Ademuyewo Fidipote became the Awujale of Ijebu land with the death in 1852 of Anikilaya, who reigned during the conflict between Egba and Ijebu. Islam was brought to Ijebu Ode during the Fidipote’s reign and the Ijebu Muslim celebration, the Ojude Oba festival had originated from his presentation of a ram to his friend, Tunwatoba, who was the Imam of the town. Ijebu Ode was more prosperous than its neighbors during the reign of Fidipote and the Governor of Lagos reconciled Ikorodu with him in 1865. From the following year, Lagos had started depending on his kingdom for most of their timber for houses and piers.
A civil disturbance erupted when chiefs accused Ademuyewo Fidipote of continuing the war against Ibadan inspite of the latter’s gesture for peace. In the year 1883, he fled his capital and went on self-exile to Epe in a bid to avoid deposition and death that was the lot of many deposed Yoruba kings. From here he promoted disaffection in the state, making efforts to win over the regency council to engineer his safe return home. He died in 1885, with some of his supporters suspecting a regicide masterminded by the regency council.
