10/04/2022
HISTORY OF IGBARA-OKE
Igbara-Oke, a nodal town that is located on a mountain top, with a panegyric, "Omo Eleye Ti N Ke Weye". A town that has never lost any battle, and has never been conquered by any town during the inter-tribal war. According to the historian, it was reported that the then Oba of Ilesa sent emissaries headed by Ogedengbe to Olowa when they heard of the performances of Igbara-Oke at the war.
Every town and domain has their history, and where they started or migrated from. The history of Igbara-Oke could be traced back to the fifteenth century, when they migrated from Ile-Ife, under the hierarachical supervision of Olowa Arajaka and his children, Alarelu and Adeyiba, who were then known as brave warriors.
Olowa Arajaka was known as OLOWA AJAKA, the son of Obanifon, the sixth Ooni of Ife, who was the first Oba to use beaded Crown. When Olowa Arajaka left with his two sons, they left with a crown given to them by Obanifon, as well as the sword of Alayere, Igba-Ifa, guns and some farm implements.
Although, they stopped and stayed briefly at numbers of places before they arrived at the present day Igbara-Oke. Amongst the places they stopped were present day Ilesa, Alaaye, Igbo Onigbagbara, Onikolo. They later settled temporarily at Olowinrin for thirteen years.
At Olowinrin, Arajaka, the leader of the group gave birth to twins, Alarelu and Adeyiba. The people at that time suffered great disaster at Olowinrin. An epidemic broke out and claim the lives of Olowa Arajaka and other people. This disease forced the people to leave Olowinrin, and went in two different directions.
Alarelu and his group departed South wards of Olowinrin to Odo-Oko, which later became Igbara-Odo, while Adeyigba went upwards to Oke-Oko, which later became Igbara-Oke.
The name Igbara was gotten from a forest called "Aigbara" where Adeyiba was born. The forest also contains a kind of leave called "Ewe Aigbara" that serves as herbs to cure diseases during that time.
When the two brothers parted ways to settle at different domain, Alarelu, the elder son took the name "Arajaka", and his brother, Adeyiba chose to bear "Olowa" from their father's name, OLOWA ARAJAKA. That is why we have Arajaka in Igbara-Odo and Olowa in Igbara-Oke.
Adeyiba later became the first king of Igbara-Oke, and he divided the town into six quarters, with a Principal Chief as the head of each quarters. These six chiefs also have minor chiefs under them who were given responsibilities for conflict resolutions, peace, security, and sacrifices to the gods and welfare matters.
The general believe that Oluji was the first Oba of Igbara-Oke is very untrue. Oluji came to Igbara-Oke for hunting.
Oba Adeyigba gave birth to three children, namely, Oberubese, Ogidi and Aruogbon. After Oba Adeyiba, different Olowa from the three ruling houses, Oberubese, Ogidi and Aruogbon have ascended the throne. The Olowas that have ascended the throne are:
istory of Igbara-oke
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All Saints Anglican Church Igbara-oke
History of Igbara-Oke
Igbara-Oke, a nodal town that is located on a mountain top, with a panegyric, "Omo Eleye Ti N Ke Weye". A town that has never lost any battle, and has never been conquered by any town during the inter-tribal war. According to the historian, it was reported that the then Oba of Ilesa sent emissaries headed by Ogedengbe to Olowa when they heard of the performances of Igbara-Oke at the war.
Every town and domain has their history, and where they started or migrated from. The history of Igbara-Oke could be traced back to the fifteenth century, when they migrated from Ile-Ife, under the hierarachical supervision of Olowa Arajaka and his children, Alarelu and Adeyiba, who were then known as brave warriors.
Olowa Arajaka was known as OLOWA AJAKA, the son of Obanifon, the sixth Ooni of Ife, who was the first Oba to use beaded Crown. When Olowa Arajaka left with his two sons, they left with a crown given to them by Obanifon, as well as the sword of Alayere, Igba-Ifa, guns and some farm implements.
Although, they stopped and stayed briefly at numbers of places before they arrived at the present day Igbara-Oke. Amongst the places they stopped were present day Ilesa, Alaaye, Igbo Onigbagbara, Onikolo. They later settled temporarily at Olowinrin for thirteen years.
