Sciknow Publications Ltd. IJPLR 2013, 1(1):10-17 International Journal of Politics & law Research DOI: 10.12966/ijplr.05.02.2013 ©Attribution 3.0 Unported (CC BY 3.0) Chieftaincy Conflict in Colonial Nigeria: A Study of the Olisa Chieftaincy Disputes in Ijebu-Ode, 1942-1955 OGUNNAIKE Odunayo Peter Department of History,Faculty of Arts, University of Ibadan, Ibadan awodioke1@gmail.com Abstract The position of the Olisa of Ijebuland, who ranks next to the Awujale, was important to the Nigerian Colonial Government. He was a member of the Judicial Council as well as the President of the Ijebu-Ode Town Council during the British Colonial rule. He thus became influential in the affairs of colonial taxes and tariffs. The battle for the position of Olisa pitched the paramount ruler, Awujale Daniel Adesanya, not only against the educated elite, but also against the people and his principal chiefs. It is against this background that this paper examines the nature of the conflict and its resolution. The role played by the Odis - the traditional Ijebu slaves and a part of the body that crowned both the Awujale and the Olisa - in the affairs will be examined as this affords us the opportunity to see the roles of the Odis in traditional Ijebu state affairs. The intermediary roles of the European colonial officers in the episodes are also assessed to bring to light the colonial approach to conflict resolution in that period. The paper concludes that the tyrannical transfer of power in the twilight of Nigerian Colonial rule pushed the elite to attack traditions as in other parts of Nigeria. 1. Introduction The office of the Olisa of Ijebu-ode is an ancient socio-political office that had, and by and large, still has great influence in the conduct of state affairs. It comes next after the Ijebu paramount ruler, the Awujale, who is described to have such paramountcy that makes him “accepted as a leading ruler in Ijebuland.”1The importance of the office of the Olisa of Ijebu-Ode in the era before the advent of colonial rule in Nigeria, according to Oguntomisin, could be seen in the fact that the Awujale would not decide on any issue without consulting the Ilamuren, the class of Ijebu Chiefs headed by the Olisa. The Ilamuren could be likened to the modern day judicial arm of democratic government.2Other stakeholders in the Ilamurenwere the Egbo, the Ogbeni-Oja, Olotu-Ifore, the Jagirin and the Apebi. The Olisa, it must be noted, was the head of the Ilamuren class of chiefs.3 J.A. Olusola in hisbook,AncientIjebu-Ode describes these chiefs as „the Nobility‟ and „the highest chiefs.‟4 They also acted as advisers to Awujale.5Of all the Ijebu-Ode traditional Chiefs, only two namely, Olisa and Egbo, are hereditary.6 The Awujale, being a constitutional monarch, guided by the laid down political philosophies of the land, was assisted by the chiefs who included the Olisa in his day-to-day socio-political activities. The Awujale, thus, was never an absolute monarch that dictated to his people. Hence,traditionalrole of the Olisa as adviser to the Awujale along with the Egbo, the traditional president of the criminal court. The Awujale was rather speaking and hearing through his chiefs when necessary. Notwithstanding, he was regarded as being sacred. This is much attached to his general conducts. The function of the Olisa of Ijebu-Ode somehow tilted from indigenous ones to that of the chairman of the Ijebu central executive and the Ijebu Judicial Council at the institution of the Ijebu Province in 1920. It was in that capacity that he ensured collection of tax and water tariff in Ijebu-Ode.7 However, the colonial period witnessed political strain between the Awujale and the Olisa. In fact, Olisa Chief George Albert Olusile was engaged in wanton wrangle with the Awujale. This resulted from the attempt to murder the Awujalein 1934.The Olisa was among some other persons indicted