Ikoro-Ekiti is a town in the Ijero Local Government area of Ekiti State, south west Nigeria. It is also known as Eso Obe and is one of the oldest towns in Ekiti land. It was politically subsumed under the paramountry of Ijero, the Ijero Native Authority, the Ijero District, which has now become Ijero Local Government. Historic facts have it that, the present Ikoro-Ekiti is a conglomeration of sixteen settlements dating from the eighteenth century and originally settled by Olugona who gave Oluse of Isedo the functional powers due to his old age. Today, Ikoro-Ekiti, has two main Quarters: Oke-Oja and Odokoro with many streets, is a large town noted for production of cocoa, kola nut, timber and palm fruit. In fact, the town was a major contributor of the products to the socio-economic development of the old western Nigeria. Ikoro-Ekiti has modern facilities and the people have a high degree of hospitality. Moreover, the people are very resourceful, with many of the indigene holding positions in many areas of human endeavors across the globe. The traditional head of the town is called the Olukoro of Ikoro-Ekiti, a first class king in the Ekiti State Traditional Council . The present king, His Royal Majesty Oba Olanrewaju Adebanji Adeleye (Atewogboye II) is the 15th Olukoro. He ascended the throne in 2008 after twenty four years of an interregnum in the kingship.
 | This article is missing information about the beginning and end dates of each king's reign.(November 2013) |
Eisaba, by official ranking, is the titular head of Oke-Oja sub-community in Ikoro-Ekiti while the Sakoro is also the titular head of the Odo-Ikoro sub-community. In hierarchy, Eisaba is third in rank to the Kabiyesi Olukoro while Sakoro holds the second rank. Eisaba is usually selected from the Erinse civil traditional group while Sakoro is also selected from the Ihare civil traditional group. Many title holders of the exalted office of Eisaba have reigned along with several Olukoros in Ikoro history.
Eisaba Oke Aga).
Iyunade)
Father of Ejemu Faponmile & Great Grand- father of incumbent Eisaba Dr. Bamidele Oluyole)
Agbele-nko Akande)
brother of Ejisun Iyunade)
Oluborode).
Ajolopo Ero & Grandson of Ominio Famoroti Okerebadina).
Adiwoiyanmogi II, from Ojobe & grand- son of Ejemu Faponmile since February 2017-?).
Ikoro Ekiti, also known as Eso Obe is one of the oldest towns in Ekiti.
It was subsumed under the paramountry of Ijero, the Ijero Native Authority, and the Ijero District, which has now become Ijero Local Government.
Ikoro had the largest land mass among its contemporaries. It had boundaries with lIa Orangun, Esa Oke (before Oke Imesi came to occupy a portion of its land), Ido Ajinare, Odo Ehin (now Odo Owa ), Ijero. The town could also boast of maintaining a large Army of 2000 professional soldiers' who were dreaded by armies of other surrounding towns and beyond.
The town is situated in a plain ground and has a captivating outlook when viewed from the air. The forest is rich in economic trees, and the soil is very fertile for both arable and cash crops. Since the introduction of cocoa to the town in the 1920s, Ikoro had been one of the largest cocoa producers in Ekiti. It had also occupied a recognizable position in the production of cola nut, palm produce and timber.
Ikoro had about 75 farmsteads, many of which had grown into full blown sub-towns and villages with full complement of modern structures like Churches, Mosques, Schools and Markets. This makes the town distinct the whole of Ekiti.
Ikoro indigenes are known for their accommodating proposition and a high degree of hospitality. As a result, many people from various parts of the country have settled down permanently in the town and its suburbs dwelling peacefully among the indigenes, As a result the town has become a conglomeration of various cultural and ethnic mix.
THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT
The origin of Ikoro Ekiti is dated back to the ancient time. It started as a conglomeration of various settlements which situated at different locations all over the land that belonged to what was to be known as Ikoro.
The establishment of Ikoro came in two stages. The first stage was when the founders, who were sixteen in number, came from various parts of Yoruba land and settled in various locations, with their followers whom they ruled according to the dictates of the deities which they worshipped
The great sixteen founders were
1. The Olugona of lgona
2. The Oluse of Isedo
3. The Aorere of lgbo orere
4. The Olujoko of lgbo ojoko
5. The Alatan of lgboatan
6. The Oloriri of Igbo oriri
7. The Akinja of lgbookun
8. The Elewu of Ewu
9. The Onikun of Odoikun
10. The Aaye of Omu
11. The Olorisa oba of lgbo orisaoba
12. The Oniwe of Okewe
13. The Aoroeko of Oke agbon
14. The Oniteru of Igbo Ogan
15. The Ayelufe of Orooku
16. The Oloke of Ikufana
These people are popularly referred to as "Awon agba merindinlogun to te Ikoro do".
The second stage was when all the sixteen settlements came together to form a formidable settlement under the leadership ofOlugona of Igona and Oluse of Isedo.