At Olowinrin, Arajaka, the leader of the group gave birth to twins, Alarelu and Adeyiba. The people at that time suffered great disaster at Olowinrin. An epidemic broke out and claim the lives of Olowa Arajaka and other people. This disease forced the people to leave Olowinrin, and went in two different directions.
Alarelu and his group departed South wards of Olowinrin to Odo-Oko, which later became Igbara-Odo, while Adeyigba went upwards to Oke-Oko, which later became Igbara-Oke.
The name Igbara was gotten from a forest called "Aigbara" where Adeyiba was born. The forest also contains a kind of leave called "Ewe Aigbara" that serves as herbs to cure diseases during that time.
When the two brothers parted ways to settle at different domain, Alarelu, the elder son took the name "Arajaka", and his brother, Adeyiba chose to bear "Olowa" from their father's name, OLOWA ARAJAKA. That is why we have Arajaka in Igbara-Odo and Olowa in Igbara-Oke.
Adeyiba later became the first king of Igbara-Oke, and he divided the town into six quarters, with a Principal Chief as the head of each quarters. These six chiefs also have minor chiefs under them who were given responsibilities for conflict resolutions, peace, security, and sacrifices to the gods and welfare matters.
The general believe that Oluji was the first Oba of Igbara-Oke is very untrue. Oluji came to Igbara-Oke for hunting.
Oba Adeyigba gave birth to three children, namely, Oberubese, Ogidi and Aruogbon. After Oba Adeyiba, different Olowa from the three ruling houses, Oberubese, Ogidi and Aruogbon have ascended the throne. The Olowas that have ascended the throne are:
1. Oba Adeyiba Aboaba
2. Oba Otete Obaji
3. Oba Agbonyin Lamuditokun
4. Oba Ojodu Agan Oberubese
5. Oba Aruogbon Adekoye
6. Oba Fatile
7. Oba Adejuri Ogidi I
8. Oba Faleke Aropupa Biodide
9. Oba Aladesoyin Oberubese
10. Oba Adetiloye Aruogbon
11. Oba Aderibigbe Agbede
12. Oba John Adebimpe Adepoju JP
His Royal Majesty, Oba Dr. Francis Adefarakanmi Agbede, Ilufemiloye is the 13th Olowa of Igbara-Oke kingdom, from the Ogidi Ruling House.
However, the reign of all these Obas have been highly significant and they played prominent role in rural development, social and economic integration.
For the record, the Olowa of Igbara-Oke is one of the 54 recognised kings in Yoruba land that wears beaded crown, as prescribed by the Ooni of Ife in which was documented in the 1902 Federal Republic of Nigeria Gazette.
Igbara-Oke is a town that shares border with three states in Nigeria, Ondo, Osun and Ekiti states. Igbara-Oke is a tripatite town. An entry point into Ondo State when coming from either Osun or Ekiti State. A land of peace, unity, love and harmony. A land that is viable for industrial and infrastructural development. Igbara-Oke has Thirteen (13) Satellites towns and vilages that are being headed by Baales. The towns are:
1. Ajebamidele
2. Olorunda
3. Owode Owena
4. Onijaka
5. Elemo
6. Araromi I
7. Araromi II
8. Kajola
9. Aro
10. Olorunsogo
11. Aje Oku
12. Bolorunduro
13. Odofin/Alaranogun
All these towns are economically viable
In Igbara-Oke, there are twenty-four traditional festivals that are celebrated annually, namely:
1. Alabasaba
2. Ibegun Obaji
3. Ijobi Ode
4. Ijobi Aro
5. Ijobi Olua
6. Ijobi Obanifon
7. Odun Opa
8. Odun Ogun Oye
9. Odun Oke-ile (Ipaka festival)
10. Ipagbon Aro
11. Igbagbon Aro
12. Ikedi Olua
13. Ijesu Aro
14. Airegbe
15. Ijesu Olua
16. Ijesu Obanifon
17. Idasu Igbara Kete
18. Oja Eran
19. Aruleje Arulemu
20. Idasu Ogun
21. Ibegun Olowa
22. Ibegu Igbara kete
23. Ijesu Olowa
24. Orikadun
Igbara-Oke was involved in many Yoruba inter-tribal wars against the Ibadan, Ijesa and Ekiti Parapo. Igbara-Oke rebuffed the Ogedengbe warriors and was victorious at the Akurin and Oboto wars. However, by the middle of 19th Century, Igbara-Oke was defeated by the Benin forces, thereby subjecting the town to Benin administration.
