Over the years, many Tourists have ticked the ancient city of Ibadan as their choice and the popular Delesolu’s Palace always stand out as one of the preferred destinations due to the availability of many historical sites in the palace and its environs.
The palace which is located at the Oje Community, Ibadan North East local Government Area of Oyo State is known for its uniqueness of rearing crocodile as a pet. On 28th March, 2024, the legendary crocodile passed away.
According to the head of the family and a very respected Chief in Ibadan land, Chief Raufu Yusuffu Delesolu (Ayingun Olubadan), the crocodile was brought to the Igbejo Delesolu in 1940 after the first one was bought by some white men. Since then, it has been in Delesolu’s compound until its demise.
Chief Raufu further explained that the white people from all walks of life including Africans loved seeing and feeding it with all sorts of food.
“I grew up to know pet as it had been in existence before I was born, It was about 84 years” he noted.
“Historically, the crocodile had never been reported to be a god as our fathers did not at any moment worship it”
“They only visit it every day to feed it and to be sure of its well-being.”
Baba took us on memory lane as he stated that, “in the olden days before its house was adequately constructed, the crocodile used to crawl out whenever there was heavy rain and men in the compound would now start searching for it. There was a day when it was found in the muddy gutter very close to the palace at Ojo-Ibadan compound to be precise. It was later brought back to its house.”
He however reiterated that, the crocodile is not a god as being speculated by many people. It is just a pet cherished by their forefathers and the onus is on them to preserve this important heritage.
As at the time of gathering this report, the members of the family are grieving and there is ongoing burial arrangement for the dead reptile as it would be buried in the family compound.
But trust me, there are still other tourist attractions in the family compund and Oje community at large; and there is also high tendency of getting another pet in order to continue preserving the heritage of their forefathers.
Oyo Insight
