History of Ajagbusi Ekun’s Crown of Iloko Ijesa
The First Ajagbusi Ekun, Owaloko was succeeded by his two sons successively – Ajagbusi – Ekun II and Ajagbusi – Ekun III. They reigned for 80 and 50 years respectively.
Consequent upon Ajagbusi – Ekun’s Victory in the War he fought for the Ikole people ;he was given a young Princess named ORISATANMIJE (daughter of the Oba Ikole) as wife. Among the Children from the marriage was a son called OGBEDULOGUN.
OGBEDULOGUN succeeded his father in 1349 and reigned till 1431. He was succeeded by his son Aserere who reigned for 82 years.
Aserere begat Ifarotimi and Oyelowo who begat Ajasegun. Oyelowo successfully competed with his Senior brother Ifarotimi to succeed their father and he reigned for over 40 years.
Ifarotimi succeeded him and also reigned for 37 years. Ifarotimi was succeeded by his nephew Ajasegun in 1598. Other Ajagbusi Ekun that ruled Iloko Ijesa were :
* Owaloko Ajanlekoko (1647- 1689)
* Aloko Oyeleru (1697 – 1770)
* Aloko Oyegbami (1777 – 1817)
* Aloko Esuwooye (1817 – 1867).
Note After the Demise of Esuwooye in 1867, there was a long interregnum because there was no grown up son in his dynasty to succeed him.
* Aloko Oyerinde Olashore (1952 – 1989)
* Owaloko Oladele Olashore (1997 – 2012)
IJIGALU EIYEBIOKIN a native of ILOGBO (now Imo – Ilesa) became the first person outside the Ajagbusi Ekun dynasty to be invited and installed as Aloko. He was a friend to OBEKA, the son of ASEYE NABORUN. Obeka took advantage of his intimacy with Owa – Obokun Bepo to Obtain support for installing IJIGALU EIYEBIOKIN as Aloko. Unfortunately his reign was short – lived. IJIGALU was succeeded by his brother FAKANYE EIYEBIOKIN, who also did not last on the throne.
AGUSU – OOGUN a native of Oke Ana was invited to be the next Aloko. He died as SALORO before he was installed Aloko.
ALATISE who was reputed to be a warlord and one of Ogedengbe’s close associates was invited from Ilase to be installed as Aloko. He reigned from 1884 – 1927. After Alatise’s death, Akijo the son of Fakanke EIYEBIOKIN was installed as the Aloko and he reigned for about 22 years before he died in 1949.
Note that none of the five Aloko’s who were invited to the throne of Iloko outside the descendants of Ajagbusi Ekun wore a Crown.
Oba Samuel Oyerinde Olashore who was installed the Aloko in 1952, did not inherit a Crown. Ajagbusi Ekun Esuwooye was the last to wear a Crown before him.
Oba Samuel Oyerinde Olashore fought to regain the crown. The Owa – Obokun recommended the restoration of the crown to Oba Oyerinde Olashore, while the Ooni of Ile Ife in a letter to Owa Obokun on the Subject, cited historical records from the grove of Oduduwa that the first Aloko had always had a Crown from their fore – fathers in support of the restoration of Aloko’s Crown.
The then Military Government of the Old Oyo State confirmed that the wearing of a Crown by the Aloko was rooted in history and the Osun State Government took the necessary steps to formalise the right of the Aloko to wear the beaded Crown by appropriate Government notice Published in the Gazette.
After an interregnum of over 7 years and careful search, it was the desire of all the citizens of Iloko Ijesa and all Princes and Princesses that the Kingmakers should select another person from the Ajagbusi Ekun dynasty as the next Oba.
Consequently, Prince Oladele Olashore, the first son of Oba Samuel Oyerinde Olashore was selected and this enjoyed popular support of all the People of Iloko Ijesa.
Moreover after the Demise of His Majesty, Oba Oladele Olashore in the year 2012 after he reigned for 15 years.
After an interregnum of 5 years and a careful search, it was the desire of all the citizens of Iloko Ijesa to have a New Oba.
Meanwhile, the choice of a new king was made open to all the aforementioned ruling families to put forward their choice of Prince to ascend the throne of his forefathers. Prince Akeem Ogungbangbe another Prince from Ajagbusi Ekun dynasty with the highest votes courtesy of the Kingmakers was installed as the Saloro of Iloko Ijesa in August, 2017.
Prince Akeem Ogungbangbe was proclaimed as Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesa by Osun State Government in April 19 2021, the Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesa received his appointment letter from State government as Owaloko of Iloko-Ijesa on April 21 2021.
Compiled by:
Adejola Adeyemi [Crown]
Published by:
Awoyemi Olayinka (Nation)
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