Sir Titus Martins Adesoji Tadeniawo Aderemi I, fondly called Adesoji Aderemi,KCMG (15 November 1889 – 7 July 1980), was aNigerian political figure and Yoruba traditional ruler as the Ooni (King) of Ife (or Ilé-Ifẹ̀, as it is properly known) from 1930 until 1980. He served as the governor ofWestern Region, Nigeria between 1960 and 1967.
Adesoji Aderemi was known as a very wealthy man and had a large family of many wives and children. During the colonial era, the Oba Ooni gained a considerable amount of power due to the colonial policy of indirect rule and being labeled a first class Oba among traditional rulers inYorubaland. The policy of indirect rule was used to ensure native awareness and consultations about colonial policies affecting the regions. The British leaned on existing native political structures and hierarchy, particularly the Nigerian traditional rulers, for political consultation and tax collection. Later on, the Ooni with the consent of the leading Yoruba political leaders used his position to close the gaps of exploitation of divisional differences among Yorubas and tried fervently to rally the Yoruba towards a common goal. In 1962, the king acting as governor, used his power to remove the premier of the region, sensing the premier did not have the support of the majority members of the House of Assembly. The event escalated the political rivalries in the region. When he joined his ancestors, Oba Okunade Sijuade succeeded him.
Yoruba Copper mask for King Obalufon, Ife, Nigeria c. 1300 C.E.
Ife bronze casting of a King, dated around 12th Century
The Ọọ̀ni of Ilé-Ifẹ̀ is the traditional ruler of Ile-Ife, whose dynasty goes back hundreds of years. Ife-Ifè is an ancientYoruba people city in south-western Nigeria. Ọọ̀ni Lajamisan, who was the 8Th Ọọ̀ni of Ile Ife, was a Son of Ọọ̀ni Oranmiyan, (Ọọ̀ni Oranmiyan was the Father of the first Oba of Benin, First Aláàfin of Oyo and the Father of Oṣile of Oke-Ona Egba). Ọọ̀ni Lajamisan the son of Ọọ̀ni Oranmiyan, was also the Father of Ọọ̀ni Lajodoogun, the 9th Ọọ̀ni of Ile Ife, through whom the genealogy of all succeeding Ọọ̀nis of Ile Ife until the reigning Ọọ̀ni Okunade Adele Sijuwade, Olubuse 11, Arole Oduduwa and the Head of the Yoruba Nation, is traced down to Ọọ̀ni Odùduwà, The Ancestral Father of the Yorubas Globally.
- Oduduwa
- Osangangan Obamakin
- Ogun
- Obalufon Ogbogbodirin
- Obalufon Alayemore (Obalufon II)
- Oranmiyan
- Ooni Ayetise
- Lajamisan
- Lajodoogun
- Lafogido
- Odidimode Rogbeesin
- Aworokolokin
- Ekun
- Ajimuda
- Gboonijio
- Okanlajosin
- Adegbalu
- Osinkola
- Ogboruu
- Giesi
- Luwoo
- Lumobi
- Agbedegbede
- Ojelokunbirin
- Lagunja
- Larunnka
- Ademilu
- Omogbogbo
- Ajila Oorun
- Adejinle
- Olojo
- Okiti
- Lugbade
- Aribiwoso
- Osinlade
- Adagba
- Ojigidiri
- Akinmoyero (1770–1800)
- Gbanlare (1800–1823)
- Gbegbaaje (1823–1835)
- Wunmonije (1835–1839)
- Adegunle Adewela (1839–1849)
- Degbinsokun (1849–1878)
- Orarigba (1878–1880)
- Derin Ologbenla (1880–1894)
- Adelekan Olubuse I (1894–1910)
- Adekola (1910)
- Ademiluyi Ajagun (1910–1930)
- Adesoji Aderemi (1930–1980)
- Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade Olubuse II (1980-2015)