By Bode Durojaiye
The old Oyo Empire was one of the earliest and the greatest independent race in West Africa, South of the equator. At the height of its existence, the old Oyo Empire dominated all Yoruba kingdoms namely Ife, Ijesha, Egba, Ijebu, Sabe and Owu.
The reign of Oranmiyan marked a new phase in Yoruba history as it witnessed the executive transfer of political power from Ile-Ife to Oyo, and thereafter, Oyo became the political headquarters of the Yoruba race, and that is where the Alaafin presides from.
The old Yoruba empire distinguished itself in the world, with three
very distinctive and unique models. First, it evolved a wonderfully
developed constitution, though unwritten. The average Yoruba man is governed by strong convention.
Secondly, the Yorubas evolved a military system that allows them to develop weaponry. The Yorubas are the first to smith iron and thus to produced guns by ALAGBEDE IRON SIMITH, as they built foundries from where they also produced agricultural implements to boost food production.
Thirdly, the Yoruba race, evolved a very practical method of administration, by adopting the cabinet system of governance if you are a good student of the evolution of British Constitution. It is therefore incontrovertible that the cabinet system came about in Britain only as a matter of temporal expedience, it was not by design.
Old Oyo was reputed to be the longest reigning Empire in the world, as it lasted over 600 years uninterrupted. During this time, Oyo Empire covered the whole of South-Western part of Nigeria, and also extended its territorial limits to Nupe, Port-Novo, Dahomey in Benin Republic, as well as Abome, Weme, and other parts of the Republic of Togo. Today, these people are off-shots of Oyo, and by extension, Yorubaland.
On Friday, March 22, 2019, the new Oba-elect of Port-Novo in the Republic of Benin, Oba Alajase-Ile Onikoyi Abesan, Abdul- Ramani Aderemi Ajado SANNI, will pay an ancestral homage to His Imperial Majesty, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba [Dr.] Lamidi Olayiwola Adeyemi 111, in his palace, Oyo town in Oyo State, Nigeria.
In a press release signed by the Public Relations Officer of the Port-Novo Royal Family, Prince M. Diran Sanni, the people of the royal enclave thanked the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Adeyemi for his fatherly role to all the Yoruba race in Nigeria and in the Diaspora.
