The Insult That Led to the Creation of Osun State

In 1945, Chief Salami Agbaje, a wealthy and influential Nigerian, sought a promotion that would place him closer to the throne in Ibadan's chieftaincy hierarchy. Envious of Agbaje's rapid rise, some fellow chiefs turned to traditional rulers from the Osun area to plead his case with Oba Abass Aleshinloye. When the royal emissaries arrived at the palace, they were not immediately offered seats, water, or kolanut.

One of the visiting Obas sarcastically asked the attendees what they had done to deserve such disrespectful treatment. An impudent council member replied, "Ijoye Ibadan, bi oba ile e ’bomii ni," which translates to "An Ibadan chief is the equal of a king elsewhere." Despite the insult, Agbaje eventually received his promotion. However, the treatment he received ultimately led to the formation of Osun State.

The offended Osun traditional rulers resolved to cooperate and separate from Ibadan's jurisdiction. In 1949, the Ibadan chiefs became alarmed by Agbaje's rapid rise and enlisted Adegoke Adelabu to draft a petition against him. The central government appointed Hugh Louis Montague Butcher to investigate and found the allegations against Agbaje and the Ibadan Native Authority baseless.

Butcher recommended abolishing the Divisional Council and reorganizing the districts as superior Native Authorities. In 1951, the central government announced that the majority of the Northern Districts inhabitants strongly opposed remaining under the Ibadan Native Authority. Osun emerged as a state in 1991, but its political identity dates back to the refusal to accept subordination.

The state is composed of many ancient places rather than one overwhelming center, and every community has its own history and origin story. This political pluralism has made Osun State resistant to the idea of a single ruler.