Administratively, Igbara-Oke is the Headquarters of Ifedore Local Government Council. An Agrarian town, most of the residents are farmers. Christianity was first introduced to Igbara-Oke in 1884. Also, in 1911, the first primary school was established in Igbara-Oke, with standard six.
In 1958, Igbara-Oke became the first town to have Secondary School in Ifedore Local Government, Anglican Grammar School. Records also show that after Ado-Ekiti, Igbara-Oke was the next town that have standard six class in the then entire Akure Division.
Igbara_Oke is the town of Chief Augustus Adebayo, a seasoned Public Administrator and former, Head of Service, and Secretary to the Western States Government between 1973 and 1975, and the town of Professor Julius Olujimi, the first Professor of Urban and Regional Planning in Ondo State, Nigeria. Igbara-Oke sons and daughters are doing well in their different field of endeavors both at home and in diaspora.
At the last count, Igbara-Oke has more than One hundred doctors (Medcine and Academics), and about fifteen professors. The town has produced two Vice Chancellors of World Class Universities.
Full Courtesy: OLOWA Of IGBARA-OKE KINGDOM
HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS: KABIYESI OLOWA Of IGBARA-OKE, OBA FRANCIS ADEFARAKANMI AGBEDE OGIDI III's ONE YEAR CORONATION'S GRAND CELEBRATION
The entire township of Igbara – Oke of Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State will be agog again on Saturday February 17th, 2018 as the Kabiyesi of Igbara – Oke celebrates his One Year Coronation Anniversary on the throne of his forefathers.
It would be recalled that the Kabiyesi, Oba Francis Adefarakanmi Agbede, the Olowa of Igbara – Oke and the Ogidi III was officially installed as the Kabiyesi on the 16th of February, 2017. By Friday, the 16th of February, 2018; his reign on the throne of his forefathers would clocked one year.
The Kabiyesi had his Primary Education in Kaduna State, his Secondary Education at the Anglican Grammar School, Igbara – Oke and his University Education at the Bayero University in Kano State. He went to Bradley University in the United States of America to further his studies. He had his first degree in Business Administration. He is a Multi – Ligual. A Security and Intelligence Consultant. He was the Chairman, Crown Continental Group of Companies. He is also into Mining and Oil and Gas businesses.
He was also made the Chairman, Screening Committee for Bradley University Council for the whole of the Black Africa. He also worked very hard to earned for himself an Ordinary Doctoral Degree from Bradley University in USA and became the recipients of so many Awards and Honours within and outside Nigeria. He was a member and a fellow of different Professional bodies suck like the World Association of Detectives, a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management (FCIM), member of the British Chartered Institute of Management and a fellow of the Institute of Fraud Examiners of Nigeria just to mention a few.
On the ascension of the Kabiyesi of Igbara – Oke, he has been able to broker peace and unity among the High Chiefs, community leaders and all his subjects. Being a man of many parts that he is; he facilitated the commencement and construction of the proposed of University of Igbara – Oke built by the Community within the one year of his ascension on the throne. He has also initiated the peace and love that brought the establishment of a Rice Mill Factory in the town which is going to be officially flagged off by the Executive Governor of Ondo State; Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu on the 21st of February, 2018. The Kabiyesi is seeing by all in the town as man with a very strong voice in the town of Igbara – Oke.
Speaking with the Iyaloja of Igbara – Oke, Chief Mrs. Odebiyi Olanike; who was also installed as the Iyaloja on the 21st of April, 2014; she praised the Kabiyesi for his courage, wisdom and resolve to be able to maintain peace, harmony, oneness and unity and managed every situations and challenges arising in the Community. She commended the Kabiyesi for the Institution and mill he brought to the community.
She therefore uses the opportunity to call on the Kabiyesi to use his good position and office (s) to expand the coverage of the Market under her control as the Iyaloja of the town. And to also help in appealing to the Government to assist the Market Women with soft loans to grow their businesses.
She ends up appreciating all the ten (10) High Chiefs in Igbara – Oke for giving peace a chance by cooperating with the Kabiyesi to move the town forward. And for the uncountable young graduates that has been employed because of the influence and efforts of the Kabiyesi.
FULL COURTESY: FALCON TIMES
By: Mr. Kayode Akin-Samuel
February 14. 2018.
