OFI was founded in the year 1100 AD by a man called OLOFI AROKUN who migrated from Ile-Ife with his brothers: Olotin; Olusire; Olusolo; Olutelu and Olude Elemile. They left Ile-Ife with their children, wives, slaves and properties such as Staff of Office ‘OPA-OYE’, Sword of Honour ‘ADA’, Beads Crown, Beads ‘AKUN’ and Orun fanran ‘REGAL TRADITIONAL CUSTOMS-red wear and Brass Bell ‘AJA’; travelled wide to a place which they considered as convenient.
OLOFI AROKUN told his immediate brother- Olotin (Agbalujan), his wife, children and slaves to settled and named the place “UJAN” [Olotin Agbalujan of Ujan]. OLOFI AROKUN led the rest of his brothers to found their respective domain and places called “ISOLO” [OLURODON of Isolo]; “ISIRE” [ ALAGHA of Isire]; “ITELU” [ Olutelu of Itelu]; and “UPO” [ Olude Elemile of Upo]
OLOFI AROKUN proceeded and discovered a virgin land at the center called ‘IDEMONU KOBA’, settled with his wife, children, slaves, properties etc and later name the place OFI. There was a lake at Idemonu Koba called ‘ATAN ONILAYE’. The very lake is now at the center of OFI. OFI has four (4) Principal Villages (I) ODOR OFI (II) OKE OJA (III) ALUGBE (IV) AREGHE. From time immemorial, OLOFI AROKUN has been generous and this explained why people from Ijebu-Owo, Igbira from Kogi State and Oka from Akoko Local Government Area were allowed to be farming on their land. OFI receives “IKEREGUN/ISAKOLE” known as tribute, yearly.
After years of settlement, OFI extended near two rivers named ‘AGOGO and UGBEREN’ where Iroko trees were many. This is why OFI indigenes are called “Omo-boye-wofi. Omalargogo, Lugberen, Ilu mo-yeye’ Oma Luroko Jegede Oke-de”. As a result of development, OFI expanded to the present location. OFI remain autonomous with HEAD CHIEFS till present time and traditional festivals as A. EGUNGUN- i. Areghe ii. Babaloju B. ODUN-IJESU while occupation are mainly farming, hunting and trading.
OLOFI AROKUN and his Descendants are strong farmers, in addition to arable crops, such as yam, cocoyam, cassava and vegetables, they are prominent in cash crops farming such as Cocoa, Coffee and mostly Kola-nuts hence OFI people are referred to as ‘’OMA AMU OROBOTO PIGI UNA, OMA OLOBI SO JIGHOJIGHO, OSO BI ORI ERIN, E DOLEEKA, KOBA MAWE RE BOJA, OMU OKOTO RE KA SINA OBINTON”.
LANDED AREA OF OFI KINGDOM
OFI Kingdom has a vast landed area, the area occupied the northern part of Ipele township land. Its started from Iyere Junction in the west, Oba Akoko in the north, Ido Ani in the East and Ipele township in the south. Please note that Ofi town in Ipele covers all the northern part of Ipele from the junction at Iyere -Owo down to Ogbere village after Uwese river, after Daaji Camp (AgoDaaji) and after Ose River.
OLOFI AROKUN and his descendants gave authority to farm on their land- UBALE (i.e. right to Cultivate land) to many people such as 1. Chief Adegbegha at Igbede 2. Chief Eleyo at Igbede 3. Atiba Adesida at Okelu 4. Atiba Arogbokun at Oworo 5. Isaac Akere at Igboyeri 6. Atiba Omosule at Uwese 7. Atiba Mamude at Uwese 8. Oginni Family at Ugbobejide and others. This authority to farm on the land does not give the beneficiaries ownership right but just to cultivate on the farm land. Therefore, the holders of UBALE cannot sell the land to anybody as it does not belong to them but only posses right to farm. The land belongs to OLOFI AROKUN and his descendants in OFI Town.
