Traditional titles in Africa are special titles earned, inherited and respected by the people. These titles are endemic to African societies that their significance and roles cannot be wiped out by foreign culture. While the king plays crucial role in every black society, traditional chiefs are the supporting arms through which the king carryout some essential services. In Yoruba traditional system, for instance, the king has a minister known as the Balogun. He doubles as the minister of war and leads other warriors to the battlefield against external aggressors. The Balogun is usually a fierce warrior who takes the lead to the battlefield. This title is hereditary and passed down to descendants of warriors who had helped their society won victories in wars.
The Ikorodu Kingdom, like every other descendants of Oduduwa has many traditional chiefs and the office of the Balogun is one of them. Though, tribal war is almost extinct in urban societies like Ikorodu, the title of the Balogun is still very much relevant. In recent time, there have been modern day Baloguns of Ikorodu who have assume the titles of their forefathers. Issues from one supposedly erstwhile Balogun of Ikorodu preceded the recent ascension of Chief Oluwarotimi Noah Kalejaiye in April 2022 who emerged the new Balogun of Ikorodu. Late Alhaji Mukaila Onabanjo, also known as Mikky Mikky, claimed the title of the Balogun of Ikorodu for years until his death in recent time. However, the traditional ruling council and ruling houses never recognised his claim to the stool till his death.
During the reign of Oba Oyefusi in Ikorodu, Alhaji Mukaila Onabanjo tussled with late Chief Dawodu Ilo over the stool of Balogun. The latter won the case before the traditional ruling council of Ikorodu and was installed the Balogun of Ikorodu. Alhaji Onabanjo who disagreed with the verdict of the then Oba Oyefusi appealed to the court of law and won his case. The Oba and his traditional cabinet refused to acknowledge Onabanjo as the Balogun of Ikorodu, His Royal Majesty said Onabanjo may have won the court case; he is not the traditional chief. The king explained that the court of law is no expert in traditional matters and would not understand the ancient philosophy, hence, the court made a wrong judgment. However, the kingdom already had a true and acceptable Balogun of Ikorodu.
It then appeared that Alhaji Mukaila Onabanjo declared himself the Balogun of Ikorodu while Chief Dawodu Ilo had already been installed. Chief Ilo who was the authentic and recognised Balogun of Ikorodu performed all the rites of office where traditional warriors from the five Balogun clans in Ikorodu, embarked on the procession and identified him as their leader. As part of the rites, Osugbo cult, Wonparis and traditional drummers played their part of the procession for the late Chief Dawodu Ilo.
Using his certificate victory from the law court, the late Mikky Mikky paraded himself as the legal Balogun of Ikorodu but was never recognised by traditionalists. He even attempted to thwart and distort the existing tradition regarding the office of Balogun of Ikorodu but was met with resistance from the traditional council. There are five ruling houses who can lay claim to the title of Balogun of Ikorodu; the Jaiyesimi House, Otambala House, Ilo House, Ogunlade Ajako House and the Kalejaiye House. These are the ruling houses that have claim to the Balogun title of Ikorodu. During his time, Alhaji Onabanjo attempted to add a sixth clan to the five recognised clans. He argued that the Bashorun House is part of the Balogun heritage, but this claim was rebuffed by the five-ruling houses and sanctioned.
After the demise of Chief Ilo, he was buried with full honour as the Balogun of Ikorodu and key groups like the Wonpari (a warrior council comprising of the five Balogun clans in Ikorodu), Osugbos, Wonparis and traditional drummers performed the rites of burial. Then Oba Oyefusi joined his ancestors in the life beyond. Alhaji Onabanjo became eager to consolidate his court victory when he approached the new Ayangbure of Ikorodu, His Royal Majesty Oba Kabiru Shotobi, asking to be recognised the authentic Balogun of Ikorodu.
Alhaji Mukaila Onabanjo efforts to validate his position proved futile till his death last year. He was never recognised as the Balogun of Ikorodu by the traditional ruling council neither was he buried according to traditional rites. Instead, he was buried according to Islamic rites and the traditionalists had nothing to do with his corpse. While he was alive, out of desperation to claim the Balogun title, Mikky Mikky signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Oba Shotobi that whenever he dies, the traditionalists would bury him according to the traditional customs not according to Islamic rites, but after his demise, the Muslim community buried him. In April 2022, Chief Olurotimi Noah Kalejaiye was installed the new Balogun of Ikorodu Kingdom. The new Balogun received full support of Oba Kabiru Shotobi and the traditionalists and has performed the required rites.