duro4chang:
IKERE-EKITI: THE CONTROVERSIAL YORUBA KINGDOM WITH TWO MONARCHS

Ikere was founded by a man named Aladeselu who is reported to have come from Uselu near Benin. As it was the practice in those days, itinerant immigrants moved from one place to another in search of suitable place to settle. In doing this they usually consulted the oracles to know the suitability of a place in terms of security, fertility of land for subsistence living and prosperity before picking a place for settlement. Aladeselu and his people consulted the oracle and were directed to a place now known as Ereja in present day Ikere. The oracle further revealed that a true royal blood and prince who will be the head and king of this new settlement will come later and that they will see the signs of royalty whenever the prince arrived. Aladeselu was to hold fort in the mean time. It was in the process of clearing the bush that a squirrel locally called Okpere or Okere was killed. Aladeselu called the site the place of OKERE WHICH GAVE BIRTH TO THE NAME IKERE AS IT IS KNOWN TODAY.

Others joined them and the place grew. There were three quarters namely Oke ‘Kere, Uro and Odo Oja where Aladeselu lived. Amongst those living in Ikere at this early stage were two powerful herbalists, one named Olosu or Sinsingurunsin and the other Ujagbofi and they were rivals. The more famous and powerful was Olosu [he always had his hair tied in three heaps-Osu], Sinsingurunsin or Olosu used his mystical powers to help all from hunters to farmers and this increased the jealousy of him by Ujagbofi who started planning how to get rid of the former. Another itinerant immigrant by the name Oloje later arrived in the town, Ọloje was a leper whom sìnsìngúnrinsìn cured. Out of gratitude, Ọloje apprenticed himself to the babaláwo (diviner).

There was a ritual and the people needed to prepare a hole deep enough to contain a human being to be used and some other materials. On the day of the ritual, Ujagbofi also known as Alawe sees this as an opportunity to get rid of his long-standing rival , he connived with other jealous hunters to push Olosu into the hole for the sacrifice but olosu escaped and ran into the near rock. This rock is now known as Olosunta –Olosu to sun sinu okuta [Olosu that sleeps inside the Rock]. They made fire torch with dry palm frond to smoke Olosu out but rather than him dying it was just water that came out of the rock and when they called him, he answered from inside the rock. They got sacred and all fled the scene .

Thereafter epidemics of various deceases such as small pox, death, famine and absence of rain erupted in the land. To stop all the evils, the oracle was consulted and it revealed that the people had betrayed and repaid their benefactor with evil and they would need to appease him in order to stop the epidemics. The oracle stated all that they would be required to appease Olosunta must include snail, kolanut cold water and rodent. They needed a priest to offer this special propitiation and Oloje, who had become Olosu’s protégé was chosen to do the appeasement. This was how Oloje became the chief priest of Olosunta. Immediately the epidemics stopped and rain fell. The first person to make heaps for yam planting was Oloje and that is why part of the cognomen is olukere lo ni ojo ikeran. Oloje was cultivating a local plant called Urere or Ukerekere and this resulted to people calling him baba olukerekere from where olukere was derived. This was how Oloje got the name olukere.

History as it that Igónigà also known as Ogoja was heir-apparent to the Benin throne. But the throne eluded him because the announcement of the birth of a junior half-brother had preceded the announcement of his own birth. This priority of announcement gave the younger half-brother seniority over Ìgónigà. Seeing that his claim to the Benin throne was weak, and a battle was beginning to build up. He and his elder brother who also could not become an Ọba in Benin because his birth had occurred before his father ascended the throne left Benin City, the elder brother later become the Deji of Akure. Ogoja a fearless hunter with his aides chased an elephant walking in the direction of the forest that has now become Ìkere, He trailed it towards Ogbese, in the eastern part of the town. But the elephant turned into a massive rock which is today called Utámọrajerin (The rock that looks like an elephant). Ìgónigà retreated and sought more medicinal powers. On his return to the site, he camped at Àgàmo, between Ìjàre and Ìkere. Again, he shot another elephant, which he tracked until he saw smoke on the horizon — a clear indication that there was human habitation. On getting to the source of the smoke, he met Ọloje with whom he exchanged pods of kola nuts, Oloje then took him to the old man, Aladeselu who on seeing him with his regal appearance and bearing he knew the expected prince who will become the Oba has arrived. Ogoga (Igoniga) told him he was looking for the elephant he shot. Oloje then told him where he could find the elephant. True to this oracle, the elephant was found at a place now called Uja Ugbolumode near where the present palace is located. Ogoga put one of his aides to keep watch over the animal. That aid was the first Chief Elemoso. Oloje also known as Olúkere sought and received assistance from the elephant-hunter Ìgónigà, who, in turn, consulted with Ọba Ewuare of Benin. With the help of Ewuare, Ìkere won the war against Ado. He then pevailed on him to relocate to town and live with him this was because, he had seen the sign of royalty in him in line with what was foretold by the oracle when Aladeselu first settled in Ikere.

However, history has it that Igoniga went back to Benin to seek permission from his father, Oba Ewuare, Who approved of his new found home, the king gave him many crowns and beads and asked that some chiefs followed him on an entourage to Ikere where he automatically became the king on arrival since there was no recoginsed king in the town and he was of a royal blood and being loved by the people for his help in conquering Ado. Ever since the Olukere as become the ceremonial king in charge of the Olosunta festival and Ogoga has been the recognized and accepted monarch as per prophecy and royal lineage.

NOW WHO DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE THE KING?