History of Igboho in Yorubaland Oyo State

The Brief History of Igboho

Igboho occupies a key place in the history of the old Oyo Empire. Whilst Oyo is an integral part in the history of Yoruba, Igboho’s contribution to the sustainability of Oyo Empire can neither be erased nor expunged.

Igboho lies in fertile country of wooded savanna. It spreads over an extensive area, being surrounded by mud walls for protection from wars in those days. yams, cassava, maize, other fruits, and Shea butter are the chief articles of trade. It is a key export location for tobacco, fruits, and kola nuts.

Igboho is about 405m-445m above sea level, home to several shrines. The town depends on the Dam in Akitipa for its water supply, which is not always dependable. The dam is situated in the Oorelope local government area of Oyo State in the West of Nigeria, about 162 km northwest of the state capital Ibadan . Igboho connects Ilorin by road through Igbope, It also connects to Igbeti Kishi, Ogbooro, Sepeteri and Baruten Kwara State. Home to various farm products. Known for its yam production and maize in large quantities.

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Igboho, like many other Yoruba towns and cities, is inhabited by Christians, Muslims and the adherents of African Traditional Religious belief.

The origin of Igboho started with the migration of Gbage from Ilesha. There was a chieftaincy tussle then, where the younger brother of Gbage was installed as the Owa. The (aggrieved elder) brother left the kingdom to give peace a chance. That senior brother that left the palace of Owa was called Gbage Olabinukuro and founded his own village called Ebiti. All his supporters, including hunters, followed him to this new abode. The origin of Igboho started with the migration of Gbage from Ilesha. There was a chieftaincy tussle then, where the younger brother of Gbage was installed as the Owa.
The (aggrieved elder) brother left the kingdom to give peace a chance. That senior brother that left the palace of Owa was called Gbage Olabinukuro and founded his own village called Ebiti. All his supporters, including hunters, followed him to this new abode.

At that period in Yoruba history, there was Fulani invasion of old Oyo Empire. Alaafin Ofinran and his people were forced to vacate their home. When Alaafin got to Ebiti, he met Gbage who had migrated from Ilesha. Alaafin Ofinran saw that Gbage was a powerful man who had a lot of charms and was very formidable in the act of warfare and hunting. Alaafin Ofinran was so amazed that the settlement was relatively peaceful and calm. He then inquired who was the head, usually called Baale and Gbage was called to meet with Alaafin.

He was welcomed by Gbage. Alaafin Ofinran told Gbage that he was looking for a place to settle down with all his people and entourage. Gbage, who knew the terrain because of his hunting expeditions, promised that he was going to help him. They then embarked on a search for a place to settle the Alaafin and his large entourage.
When they got to a river (Sanya) after Kishi, one of the wives of Alaafin gave birth to a baby boy named Tella Abisipa, that is, a child that was born on the path.
When they got to the middle of Igbo-Oba which is still named so till date, the oracle told them that was the place they were going to stay. As the herbalist was making divination, two birds were fighting on a tree under which they all sat, the two birds fell in front of the herbalist, one was Igbo bird (Eye Igbo), the other one Oyo bird (Eye Oyo). The two birds were killed and their blood used as a sacrifice to Ifa.

From these two birds Igbo and Oyo, the name Igbo-oyo was formed and it later became Igboho. It was at that place that Alaafin Ofinran was said to have been buried. After about four Alaafin had died in Igboyo; Tella Abisipa that was born at the bank of River Sanya (who had become the Alaafin) said he wanted to return the seat of governance of Oyo Empire back to Oyo-Ile.
However, the Oyo-mesi did not want him to go back, therefore, they took some of the deformed/disabled persons in the palace to Oyo-Ile and when Alaafin’s emissary got there, they (the disabled) chased them away pretending to be spirits with a warning that ‘this place is not your home go back’, until Alaafin sent Alepata and his hunter-like, Akasa, Okere, Emo and Iloko to go and unravel the mystery of the spirits.
The arrival of Alepata (back to Igboho) with all those so called spirits made the Alaafin to change his name from Gbage to Alepata and ever since then, they referred to Alaafin Abisipa as the king that arrest spirits ( Oba-Amoro)

Alaafin Abisipa eventually left for Oyo-Ile with all his entourage while Alepata and his hunters accompanied him. They were in Oyo-Ile for about three years when crisis erupted in Igboho, Alaafin now told Alepata to go back to Igboho to become their leader and ever since then Alapeta have become the head of Igboho till date.
There are various quarters in Igboho which includes Igbope-Baale, Modeeke-Ònà Onibode, Booni-Ibabooni, Iyeye-Baale, Ago-IgiIsubu, Okegboho (smallest quarters)-Onigboho, Jakuta, Waala, Idi elegba, Akitipa among others are also some of the quarters in Igboho.

