History
Iloko Ijesa is a community in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State. It is about 9 Square kilometres North – East of Ilesa.
The town was Founded about 1113 A. D by Ajagbusi Ekun a Prince from Ile Ife who was widely known for his great success in warfare. He traveled far and wide.
He left home (Ile Ife) in company of his brother, Prince Ajagunla and a host of other able bodied men who were strong in warfare. His father, the legendary Olofin gave him a mystical cap with which to ward off enemies.
Ajagbusi Ekun and his party traversed the areas now known as the Yoruba Empire until they got to Igbadae (now in Atakumosa Local Government Area) where Ajagunla separated from him. Ajagunla took with him some of the men as guards.
He later founded the Ila – Orangun Kingdom. After a short sojourn at Igbadae, Ajagbusi Ekun set out in search of a Permanent abode.
He got to igbagiri (now igbatoro) near Akure and moved from there to Idanre before he to a place which he named AJAGBUSI EKUN, a Village near Akure of today.
At Ajagbusi Ekun Village, he consulted the oracle to know where he would eventually settle permanently. The oracle revealed that his place of settlement would be near a stream called AFA ERO (procurer of tranquility).
In the search for the stream, he passed through Erin, now Erin Ijesa. He also came to Oke Ana and Ijisun and passing through Oke Oru, he finally came across the AFA ERO stream.
The stream which is now known as AFARO is located on the way to Ijebu Jesa before Olashore International School. The stream whose source is from the small hill behind the Iloko Community Centre runs throughout the year. Ajagbusi Ekun decided to settle down near the stream.
The town quickly developed because many people who sojourned thereabout moved there confident of protection from wars, because of the prowess of Ajagbusi Ekun in warfare.
The place, was originally named ‘ILU-WAKO’ (congregation of various communities) which much later was called ILOKO.
The people of Iloko are very industrious and development conscious. They are predominantly farmers who grow yams, cocoyams and lately, rice. Many also travel wide engaging in the traditional Ijesa business of Osomalo (that is trading by hire purchase method of selling their wares).
Iloko is blessed with some prominent and astute businessmen and women who rank amongst the most successful in Nigeria.
The traditional council is a mixed – grill of both elderly persons who are highly experienced and younger crop of chiefs who are very educated and well traveled. Great Credit was given to the foresight of past traditional rulers in attracting the elite and educated persons to the traditional council.
This act contributed to the good governance of the town during the seven and half years following the demise of Oba Samuel Oyerinde Olashore, Ajagbusi Ekun IV before the late Oba Oladele Olashore, Ajagbusi Ekun V was installed.
The mantle of leadership of the community fell on High Chief Olusola Ogunsanya, a licensed Surveyor, the Orisa Owaloko and second – in – command to the Oba who became the regent since the demise of Oba Oladele Olashore, CON in the year 2012 till 2021 following the recent Installation and Coronation of Oba Akeem Olusayo Ogungbangbe, Ajagbusi Ekun VI in July, 2021.
Iloko people are peace loving, law abiding and religious. They are predominantly Christians even though traditions are still reserved.
Apart from the Local Authority Primary School which was established by Government in the wake of the Free Primary Education Scheme of the old Western Region, all other development in Iloko Ijesa has been through collective self – help or individual efforts.
Among these commendable achievements are :
* Comprehensive Maternity Health Center
* The Electrification of the town
*The Erection of 21st century modern Palace
* Establishment of Osowusi Commercial High School
* Establishment of Olashore International School
* Establishment of Iloko Model College
* Establishment of Oluwaloni Schools
* Establishment of a branch of the defunct Afribank Plc
* The Iloko Ijesa Central Cemetery
* Iloko Ijesa Post Office
* Iloko Ijesa Police Station
* Construction of Modern Church Building for Methodist Church Nigeria, Iloko Ijesa.
* Construction of Oba Samuel Oyerinde Olashore Anglican Church
* Construction of a befitting Obalogun Shrine
* Erection of a modern Community Centre incorporating the Town Hall
* Establishment of a Modern Market
* Provision of bore – hole to Supply potable water
* Ongoing construction of Iloko Ijesa Dam among others.
*Establishment of Iloko Model Kiddies Academy among other development.
Iloko Ijesa is Indeed an ancient town with potentials to develop into a modern city because of the self – help spirit of the citizens and their dogged determination to transform the town into a modern city.
History of Ajagbusi Ekun’s Crown of Iloko Ijesa
The First Ajagbusi Ekun, Owaloko was succeeded by his two sons successively – Ajagbusi – Ekun II and Ajagbusi – Ekun III.
They reigned for 80 and 50 years respectively.
Consequent upon Ajagbusi – Ekun’s Victory in the War he fought for the Ikole people, he was given a young Princess named ORISATANMIJE (daughter of the Oba Ikole) as wife.
