The town of Ika Roso was full of smuggling, theft and crime. The governor was too old to attend to such matters. Ogún and Elegba, his two assistants, took part in it, though no one could prove it.
The Obá of that land, Obatalá, had grown tired of so much corruption and resolved to hand the government to whoever could set the people's ways straight.
In those days an unknown stranger appeared. He lived apart and his behavior was beyond reproach. On learning of the situation, he presented himself before Obatalá and asked to take charge of the command, along with honey, omí Olofin, orí and a white dove, with which he promised to put everything in order. He was Osun.
Obatalá handed over everything requested: he wanted to see the problem solved, and something inside him assured him that the man was sincere.
Osun left Obatalá's house and headed for the forest, in search of a thick and sturdy moruro trunk. On the way he found Eshu. He gave him the rooster he was carrying and asked for help in discovering who headed the disorder, and Eshu agreed. Osun cut the moruro, washed it with omí Olofin and offered it the dove; then he put orí and efún on it and went back home.
When night came he carried the trunk on one shoulder and moved forward following Eshu's directions. He reached a place where a crowd of men had gathered, and among them he made out Ogún. His intention was to confront them at once, but Eshu held him back: he had to wait a moment. Elegba soon showed up. Since Elegba and Ogún commanded Obatalá's army, Osun understood that the betrayal came from there, and that this was why no criminal was ever imprisoned. Almost everything being smuggled was weapons (bows, arrows and spears) that were being hidden to attack Obatalá when the hour came.
When Eshu gave the signal, Osun hurled himself at the group, dealing blows with the trunk. The men, caught off guard, fled, thinking that many more were coming behind the attacker. Only Ogún, Elegba and Oshosi, who was also there, remained. Discovered, they begged Osun not to denounce them to Obatalá. Osun agreed, on the condition that the smuggling, the thefts and the killings stop.
The three promised and, as Osun ordered, took the weapons to Obatalá. From that day on, Elegba, Ogún and Oshosi sealed an alliance with Osun, and the people of the town changed their ways. Obatalá expressed his gratitude and was about to offer to govern together with him when Osun disappeared.
To honor him, Obatalá decreed that his people should worship the moruro tree each year and make offerings to it, in order to keep the memory of that stranger who helped without seeking anything for himself. From that tree he hung bows, arrows and spears, as a sign that Osun had prevented the war.
One who appears quiet and honest can uncover the betrayal of the leaders and so prevent a war. With good counsel and a firm trunk, disorder is corrected without reaching for weapons, and gratitude remains in an offering that is repeated every year.
A large, strong moruro trunk, washed with omí Olofin. A white dove is offered to it, and orí and efún are placed on it. For this work Osun also asked for honey, and he gave Eshu a rooster to guide him.
Each year the moruro tree is worshipped and an offering is made to it, in memory of the fact that Osun prevented the war. Bows, arrows and spears hang from its branches.
Ika Roso Ozun kukute kuku kuku adifafun onika mowo ole lodafun Obbatalá.