Ise Obaship: Founding Family Claims Exclusive Right to Vacant Stool, Rejects Rival Lineages

 Ise Obaship: Founding Family Claims Exclusive Right to Vacant Stool, Rejects Rival Lineages

Ise Kingdom, Lagos — A fresh historical and genealogical document on the Ise Kingdom in Lekki Local Council Development Area has reignited attention on the vacant Obaship stool, with descendants of one of the kingdom’s founding families asserting that the Prince Adebanjo Ruling House is the only lineage entitled to produce a candidate for the throne.

The document, titled “The Short History of Ise Town/Kingdom,” traces the origin of Ise Town to two brothers, Okunoye and Prince Adebanjo, whom it identifies as children of Late Oba Adeg bale, the 3rd Arijale of Ise Ekiti, Ekiti State.

According to the account, the two brothers migrated from Ise Ekiti and eventually settled in the area that became Ise Town, now under Lekki LCDA, sometime between the 19th and 20th centuries.

The document identifies Okunoye, the elder brother, as the first settler and first Oba of Ise Kingdom. It states that he established his residence at an area known as Igbekodo but later died without children.

It further states that the Adeg bale Arijale Royal Family produced approximately 13 Obas in Ise, with Oba Adegoroshin Okunoye identified as the 13th and last Oba produced by that family.

Genealogy of the Prince Adebanjo lineage

The historical account subsequently traces the succession through Prince Adebanjo’s first son, Iseb itan, whom it identifies as the beginning of a lineage that produced 12 recognised Obas after the first Oba, Okunoye.

The document lists the Obas from the Prince Adebanjo lineage as Oba Iseb itan, Oba Ajimude, Oba Oguntade, Oba Oguntunde, Oba Oguneso, Oba Olukoko, Oba Imolu, Oba Olodo, Oba Adebule, Oba Ogunero, Oba Akaba Oro and Oba Adegoroshin.

It argues that these successive monarchs demonstrate the historical connection between the Prince Adebanjo family and the traditional rulership of Ise Kingdom.

Dispute over succession

The document also addresses what it describes as an interregnum in the traditional institution following the death of Oba Adegoroshin.

It alleges that the period created an opportunity for people outside the founding families to seek the Obaship stool. Among the families mentioned are the Disu Adebambo Adegoroye Family, the Esulana/Lana Family, and the family associated with Oba Ganiu Adebowale Adegbesan Ogbonbologun.

The authors of the document dispute the claims of these families to the throne, maintaining that they have no blood or marital relationship with the founders or first settlers of Ise.

The document specifically alleges that Oba Ganiu Adebowale Adegbesan Ogbonbologun, described in the account as a former teacher at the L.A. Primary School in Ise, manoeuvred to occupy the traditional stool after the death of Oba Adegogoye Adenipebi.

It further alleges that his claim was based on a disputed family history and maintains that he was not descended from either of the two original founders.

The document also rejects the claims of families identified as Esulana/Lana and Disu Adebambo Adegoroye, arguing that their ancestors migrated to Ise from other communities and therefore, according to the document, were not part of the original ruling lineage.

Prince Adebanjo descendants stake claim

The central argument of the document is that descendants of Prince Adebanjo constitute the legitimate ruling lineage following the death of his elder brother, Okunoye, who reportedly died childless.

It states that both Iseb itan and Olukoko, as well as other descendants of Prince Adebanjo, belong to the Prince Adebanjo Ruling House, which the document describes as the only existing ruling house within the Adeg bale Arijale Royal Family.

The document therefore argues that descendants of Prince Adebanjo should be allowed to present a credible candidate for the vacant Obaship stool.

It concludes that the various families challenging the Prince Adebanjo lineage's claim—including the Esulana/Lana, Disu Adebambo Adegoroshin and Oba Ganiu Adebowale Adegbesan Ogbonbologun families—are not historically connected by blood or marriage to the founders of Ise Kingdom.

The claims contained in the document represent the position of the authors and the family or group presenting the historical account. Any determination of the legitimate occupant of the Ise Obaship stool would ultimately depend on the applicable traditional succession arrangements, officially recognised ruling-house records and decisions of the relevant traditional and government authorities.