The first person to settle with his own people in the site was Olugona whose origin could also be traced to lIe-ife from where his own grandparent migrated to settle at either lIa Orangun or Igbajo from where he migrated to settle in another distance place from Oluse called Igona. But eventually the two of them met and were attracted to each other. Whereas Oluse was a great hunter, Olugona was an herbalist on the side apart from also being a hunter; he was also very wealthy because he came from wealthy family.
The second person to settle with his people in the present site of Ikoro was Oluse of Isedo whose origin could be traced to lIe- ife from where his grandparent migrated to settle at Ido faboro. He migrated from there on hunting expedition, stopping to settle briefly at Orita Imesi lie and eventually moved to stay in a place called "Idi Agbon" which eventually became known as ISEDO.
In the cause of time other settlements were established and Olugona and Oluse discover them. They invited leaders of the newly discovered settlements to join them in the confederacy. The confederacy was achieved under the leadership of Olugona and Oluse. Their meetings were held in Oluse's palace (having been assigned functional power by Olugona due to his old age) in Isedo. There were no clear-cut chieftaincy titles in the confederacy. The lorooku (i.e. rulers who were also the priest of the deities) were the chiefs. So the administration was mainly theocratic.
There was a spiritual being who had occupied the center of the place that became Ikoro, at Ojobe whose name was Olobe, Oluse had a surprise encounter with her as she usually came out from her abode inside the stream. Although she did not come into the confederation with the sixteen great founders, she had a protective domain over them, and they consulted her particularly wherever they were to go to war. She blessed them and they were usually successful. In-appreciation they made ritual to her annually.
THE ESTABLISHMENT OF KINGSHIP
The coming of Fatiku who was the son of Onaowuro and the grandson of Ogbolukore (both Ajero kings of Ijero) who became the first king in settlement was a turning point in the history of Ikoro. He left Ijero because of kingship tussle between him and his junior brother who was installed Ajero when Fatiku, the rightful successor to throne was away in pursuit of his profession of ifa consultation for royal families in other towns, one of the places was Ijamo in Ondo kingdom.
Fatiku came to Ikoro and lodged with Oluse in his palace in Isedo In course of tune, and because he usually made his plight that he was robbed of his kingship known to Olugona and Oluse of the time, he was granted the right of kingship with the consent of the duo of Olugona and Oluse as well as the other "Ioroukus"
Fatiku had three male children, one each from his three wives. They were Olofinsola, Falokun Oleranlatan, and Adugbalaja Ewon. The three succeeded him one after the other. They were the ancestors of the current royal family lines.
Fourteen kings had ruled in Ikoro before the current king, His Royal Majesty Dr. Olanrewaju Adebanji Adeleye Atewogboye II. The actual dates when the first eight kings ruled cannot be accurately ascertained, but it is assumed that they ruled from early 17th century to 1802.
The fourteen Kings in chronological order were as follows:-
Following the demise of Oba Michael Odunlade, there was a long period of interregnum which lasted for 'twenty four (24) years. A regent, Princes Abigeal Adegoke, was appointed. But the period was marred with crises, most of which were linked with long tussle over selection of the king. There were prolonged litigation over the issue. Also the so-called "Town Youths" "Awon Odo Ilu" held the town to ransom on the same and related issue for about seven years, and their activities ended in brutal assassination of the most senior chief (Chief Olajide Esan the Sakoro) in June 1999.
Ekiti State is a state in southwestern Nigeria, bordered to the north by Kwara State, to the northeast by Kogi State, to the south and southeast by Ondo State, and to the west by Osun State. Named for the Ekiti people—the Yoruba subgroup that make up the majority of the state's population—Ekiti State was formed from a part of Ondo State in 1996 and has its capital as the city of Ado-Ekiti.
Ikirun is a town in Osun State, Nigeria. It is the headquarters of the Ifelodun Local Government Area. It is an historical city that derived its name from the first ruler of the town called Akinorun.
Ilaro is a town in Ogun State, Nigeria. Ilaro town houses about 57,850 people. Ilaro is the headquarters of the Yewa South Local government, now known as YEWALAND which replaced the Egbado division of the former Western State, and later became a part of Ogun State of Nigeria. Ilaro town is about 50 km from Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, and about 100 km from Ikeja, the capital city of Lagos State.
The Ìgbómìnà are a subgroup of the Yoruba ethnic group, which originates from the north central and southwest Nigeria. They speak a dialect also called Ìgbómìnà or Igbonna, classified among the Central Yoruba of the three major Yoruba dialectical areas. The Ìgbómìnà spread across what is now southern Kwara State and northern Osun State. Peripheral areas of the dialectical region have some similarities to the adjoining Ekiti, Ijesha and Oyo dialects.
Òkè-Ìlá Òràngún is an ancient city in southwestern Nigeria that was capital of the middle-age Igbomina-Yoruba city-state of the same name.
