Officer Mr. Reginald Durries Napier Raikes and Inspector of Education Phillips; the last based at the Hope Waddell Institute, Calabar. In December 1907, at the annual prize giving day of the school, a gold edged bible was presented to him by his uncle, Olowo Ogunoye I, for good conduct.

During his school days, Prince Adeoye Ajike was a keen and sober youth. Upon leaving school, he worked as a clerk in a number of timber concessions in the Siluko, Benin area for many years before leaving with a good endorsement to be employed by the British Cotton Growing Association, (BCGA), Oshogbo. In 1919, at the inauguration of the Owo Native Administration, Prince Adeoye Ajike was appointed the treasurer to the administration; a position in which he served for eighteen years without any blemish and with satisfaction to the British colonial administration before contesting the vacant stool of Olowo; hence his nickname of ‘Atobatele,’ meaning: ‘One who has already attained the position of a king before becoming one.’

The new Olowo (Ajike Atanneye II) added one row to the three rows of beads for the High Chiefs making it four; and gave the Ighares of Iloro Quarter three rows of beads in appreciation of their role in the burial and coronation of the Olowo.

The construction of Ute Road and many other roads soon followed. Things were changing during the few years Adeoye Ajike Atanneye II was on the throne in Owo.

During his visit to Ibadan at the Obas’ Conference of 1939, Ajike Atanneye II is said to have gained great honor for his sound contributions to the debates at the meetings. However, at the next Oba’s Conference in 1940 he could not attend the meetings because of indisposition and so he sent Chiefs Ojumu Fadeyi and Sashere George Adetula to represent him. On August 22, 1940, Ajike Atanneye II died after reigning for only two years and six months. It was a great loss to Owo.

At Ijebu-Ode, on September 3, 1940, the Governor of the Western Provinces Sir Bernard Bourdilon made the following remarks to the 15th Conference of Yoruba Obas: "Since the last meeting of the Conference, death has taken from us Atanneye II, the Olowo of Owo. Though he had only held office for a short time, he proved himself a just ruler and wise councilor. I should take this opportunity of expressing to the people of Owo and to yourselves, my sympathy in your loss."

It is said that, in 1938, the Upele towns people feted the people of Owo kingdom for the entire three months’ stay of Olowo Ajike at Ushama because his mother hailed from Upele.

(Ushama is where a newly installed king resides for three months learning the secrets and the administration of the kingdom before proceeding to the palace).

We are proud of you. Even though  so many years have gone by, we all still miss you.

Eternal rest grant him o Lord.