macof:
more on ikere history please

sujitoba:
Thanks a lot for this great information. Please can you give a sociological or anthropological source (s) that back this up. Thanks.

toyinakomolafe:
As the royal rivalry between the Ogoga and the Olukere over the ownership of Ikere-Ekiti in Ekiti State rages, the Aladeselu family is claiming that neither of the two owns the community. The community, they claimed belong to their ancestor, Prince Aladeselu.

The family said Aladeselu founded Ikere-Ekiti around the 11th Century after migrating from Benin Kingdom and settled at Ereja in the Odo Oja area of the town. The family said he was the one that admitted the Ogoga and the Olukere into the community.

At a briefing in Ikere-Ekiti, the family spokesman, Mr. Isaiah Akinwumi, said some significant historical objects and artefacts located in three quarters of the town belonged to Aladeselu and represent his symbols of authority.

Akinwumi said these objects and artefacts, located in Odo Oja, Oke’kere and Uro authenticated Aladeselu as the “founder and owner” of Ikere-Ekiti.

Conducting reporters round the sites of the traditional monuments, Akinwumi said the family is not taking sides with any of the two contending parties but fighting not to be marginalised in the community.

Some of the historical monuments shown to reporters at Odo Oja included the Esi Aboba, believed to be the foundation of Ikere; the Ege, a fountain which has mystical powers to control flooding; the Erepupu and the Ogun Ajohan where the king is presented to the people after enthronement.

Others are the Aladeselu seat of power also in Odo Oja, the Esi, the first monument for peace of the land located in the three quarters of Odo Oja, Oke’kere and Uro.

Akinwumi further explained that after Ogoga migrated from Benin and arrived at Ikere after a brief stopover in Akure, he subsequently settled down in the community with the permission of Aladeselu.

The town has been engulfed by tension over battle for supremacy between the reigning Ogoga, Oba Samuel Adejimi Adu and the Olukere, Oba Ganiyu Ayodele Obasoyin.

The immediate cause of the crisis was the affirmation of the Ogoga by Governor Ayo Fayose as the only recognised monarch and paramount ruler of Ikere Kingdom during the inauguration of a new palace on January 23.

The statement made by Fayose, through his deputy, Kolapo Olusola, an indigene of the community, drew the ire of Olukere who claimed that his throne was the first in Ikere and would not tolerate any attempt to relegate his stool.

The crisis reached a crescendo about a month ago when there was a riot in the town by some youths who accused Fayose of pulling down the billboard of Olukere installed at Odo Oja area of the community.

Billboards of the Ogoga, including the one showing the picture of Fayose presenting him with the staff of office was vandalised by irate youths.

Olukere, who later addressed a press conference, claimed that he is the son of Oduduwa and brought his crown from Ile-Ife. He said “the landlord would not bow before a tenant.”

He stressed that the Ekiti State government’s website confirms him as a king, saying the website recognises the fact that Ikere has two kings who exist side-by-side and receive monthly stipends from government.

Olukere said the monthly allowance due to his palace had been stopped since 1989. He demanded that he be presented with his staff of office, having undergone all traditional rites of ascension.

But the Aladeselus don’t want to be drawn into the supremacy battle between Ogoga and Olukere but insist that the land belongs to their patriarch and that the two rivals were admitted into the community by Prince Aladeselu at one time or the other in the history of Ikere.

The family also presented what it believes as the “authentic history” of Ikere which it believes would help douse the tension generated by the Olukere–Ogoga face-off.

Giving an explanation on the origin of Ikere and the importance of Aladeselu as the “founder and owner” of the land, Akinwumi explained that the most prominent traditional festival celebrated by locals, the Olosunta “serves as a mark of traditional honour and respect to Aladeselu.

Akinwumi said: “The only traditional festival in Ikere-Ekiti before Olosunta Festival is called Orisa-Ogido, and it belongs to Prince Aladeselu. Up to date, all the Ogogas and chiefs pay their traditional homage to the Aladeselu’s historic stool (seat of power) at Ereja.

“No Ogoga or any chief can be installed in Ikere without paying homage to the Aladeselu stool at Ereja. The Aladeselu stool was the seat where Aladeselu used to sit in his lifetime and after his death, his son, Arasegun, who became the first Agbayan in Ikere, also sat on the throne in his lifetime. The same with all the subsequent Agbayans.