Oba-Igbomina, is an ancient Igbomina town in northeastern Isin Local Government Area of Kwara State. It is one of the five related Yoruba towns named "Oba", the others being
Ìsèdó is an ancient Igbomina kingdom in northeastern Yorubaland of Nigeria. Ìsẹ̀dó was founded as a new city-state several centuries ago by Ọba'lumọ, a Prince of the ancient Oba civilization. Ìsẹ̀dó is fully known and called "Ìsẹ̀dó-Olúmọ̀" using its founder-king's name as an identifier suffix. Ọba'lumọ, emigrated from the ancient Ọ̀bà civilization in northeastern Yorubaland.
The Obalúmo is a royal personage, a traditional monarch amongst the Igbomina clan of the Yorubas of West Africa. The earliest manifestation of his title dates back to the 12th century at the latest, making him a ruler of relative significance in the intricate chiefly hierarchy of the tribe.
Ijebu-jesa is the capital of Oriade Local Government area in Osun State of Nigeria.
Okemesi-Ekiti is the local Government Headquarters of Okemesi/Idoile Local Government of Ekiti State, Nigeria, whose headquarters is the Ekiti town of Okemesi. Its population according to 2006 population census is 56,000 residents.
Ikole is a Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Nigeria. Its headquarters are in the town of Ikole. The current Chairman of the Local Government is Prince Olominu Sola Ebenezer, who polled a total of 21,228 votes to defeat other candidates in the 2019 local government election in Ekiti State, Nigeria that was organised by the state Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC). He was sworn in alongside other newly elected chairpersons and vice chairpersons for the 16 Local Government Area of Ekiti State, Nigeria by Dr. Kayode Fayemi, governor of the state on 31 December 2019. The Local Government Chairman is the Head of the Local Government Council, as well as the approving officer for funds disbursement and the Chief Security Officer for the Ikole Local Government Area. Prince Olominu Sola administration has prioritised infrastructural development in the area of boreholes rehabilitation, electricity reconnection of Ara Ekiti, construction of blocks of locks up shops, as well as investment in basic education and grassroots sports development, and urban renewal policies for improved trade and commerce.
Ipetu-Ijesa also called Ipetu-Aro Odo among its inhabitants is a town in Oriade local government area, in Osun State, Nigeria. It is located in the western part of Nigeria, about 40 km from Ile-Ife and 37 km from Akure. The people are of the Yoruba ethnic group. The title of the traditional king of Ipetu-Ijesa is Ajalaye of Ipetu-Ijesa. The present Oba(King) is His Royal Highness Oba Samson Adeleke Agunbiade Oke, Agunbiade III.
The Akure Kingdom is a traditional state with headquarters in Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria. It is the successor to an ancient Yoruba city state of the same name. The ruler bears the title "Deji of Akure".
Omuo-Ekiti is an ancient town in the eastern part of Ekiti State in western Nigeria, and the seat of the Ekiti-East local government. Being inside Yorubaland, its population and that of Ekiti State are mainly the Yoruba It is located on the border of the state of Ondo.
Igbara-Oke, popularly referred to as Nodal Town, is an Ekiti town in Ondo State, Nigeria. It is the headquarters of Ifedore Local Government Council. The total population for the local government area was 176,372 as at 2006. Igbara-Oke is a Yoruba town and the inhabitants are largely engaged in agriculture. 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 villages.
Ilara-Mokin is an Ekiti town located in a central part of Ifedore local government of Ondo State. Ilara-Mokin is about 12 km from Ondo state capital, and has Ipogun, Ipinsa, Ikota, Ibule-Soro and Ero as neighbouring towns.
The Kiriji War, also known as the Ekiti–Parapo War, was a 16-year-long civil war between the subethnic kingdoms of the Yoruba people, specifically divided between the Western Yoruba, which was mainly the Ibadan and Oyo-speaking Yorubas, and the Eastern Yoruba, who were the Ekiti people, Ijesha, Ijebu people, and others.
Imesi-ile is an ancient town in the northeastern part of the Obokun Local Government in Osun State, Nigeria. In the 19th century, this town was the epicenter of the Jalumi and the Kiriji wars among the Yoruba nations, and the foundation of peace among all warring Yoruba kingdoms, in Nigeria. The town is about one-hour drive from Ilesa; and less than an-hour drive from Osogbo, Osun state capital. It is located on an extremely high hill and almost entirely surrounded by mountains. Because of its unique location and its natural hills and caves within the mountains covering several miles; it was an easy choice for protections during wars in those days.
Isinkan is a Nigerian traditional state. It is based in a town of the same name in Akure South Local Government Area of Ondo State. It is contiguous to the Akure Kingdom, and shares such a close proximity to that kingdom that visitors may not know that both are traditionally distinct entities.
Igbajo is a town in the southwest of Nigeria, in the Boluwaduro Local Government Area in Osun State. Igbajo was founded in the 12th century.