Following the prolonged and protracted delivery of a baby to the Oba of Bini by one of his wives, who had lost hope of his pregnant wife being alive considering the failures of all the native doctors and Ifa priest in Bini to bring this ordeal to a success.

The Oba of Bini was hinted of the wonderful performance of Oluwo Nla by the Bini’s who traded along the route on Ologe Lagooon on his profession as a great Ifa Priest, the Oba sent for him and there after Oluwo Nla travelled to Bini and successfully performed his profession on the pregnant wife of the Oba and the baby was born.

It is important to note that at that time, the binis tried to settle on the island of Lagos (Eko). They encountered and found Eko (lagos Island) to be in congenial as they encountered serious difficulties. They reported to the Oba of Bini.

The Oba of Bini had no alternative but to send his Son Olorogun Addo in company of Obanikoro, Opeluwa. Chief Opeluwa was in charge of the ORDEAL to Lagos Island (Isale Eko)

On the eve of Oluwo Nla’s departure from Bini, the Oba of Bini conferred on him the Title of Obanikoro with the full privilege to beat the Gbedu Drum as an Alade.

Coming back to Oluwo Nla’s performance at Bini, the Oba of Bini created the OGALADE ruling class and then made the Obanikoro the Head of the Ogalade Group. Extract from the colonial Report:

BADAGRY DISTRICTS COLONY PROVINCE

OGALADE CLASS OF CHIEFS

1. Obanikoro

2. Opeluwa

3. Modile

4. Onisemo

5. Asajon

6. Onigbanko

7. Onilado

8. Olojo

The Obanikoro as one of the kingmakers in Lagos and he is supposed to guide other kingmakers through the Ifa whenever it is time to select a new Oba into Idunganran. Obanikoro’s Palace is situated at 38, Obun Eko Street till date and time with the inscription –‘ AFIN OLUWO NLA’

(Extract by Adamo Akeju The 9th Obanikoro of Lagos from the book (Modern and traditional elites in the politics of Lagos) by Cole, Patrick Dele Ambassador Page -31- or power in Lagos his ton’. Each of the constituent power groups was left mostly to its own devices. The Obanikoro, head of the Ogalade class of Lagos chiefs, who came from Idole (Idoluwo) could continue to exercise jurisdiction there, crowning the ‘kings’ of that place. The Eletu Odibo, head to the Akarigbere class of Lagos chiefs, also had patronage of his own which he apparently dispensed without requiring the Oba’s approval. As to the Idejos, they continued to exercise power over their own families, and land areas, and had little to do with the Oba except when in dispute among themselves. Page -42- Olofin, the legendary founder of Lagos, who were not allotted land in Lagos by their father. The ancestral home of the Obanikoro, head Ogalade chief, was (Idoluwo), near Lagos. He reiterated that he was the descendant of a crowned king of Idoluwo near Lagos, who received his authority direct from Benin. ‘The Ogalades’, he said ‘through their head are the principal advisers of Iga Idunganran and are held in reverence and regard by the people. Nothing is done within the Iga unknown to the head of the Ogalades.’50 Page -187- There were other historical reasons, apart from the fact that the Obanikoro claimed to be senior chief, Both the Obanikoro family and the ruling family received their titles from the Oba of Bini in much the same way. The Obanikoro claimed that he was sent to ‘look after’ the Oba of Lagos that his ancestors were crowned heads in their own right at the ancestral home in Idoluwo (Idole) and that he brought for the Oba of Lagos the sword of life (Adda) and the ‘Igbawa’ (the calabash containing the essential royal virtues) from the Oba of Bini.59 The Obanikoro was head of the Ogalade chiefs and both titles implied royalty: Alade’ means crown, crowned head; Oba in Obanikoro means paramount chief. The existence of an Oba and an Obani¬ koro in the same small settlement contained the seeds of conflict. As the Ifa priest of the ruling house, the Obanikoro was the priest of fate, whose interpretation of destiny was usually the gospel for all Yoruba land. The Obanikoro’s influence spread over the whole of the Awori land; 60 he was their adviser and was consulted over the installation of Awori chiefs.)