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POKA TOWN

Poka is a town situated in Eredo Local Council Development Area of Epe Local Government, Lagos, Nigeria, its geographical coordinates are 6° 37' 0" North, 3° 59' 0" East.

Poka was founded some 700 years ago by Uraka, Uraka was a prince and hunter in Iseyin in Oyo State. He hailed from the Fidipote Ruling House of Iseyin. As a Prince he consulted the Ifa Oracle to help him find out his future. Ifa told him to leave Iseyin and settle in another place. Ifa revealed to him that he would have to cross five different rivers and after that to look for a tree similar to the one in the market square at Iseyin.

He then left Iseyin with his wife, Pobo and other palace aides. He passed through the thick bushes surrounding Ibadan down to Ilangba in Ogun State. He later moved through the thick surrounding of Ijebu - Ode and crossed the first river - Yemoja River. He continued his journey to Oke - Ako and later crossed Odo - Ayan River (Odolayanra). He move further and crossed the Lagoye River (Odolagaye). He spent time at Odolagaye and later moved to Udale Village where he crossed the Ogbe River. He wanted to settle down at Udale but was reminded not to do so in the absence of any tree similar to that one at Iseyin Market Square.

He spent some time at Udale but later proceeded to Odogba - Udojo where he crossed the fifth river. Here, he used the dried palm leaves from palm trees for his cooking instead of firewood because of the predominance of dried palm leaves in this area. He called the place (Odogbawojo) the river where he collected dried palm leaves for his cooking.

After crossing five rivers, he started looking for the market square tree during his hunting expeditions, he found the first tree similar to that of the market square at Ipatun (the present site of the Central Mosque). He moved further to locate another tree similar to the one at Ipatun at the present site of Pobo Primary School. He called the tree Popoka. At Ipatun, he preferred to settle at the hilly part of the Popoka tree hence, the present site Poka (Okeidi Igi Popoka). He later continued his journey and found another bigger Popoka tree at the present Araka site (Igodo). Because of the beauty of the Popoka tree found at Araka which provided better shade when it rained, he left Ipatun and moved to Araka area of Igodo quarters, Pobo. He found the present site of Pobo Primary School more attractive than Igodo (Araka Square). He allowed Pobo to settle under another Popoka tree at the present site of Itun Oloja,

He finally settled at Araka Square but continued his hunting, moving to different directions from Araka Square because of the numerous number of Popoka trees available in his place of abode, the place called Poka. On one of his numerous hunting expeditions, he found a river - Ibeta (water coming out from the stone) at Oke Idi, Igi - Popoka. He later moved around to discover another Igi Popoka at the present Itun - Oloja. Pobo, his wife found the present site of Pobo Primary School attractive and Uraka later settled at another Igi Popoka at the present site of Itun - Oloja. He settled finally there doing his hunting expedition regularly from Hun Oloja to different directions where he located other Igi Popoka.

Other settlers who joined him under the Popoka tree at Poka were:

Deija Ita Mefa

Beku Hun Magbo

Ladesuwasi Oke Poka

Medu Igodo

Dendenren Hun Dendenren

Sengan Hun Sengan

These constitutes the seven wards of the town to help in the administration of the town as head of wards, Olorituns. Poka shares boundaries with Noforija on the North and Odomola on the south.

The major occupation of the indigenes is farming and the non - indigene like the Hausas trade in food items like tomatoes, pepper and yams. Others are petty traders.

Shrines: -

(i) Beta Stream - This is the stream named after Uraka's wife. It is worship when occasion calls for it.

(ii) Oro is the cult established by Uraka. it is worship by only the male elements of the town. The place of worship is 'Igbo Uraka' (Uraka's Forest)

In May 1892 the British Govemment waged Magbon War against the Ijebus because they did not allow Bishop Tugwell, who was going to Ibadan to pass through Ijebu - Ode. After the conquest of Ijebu - Ode and the entry of the British on the 20th of May, 1892, the whole of Ijebu Land witnessed a new system of Administration. It was this new political administration that set up Baleship system.

In April 2007 the institution of Baleship was changed to Obaship

H.R.M. Oba Semiu Adeleke Salau from Itun - Magbo

The present Oba is H.R.M Oba Ayodele Kolawolw Aliru from Itun – Oloja.