EVIL DAYS FOR THE CAPITAL

Prince Amodó was one of the grandchildren of Ajampati the twin brother of King Ajagbó. He came to the throne at a time when the kingdom was distracted by anarchy and confusion. The Fulanis having an eye on the capital of Yoruba-land, but not being confident enough to make an attack on the city whilst there were so many powerful chiefs in the land, who might suddenly return to their allegiance, were using prudence and astuteness to spread the disaffection. They were fanning the flames of discord by allying themselves with one or other of the chiefs known to be rebellious against their lawful sovereign. None of the provincial kings now paid tribute to Oyo or acknowledged the authority of the King. He was virtually King of the capital only.

In order to have a powerful friend and ally in whom he could confide in time of emergency, King Amodó made an alliance with Lanloke the chief of Ogodo, a market town, at the confluence of the river Niger, where Yorubas and Tapas met for an exchange of merchandise. Ogodo was originally a Tapa town, but subsequently the Yoruba population predominated, nearly all the children of influential Oyo chiefs resided there permanently for the purpose of trade. King Amodó cemented and strengthened this alliance by giving his daughter to Lanloke to wife, and treating him as an independent sovereign.