“Oloje, who later changed his name to Olukere, also pays yearly homage to the Aladeselu stool and dances round it during the Olosunta Festival, as a mark of traditional honour and respect to Aladeselu as the founder of Ikere-Ekiti.

“The historical monuments and artifacts are paid the well-deserved homage, because, it is traditionally believed that the powers and spirits behind them, help to conserve peace and progress and also guarantee protection within Ikere and its environs, especially during times of wars and calamities.

“According to history, several years after Prince Aladeselu had founded Ikere-Ekiti, one Prince Ogoniga (now called Ogoga), arrived in Ikere from Benin, passing through Akure, where he stayed briefly with the then Deji of Akure, who happened to be a kinsman and a Benin Prince.

“History had it that Ogoga left Benin together with his immediate family and other retinue of aides and servants in his entourage. It is also in history that Ogoga left Benin with his crown and other paraphernalia. Ogoga later proceeded from Akure to the place called Agamo.

“One day, while at Agamo, Ogoga went on hunting expedition when he killed an elephant. While Ogoga was tracing the elephant, he noticed a smoke far ahead and decided to trace the smoke which he eventually traced to Ikere where he met Prince Aladeselu fully on ground.

“After the duo interacted, they discovered that they were kinsmen way back in Benin. Aladeselu thereafter assisted Ogoga to recover the dead elephant. Afterwards, Ogoga, as a mark of appreciation, gave Aladeselu, the ivory and other vital parts of the elephant’s meat and bones, some of which are preserved till date.

“Ogoga subsequently settled down in Ikere with the permission of Aladeselu who ordered that Ogoga should stay with Arasegun at Erepupu, while Aladeselu remained at Ereja.

“Ogoga stayed with Arasegun for seven years at Erepupu, during which Aladeselu appointed Ogoga to be in charge of the administration, while Aladeselu remained the head and leader of the then small community, now Ikere-Ekiti.

“As time rolled by and in fulfilment of destiny, Aladeselu further upgraded the status of Ogoga by enthroning him as the first Oba in Ikere-Ekiti. This is in line with an earlier oracular prediction to Aladeselu that a certain prince from Benin is coming to Ikere with his crown and would be crowned as the first Oba in Ikere.

“Arasegun, son of Aladeselu, then became the first Agbayan in Ikere-Ekiti. Agbayan traditionally means ‘the elder chooses first’ and that chieftaincy was so powerful that Ogoga always deferred to him on all matters.

“Agbayan was akin to Prime Minister, while Ogoga was akin to the President in Ikere political system, till date. Only the Aladeselu family exclusively performs the traditional role of installing all Ogogas, including the incumbent.

“Many years later after Ogoga had been crowned as Oba, one Oloje (now called Olukere), herbalist, came from Ise Ekiti to Ikere-Ekiti. Oloje was said to have suffered incessant molestation and attack from wild animals as a result of which he begged Aladeselu for protection, which was granted. Aladeselu ordered Oloje to stay at a place called Igbo-Arosi in Ikere.

“However, Oloje did not stay long at Igbo-Arosi because of the terrain of the area, as a result of which Oloje lost his three children. Aladeselu therefore sympathetically relocated Oloje to Ugbo-Agbe where the present Olukere compound is situated.

“History has it that while at Ugbo-Agbe, Oloje saw a termite hill, dug it and captured the termite queen/king (called Olu-Ikan) which he symbolically presented to Aladeselu. Aladeselu was excited and therefore gave Oloje the title of Oluloje.

“In the olden days, it was customary to consult Ifa Oracle, on the need to regularly make sacrifices to appease the gods, so the community would continue to enjoy peace and progress.

KingOvoramwen1:
WHY DONT THIS KINGS IN EKITI AND ONDO GO AND PAY HOMAGE TO THE SOURCE OF THIER ANCESTORS IN BENIN!!

macof:
lol


Bini and their wild fantasies

KingOvoramwen1:


Yoruba and their useless irrelevant lies & fallacies

macof:


Yoruba don't lie and make fallacies

So far we know the people known for claiming everything they never had

KingOvoramwen1:


Shut up your mouth offspring of liars and thief's