Idoani Confederacy
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Idoani Confederation
Idoani | |
|---|---|
  Idoani Confederation Location in Nigeria | |
| Coordinates: 7°17′0″N 5°52′0″E / 7.28333°N 5.86667°E | |
| Country |  Nigeria |
| State | Ondo State |
| Government | |
| • Alani | Olufemi Olutoye I |
The Idoani Confederacy or Ido-ani confederation was a traditional state based in the town of Idoani in the Ose Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria. The origins of the state date back to 1880 in the Kiriji/Ekiti Parapo war theatre at the height of the Yoruba Civil Wars when six separate villages/communities around the Ose river came together for the purpose of mutual protection from powerful warlords like Aduloju of Ado Ekiti and Ogedengbe of Ilesha encroaching and raiding the area while uprooting Ibadan hegemonic influences.[1]
The present confederacy, which dates to 1880, includes six eastern Yoruba communes: Ido, Amusigbo, Isure, Iyayu, Isewa and Ako. Some of these communities operated as a Diarchy, having two concurrent rulers in the past.[2] The communities that formed the confederacy had suffered heavily during the 19th century Yoruba wars, with many people migrating to other areas like Owo and Ado and other locations. Idoani had been a well fortified base of Ibadan power in the Akoko country and so, it was besieged in 1978 by the Parapo forces.[3] Facing the combined forces of the Ijesha and Ekiti, in 1879 they were forced to ask for help from Ibadan, and formed the confederacy the next year.[4]
British missionaries introduced Christianity in the late 19th century, along with new farming methods, and Idoani became part of the Lagos colony, later the protectorate of Nigeria.[4] The communities were merged in 1921. The first confederate traditional ruler was appointed after the death of Alani Adesunloye Atewogboye on 3 January 1921.[2] Falade I ruled as Alani from 1921 to 1958, and was succeeded by Akingboye Falade II on his death.[5]