Notable natives and residents

• Emeritus Professor Dibu Ojerinde, First Professor of Tests and Measurements in Nigeria and Africa as well as Former CEO, NECO and JAMB
• Oba Dr Johnson Oyeyiola, First Alepata to wear the beaded crown, 2011
• Hon. Olumide Abiodun Ojerinde Member, Federal House of Representatives, Abuja.
• Rev. Gbade Alabi, Chairman, CBC, Lekki, Lagos
• Sunday Igboho Yoruba right activist
• Dr. Adesiji Gbade-Alabi, U. S
• Eng. Adesola Adesope, U. S
• Dr. Seun Ojerinde, renowned Cybersecurity lecturer, FUT Minna
• Adelowo Adesola
• Braigaider General Tunji Ojerinde
• Mr. Gbade Adesola, Registrar, Federal School of Survey, Oyo.
• Engr. Rauf Olaniyan, Deputy Governor of Oyo State.
• Dayo Odewo, Founder Solat, Ikeja, an award winner with Huawei
• Otunba Moses Alake Adeyemo, Most loyal deputy Governor for 8 years. 2011-2019
• Hon. Micheal Okunlade, former member, Òyó state house of assembly.
• Hon. Samuel Okunlade (Ododo), Longest serving caretaker chairman
• HRM, Oba Joel Olawuwo, Olasoorogan IV, Alepata of Igboho
• Dn. E. A. O Adeola, renowned Principal retired
• Prince Joel Oyeyiola, former SUG Leader at Ago-Iwoye, Political and Human Rights activist
• HRH, Oba John Bolarinwa Oyetola II, Onigboho of Igboho
• Mr. Yusuf, erstwhile Ifelodun Chairman
• Ibabooni
• HRM Oba AbdulRasheed Adetoyese Jayeola-Anikulapo III Ònà-Oníbodè of Igboho
• Hon.Abdul-Lateef Ayawo Member Oyo State House of Assembly
• Mr. Ayoade Jubril Ajibade
• Sunday Igboho Yoruba right activist

Notable places and historical facts

• Igbo Oba, where four Alaafins were buried, behind First Baptist Church, Obaago Area,
• First Baptist Church Igboho, First Church in the town, mother of Okegboho Baptist Church, Zion Baptist Church, Baptist Church, Igbope, C & S Ònà Iwamimo among others.
• Wema Bank, Igboho
• Irepo Grammar School, founded in the 1960s, first Secondary School in the Old Irepo Local Government.
• Igbohomore High School
• Baptist Central School
• Central Mosque, Igboho First Central mosque built.
• Ahlu sunnah central mosque, first Ahlu Sunnah central mosque Ago-molaba Igboho
• Igboho Town Hall, located in Owode
• Gravity FM, 88.1, Owode, Igboho
• Alepata Palace, Obaago, Igboho
• Oba Ona Onibode Palace where 4 Alafin ruled Oyo Empire from.
• Onigboho palace okegboho, Igboho
• C&S, Ònà Iwa Mimo, Temple, Igboho
• Orioke Adeola, Oke-loko, Igboho
• Oorelope Central Mosque, Owode Igboho
• White House
• Osanta Microfinance Bank, Oke-Afin, Igboho
• Doyin Hotel, Akitipa, Igboho
• Riverside Hotel, Booni, Igboho
• Adeniyi Hospital, Igbope, Igboho
• Owode Market
• Kara Market

References.
Reverend Samuel Johnson(1921) History of Yoruba. London, Lowe and Brydone printers limited.
Robert Smith (1965) Alaafin in Exile: A study of Igboho period in Oyo history. The journal of African history.

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