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IPO ARAKEJI, IJESA, OSUN STATE

INTRODUCTION

Ipo Arakeji is a town located in Oriade Local Government Area of Osun State Nigeria. It is in the south western part of the country, 37 km from Akure (Ondo state capital) and 69km to Osogbo (Osun State capital). The town is populated by the Yoruba tribe with inhabitants of the town generally farmers by profession.

The developed land area of the town occupies about 2.7sq.km with geographical coordinates of N 7° 25′ 10.56″N, to 7° 26′ 28.32″N and 4° 56′ 34.08″E, 7° 37′ 0″N, 4° 57′ 25.92″E.

The town was formerly known as Odo Ipo, Ikeji Arakeji until Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, the then Governor of Osun State, approved, elevated and presented the staff of office and beaded crown to the Oba Ejisun of Ipo Arakeji, Ijesa, His Royal Majesty, Oba David Omodunbi Adekunle Ajetomobi, as the Government approved and Gazzetted traditional ruler of the town on October 11th, 2014.

Official Presentation of instrument of appointment as the Ejisun of Ipo Arakeji by the Commissioner for Chieftancy Affairs The town shares boundaries with Ira (headed by Olura), Ipetu (headed by Ajalaye), Ikeji-Arakeji (headed by Akeji) and Ikeji Ile (headed by Akeji Ile). Popular establishments on the land include Christ Apostolic Church Prayer Mountain, Joseph Ayo Babalola University, Ipo Arakeji Market, Ipo Arakeji Palace, JABU Resorts, GTBank, etc.

A GOOGLE MAP SATELLITE VIEW OF IPO ARAKEJI EARLY HISTORY

Ipo people in Arakeji have their origin from ILE-IFE, the cradle of the Yoruba race. The name “IPO” was abbreviated from “IPOLE”. The traditional ruler of Ipo has the title of EJISUN and he is a direct descendant of ALAAYE of IPOLE AAYE who was one of the direct sons of Oduduwa.

ALAAYE OF IPOLE AAYE was commissioned with the other sons of the great Oduduwa to found Kingdoms and he was also a recipient of the BEADED CROWN (ADE ILEKE) as the symbol of the “ROYAL COMMISSION” among other paraphernalia of office.

The descendants of ALAAYE of Ipole Aaye are specifically from IDIO in Ile Ife (very near to the present ENUWA, the Palace frontage of the Ooni of Ife) being the nerve center of Oduduwa Dynasty.

In 1919, there was a colonial directive which led to the movement and relocation of people from Ikeji-Ile to Arakeji which means “People that met rain“. This movement was only partially successful as the town split into two. The whole of Ipo and part of Ikeji migrated to Arakeji while the whole of Ira and the remaining fraction of Ikeji remained in Ikeji-Ile (all in Oriade Local Government Area and Oriade South Local Council Development Area of Osun State).

Despite the split, each of the two communities migrated to Arakeji (i.e. Ipo and Ikeji) still maintaining their separate geographical locations, separate identities, hierarchy of chiefs, traditions, farmlands, religious, political and social organizations, separate palaces and political autonomy.

OBA EJISUN OF IPO ARAKEJI ROYAL PALACE

No one is a tenant or landlord to the other. No one pays tribute either in cash or kind to the other. The relationship between IRA, IPO AND IKEJI communities is purely con-federal for the purpose of social and infrastructural developments and intermarriage.

Hence, ARAKEJI did not in any way alter or destroy the historical antecedents of the Ipo indigenes and town at large.

HIERARCHY OF CHIEFS

The traditional ruler is known as EJISUN, followed by the king makers, ORISAPO, ELEMO, SAJOWA, ODOFIN, SEMO and SABA as the top six chiefs also known as the IWARAFAS and EJISUN-IN-COUNCIL. Followed by the IWARAWAS: EJEMU, AREMO, ASABA, ARO, ELEROMO and SAWE.

The female line of chiefs is headed by EYEJUMU and has her chiefs: EYEISA, EYELEMO, EYESAJOWA, EYEDOFIN, EYESEMO and EYESABA.

There are also six commanders of native soldiers: ELEJUWA, EMINISE, ORISA ELEBEDO, ORISA ELEJUWA and AGBA AKIN, all headed by the ELEBEDO.

The Chief Priest and Diviner in Ipo Arakeji is known as “Oloriawo”, while the head of hunters is known as OLUODE.

IPO ARAKEJI HAS SO FAR HAD 13 RULERS:

1. BABADU OGUN

2. AGABA OLA-ODUNDUN

3. OKODIMOYA ELEHINKUNLE ADEWURE 4. AFUNBI OWO-APATA

5. IGE OKUN AROBIERE I

6. ALOWOLODUBIAGBA

7. AGBURUGBURU Ijokun I

8. AJENIFUJA ATOBATELE

9. AMADAFERENIJU I

10. AJAYI OGIDIOLU AROBIERE II (1916-1918)

11. SAMUEL FAJEMIROYE AMADAFERENIJU II (1926-1973)

12. TITUS OMOTOYE ADETUBERU, AGBURUGBURU IJOKUN II (1981-2008)

13. HRM (PASTOR) OBA DAVID OMODUNBI ADEKUNLE AJETOMOBI, AROBIERE III (2010 till date)

HRM (PASTOR) OBA DAVID OMODUNBI ADEKUNLE AJETOMOBI NOTABLE INDIGENES OF IPO ARAKEJI

Ipo Arakeji is blessed with several top ranked men also, they include His Royal Majesty, Oba David Ajetomobi who is also a Senior Pastor of The Redeemed Christian Church of GOD and a retired lecturer of University of Lagos (Unilag), Engineer Yemi Oguntominiyi (Acting Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, Abuja), Reverend Samson Ajetomobi (President, Men of Issachar Vision Inc., Ibadan), Prince Engr. Akin Adetuberu (Former Director, Osun State Ministry of Works and Ministry of Education), Niyi Orelusi (CEO, Roberta Scudetto, based in Italy and Ibadan), Prince Simon Olaleye Ajetomobi (CEO OF OSA Realty, New York, USA), Prince Barrister Adelani Fajemiroye (Senior Legal Practitioner), Dr. O.A. Ogunleye (Registrar, Federal Polytechnic, Ede, Osun State), Prince Dare Adetuberu, Mrs Bose Oyebamiji (Wife of the Secretary to the State Government of Osun), Chief Hon. S.A. Akinyele (Former Member, House of Representatives), Mrs. Yemisi Adeyemi (Medical Practitioner in London), Chief Hon. Johnson Adegboro (Former Leader, Oriade Local Government Legislative Council), Prince Wole Ogunsanya (Medical Practitioner in Canada), Mr. Supo Oguntominiyi, Mr. Emmanuel Orelusi, Chief Kunle Oluwasanmi, Mr. Abiodun Esan, DCP Dare Emmanuel Ogundare (Deputy Commissioner of Police, Bauchi State) and many more.