Oba Sir Olateru Olagbegi II, (August 1910 – 1998) was the King (Olowo) of Owo, an ancient city which was once the capital of an Eastern

Yoruba The Yoruba people (, , ) are a West African ethnic group that mainly inhabit parts of Nigeria, Benin, and Togo. The areas of these countries primarily inhabited by Yoruba are often collectively referred to as Yorubaland. The Yoruba constitute ...

city state in

Nigeria Nigeria ( ), , ig, Naìjíríyà, yo, Nàìjíríà, pcm, Naijá , ff, Naajeeriya, kcg, Naijeriya officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa. It is situated between the Sahel to the north and the Gulf o ...

. He was appointed Olowo in 1941 and ruled for 25 years before he was deposed. His

exile Exile is primarily penal expulsion from one's native country, and secondarily expatriation or prolonged absence from one's homeland under either the compulsion of circumstance or the rigors of some high purpose. Usually persons and peoples suf ...

from power was a fallout of a regional crisis between two Action Group leaders:

Awolowo Chief Obafemi Jeremiah Oyeniyi Awolowo (; 6 March 1909 – 9 May 1987) was a Yoruba nationalist and Nigerian statesman who played a key role in Nigeria's independence movement (1957-1960). Awolowo founded the Yoruba nationalist group Egbe O ...

and

Samuel Ladoke Akintola Chief Samuel Ládòkè Akíntọ́lá, otherwise known as ''S.L.A.'' (6 July 1910 – 15 January 1966), was a Yoruba politician, aristocrat , orator, and a Yoruba Lawyer. He was one of the founding fathers of modern Nigeria, he served as ...

. The Action Group which was launched in his

palace A palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence, or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word is derived from the Latin name palātium, for Palatine Hill in Rome which ...

a decade earlier, was led by Awolowo in the 1950s. A battle of wills between the two gladiators in the early 1960s saw Oba Olateru pitching his tent with Akintola. However, his choice only fomented tension in his community. A military coup in 1966 created an avenue for some citizens of Owo to unleash violence and revolt against Olagbegi. He was banished from power in 1966 by the military administrator of the Western Region and re-instated 25 years later. In 1993, he was re-appointed to his former title of Olowo after the death of the reigning

monarch A monarch is a head of stateWebster's II New College DictionarMonarch Houghton Mifflin. Boston. 2001. p. 707. Life tenure, for life or until abdication, and therefore the head of state of a monarchy. A monarch may exercise the highest authority ...

. He was knighted in the

Queen's Birthday Honours The Birthday Honours, in some Commonwealth realms, mark the reigning British monarch's official birthday by granting various individuals appointment into national or dynastic orders or the award of decorations and medals. The honours are present ...

in 1960. He died in October 1998 and the crown passed to his son Oba

Folagbade Olateru Olagbegi III Folagbade Olateru Olagbegi III, CFR, SAN (June 26, 1941 – April 17, 2019) was the traditional ruler of Owo (Olowo of Owo), Ondo State, Nigeria. He was the eldest son of the late Olowo of Owo, Sir Olateru Olagbegi (1910–1998). He succeeded ...

Politicization of traditional authority

When elective politics began in the Western region in 1951, Olagbegi was one of the prominent traditional rulers who supported the Action Group and who was involved in the politics of that era. The Action Group's public launch was at his palace in 1951. In 1962, two factions emerged within the party, the Akintola Group led by the regional premier,

Ladoke Akintola Chief Samuel Ládòkè Akíntọ́lá, otherwise known as ''S.L.A.'' (6 July 1910 – 15 January 1966), was a Yoruba politician, aristocrat , orator, and a Yoruba Lawyer. He was one of the founding fathers of modern Nigeria, he served as ...

and the Awolowo group led by the previous premier,

Obafemi Awolowo Chief Obafemi Jeremiah Oyeniyi Awolowo (; 6 March 1909 – 9 May 1987) was a Yoruba nationalist and Nigerian statesman who played a key role in Nigeria's independence movement (1957-1960). Awolowo founded the Yoruba nationalist group Egbe O ...

. Olagbegi sided with the Akintola group pitching him against his friend Michael Ajasin, a member of the House of Representatives and majority of the community members who were still behind AG. In his push to solidify support for Akintola in Owo, he was met with opposition from Awolowo supporters and from the majority of Owo residents. Many Owo residents did not support his opposition and displacement of the co-regent at Ijebu-Owo and the use of police force at the nearby village of Isho. When a military coup cut short the First Republic, public revolt by Awolowo supporters and Owo community led to open display of violence within Owo forcing the Military Governor, Adekunle Fajuyi to suspend the Olowo. Olowo thenwent to exile in Ibadan. In 1968, he returned to Owo but strong opposition to his rule forced him back into exile. He was finally removed from office by governor, Adeyinka Adebayo in 1969.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Olateru Olagbegi 02 1910 births 1998 deaths Yoruba monarchs Nigerian recipients of British titles Nigerian knights Nigerian royalty Olagbegi family