Among the Children from the marriage was a son called OGBEDULOGUN.
OGBEDULOGUN succeeded his father in 1349 and reigned till 1431. He was succeeded by his son Aserere who reigned for 82 years.
Aserere begat Ifarotimi and Oyelowo who begat Ajasegun. Oyelowo successfully competed with his Senior brother Ifarotimi to succeed their father and he reigned for over 40 years.
Ifarotimi succeeded him and also reigned for 37 years.
Ifarotimi was succeeded by his nephew Ajasegun in 1598. Other Ajagbusi Ekun that ruled Iloko Ijesa were;
*Owaloko Ajanlekoko (1647- 1689)
*Aloko Oyeleru (1697 – 1770)
*Aloko Oyegbami (1777 – 1817)
*Aloko Esuwooye (1817 – 1867).
Note After the Demise of Esuwooye in 1867, there was a long interregnum because there was no grown up son in his dynasty to succeed him.
*Aloko Oyerinde Olashore (1952 – 1989) The Fourth Ajagbusi Ekun
*Owaloko Oladele Olashore (1997 – 2012) The Fifth Ajagbusi Ekun
IJIGALU EIYEBIOKIN a native of ILOGBO (now Imo – Ilesa) became the first person outside the Ajagbusi Ekun dynasty to be invited and installed as Aloko.
He was a friend to OBEKA, the son of ASEYE NABORUN. Obeka took advantage of his intimacy with Owa – Obokun Bepo to Obtain support for installing IJIGALU EIYEBIOKIN as Aloko.
Unfortunately his reign was short – lived. IJIGALU was succeeded by his brother FAKANYE EIYEBIOKIN, who also did not last on the throne.
AGUSU – OOGUN a native of Oke Ana was invited to be the next Aloko. He died as SALORO before he was installed Aloko.
ALATISE who was reputed to be a warlord and one of Ogedengbe’s close associates was invited from Ilase to be installed as Aloko.
He reigned from 1884 – 1927. After Alatise’s death, Akijo the son of Fakanke EIYEBIOKIN was installed as the Aloko and he reigned for about 22 years before he died in 1949.
Note that none of the FIVE ALOKO’s that were invited to the throne of Iloko Ijesa outside the descendants of AJAGBUSI EKUN wore a CROWN.
Oba Samuel Oyerinde Olashore who was installed the Aloko in 1952, did not inherit a Crown. Ajagbusi Ekun Esuwooye was the last to wear a Crown before him.
Oba Samuel Oyerinde Olashore fought to regain the crown.
The Owa – Obokun of Ijesaland recommended the restoration of the crown to Oba Oyerinde Olashore, while the Ooni of Ile Ife in a letter to Owa Obokun on the Subject, cited historical records from the grove of Oduduwa that the first Aloko had always had a Crown from their fore – fathers in support of the restoration of lost Aloko’s Crown.
The then Military Government of the Old Oyo State confirmed that the wearing of a Crown by the Aloko was rooted in history and the Osun State Government took the necessary steps to formalise the right of the Aloko to wear the beaded Crown by appropriate Government. ( a notice Published in the Gazette).
After an interregnum of over 7 years and careful search, it was the desire of all the citizens of Iloko Ijesa and all Princes and Princesses that the Kingmakers should select another person from the Ajagbusi Ekun dynasty as the next Oba.
Consequently, Prince Oladele Olashore, the first son of Oba Samuel Oyerinde Olashore was selected and this enjoyed popular support of all the People of Iloko Ijesa.
Moreover after the Demise of His Majesty, Oba Oladele Olashore in the year 2012 after he reigned for 15 years.
After an interregnum of 5 years and a careful search, it was the desire of all the citizens of Iloko Ijesa to have a New Oba.
Meanwhile, the choice of a new king was made open to all the aforementioned ruling families to put forward their choice of Prince to ascend the throne of their forefathers.
Prince Akeem Ogungbangbe another Prince from Ajagbusi Ekun dynasty with the highest votes courtesy of the Kingmakers was installed as the Saloro of Iloko Ijesa in August, 2017, while his coronation and presentation of certificate and staff of office was stalled by some unforeseen circumstances from the ruling dynasty till it was resolved following the approval by the Governor of Osun State, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola in April, 2021 and Coronated on Saturday 24th July, 2021.
Governor Oyetola presents staff of office to Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesa, Oba Akeem Olusayo Ogungbangbe, Ajagbusi Ekun VI
Governor of Osun state Adegboyega Oyetola on Saturday presented the newly installed Owaloko Iloko-Ijesa, Oba Akeem Ogungbangbe, with the Staff of Office
The coronation ceremony and official presentation of office staff took place at Osowusi Muslim Commercial High School in Iloko, Osun State.
Congratulating the newly installed traditional ruler, Oyetola stated that the presentation of the staff of office was an instrument of authority, and urged the new ruler to reciprocate the people’s gesture.
The governor also urged the traditional ruler to create an enabling environment for the community’s growth and development.
Oyetola asked the traditional ruler to communicate and explain the government’s plans to his followers, particularly in the area of equitable and high-quality infrastructure, which the community had benefited from.
Oba Akeem Ogungbangbe, the newly installed traditional ruler, praised the state governor for his unwavering support for the Iloko-Ilesa community in his acceptance address.
Ogungbangbe said that his journey to the throne was divine and designed by the Almighty God, which was beyond man’s imagination.
The traditional ruler promised to build on the good foundation laid by his predecessor, late Oba Samuel Olashore, Ajagbusi – Ekun (IV).
The Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, Ojaja 11, who witnessed the installation, congratulated the newly installed traditional ruler for the privileged to ascend the throne.
Ogunwusi prayed for the required wisdom and knowledge needed by the newly installed traditional ruler, to take his community to an enviable position.
Similarly, the Owa Obokun of Ijesaland, Oba Adekunle Aromolaran, commended the king makers, regency council of Iloko-Ijesa, and the state government for making the coronation exercise a success.
What you need to know about new Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesa, Oba Akeem Olusayo Ogungbangbe
Osun State Governor, Adegboyega Oyetola on Saturday, July 24 presented a staff of office to his royal majesty, OBA AKEEM OLUSAYO OGUNGBANGBE, Ajagbusi-Ekun VI as the new Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesa.
Oba Akeem Olusayo Ogungbangbe was elected on Wednesday 26th of August, 2015 as The Ajagbusi-Ekun, Owaloko of lloko-ljesa.
Six years after, his appointment and election as the Owaloko of Iloko-ljesa was confirmed by the Osun State Executive Council under the leadership of Isiaka Gboyega Oyetola on 19th of April, 2021.
The new monarch, Oba Akeem Olusayo Ogungbangbe inherited the throne of his forefathers nine years after the demise of late Oba Oladele Olashore who died of heart attack at the age of 77.
His traditional rites commenced on 5th of May, 2021 and he was honorably placed on the throne after the completion of the traditional rites on 13th of May, 2021 as the OWALOKO OF ILOKO-IJESA.
Here are TWENTY things you probably do not know about Oba Akeem Olusayo Ogungbangbe:
He was born on February 22, 1964
He was born into the family of Alhaji Benjamin Oyediji Taiwo Ogungbanghe and Princess Victoria Ogungbangbe.
His late father, Alhaji Benjamin Ogungbangbe who died on May 14th 2002 was the Chief Imam of Iloko-ljesa.
His late father, Alhaji Benjamin Ogunghangbe was the founder of Osowusi Muslim Commercial High School, Iloko-ljesa; the first post-primary educational institution in Iloko-ljesa.
He attended L.A primary school, Iloko-Ijesa.
He attended Osowusi Muslim Commercial High School, Iloko-ljesa.
He obtained his A-level Certificate at Oyo State College of Arts & Sciences, Ile-Ife.
He later studied Linguistics at the prestigious University of Ibadan, graduating with B.A. (Hons) Linguistics in July 1987.
He did his National Youth Service programme at Command Secondary School, Zaria Road, Jos, Plateau State between August, 1987 and July 1988.
He has a long and outstanding career in the field of Advertising and Marketing Communications.
He started his professional career at Impact Corporate & Product Promotions Limited in 1988 and joined Ogilvy Benson & Mather Nigeria Limited (OBM) Yaba, Lagos.
At Ogilvy Benson & Mather Nigeria Limited (OBM), he rose from the rank of a Trainee Media Executive to Group Head, Client Service and Media.
He resigned in August 2000 from Ogilvy Benson & Mather Nigeria Limited to explore his entrepreneurial instincts.
He is now a founder, co-founder and core investor in a thriving group of companies in the field of Advertising. Digital Printing. Agriculture, Hospitality and Transportation/Logistics.
He is a registered Member of The Advertising Practitioner Council of Nigeria (APCON).
He is a fellow of Institute of Direct Marketing of Nigeria. An Honourary Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Professional Printers of Nigeria (CIPPON).
He got married to Olori Modupeola Kikelomo Ogungbangbe from the Obanla Jimoh Joseph Ibironke family of Ita-Offa in Ilesa, Osun State.
He is blessed with four children, two men and two women.
He is a philanthropist, a social influencer, a community leader and mobiliser.
He has initiated, financed and executed projects in both public and community institutions such as Primary and Secondary Schools, Police Stations, Road Projects, Bus Shelters, Mosques, Churches, etc.
More Coronation Pictures…