OLOFI AROKUN and OlOWO KORODO who reigned as Olowo of Owo between 1106 – 1156 AD were ordained as leaders of their respective domain, same time; by the then OBA of Benin Kingdom
FARM SETTLEMENTS, VILLAGES AND THE ORIGIN OF IPELE TOWN
IPELE TOWN came into being from the year 1200 A.D and originated from BENIN CITY, the current Capital City of Edo State. OLUEHIN was the founder of Ipele Town. Historically and cultural heritage in Benin Kingdom, the first son of the king (OBA OF BENIN) would be conferred with the chieftaincy titled IDGANEKEN OF UZELU, which will enable him to ascend to his father’s throne (OBASHIP OF BENIN) when the (OBA) join his ancestors.
OBA OHUAN, the OBA of Benin passed the instruction to his wives to report to him when they born a male child so that he would conferred him with Chieftaincy title. Unfortunately for OLUEHIN, he was born outside of Benin (OKIOMO), a town between Agbor and Benin. Before the information of the birth of OLUEHIN got to the king; another male child (Son) was born in BENIN in the ROYAL FAMILY, and the information had reached OBA OHUAN. That gave the first son the Chieftaincy title IDGANEKEN OF UZELU, which will be ascend to his father’s throne when Oba join his ancestors.
However, OBA OHUAN promised to give all necessary things and support to OLUEHIN when he grew up, so that he would find his own domain where he could rule. When OLUEHIN reached the maturity age, OBA OHUAN his father, traditionally presented OLUEHIN with A BEADED CROWN, STAFF OF OFFICE (APA-OYE), A SWORD OF HONOUR(ADA), BEAD(AKUN) ORUNFANRAN( A REGAL TRADITIONAL/CEREMONY COSTUM) as promised. An OKIOMO traditional herbalist, where he was born presented OLUEHIN with AJA (a Brass Bell) and OLUEHIN left his father’s kingdom (BENIN KINGDOM) to find his own domain.
While coming from Benin in his mission to find a suitable domain, he had a brief settlement at ULEJI near ELEGBEKA today. One day, OLUEHIN went to the bush to hunt, he met his friend and fellow hunter, elsewhere (OLOFI AROKUN) who told him about the problem facing his (OLOFI AROKUN) friend OBA OGWA RENGENJEN of Owo, concerning the EYO WAR. So, OLUEHIN helped OBA OGWA RENGENJEN of Owo to fight the war and ended it.
OLOWO, OBA OGWA RENGENJEN was surprised with the work well done by OLUEHIN and then invited him to settle beside him. Eventually, OLUEHIN settled in the ancient OKO QUARTERS as founder of IPELE. Also, OBA OGWA RENGENJEN rewarded OLUEHIN by conferred his son, AJAGBURE the Chieftaincy title EFON, this becomes the first EFON from OKO QUARTERS.
Next to settle on the present IPELE site were AGA and AJALE, who migrated from OKE- EHIGBO and ancient quarters in Benin City. They were directed to OKERIWO QUARTERS by OLUEHIN to reside which makes them the founder of OKERIWO QUARTERS.
IGEMOH was the third quarter to be founded in the modern IPELE TOWN, by a group of people led BY ATIBA OPE. The early IGEMOH people migrated from UTUO, a village very close to Benin City in Edo State.
ILANA QUARTER was the fourth to be founded. Historically, the early ILANA people migrated from Benin City, but first settled in IGHONREN near SABONGIDA-ORA before moving to settled in Ipele by IMEHENKONGBA. Followed by ILAMA and AGIDI.
These four quarters made up IPELE that is OKO; OKERIWO; IGEMOH; and ILANA.
OLOFI AROKUN is a close friend of OLUERIN, both were brave hunters and they related together as friends and good neighbors. But OFI; UJAN; USOLO and ISIRE Quarters were autonomous Quarters existing on their own. OFI Quarters which is the oldest and autonomous kingdom remains paramount.
However, new villages which started mostly as farm settlements have spring up to add to Ipele’s population and growth. Among these villages and settlements are Omolege, Ajagbale, Oloko, Uwese, Okeogun, Ugbojeu, Oyoroyoro, Ago Alao, Ago Mila, Ago Aderinola, and Ita Ipele; together with the founded Quarters to become a popular town known as IPELE today.
The modern Ipele Community is a conglomeration of this eight (8) ancient ethnic groups. IPELE TOWN has a traditional ruler, addressed as the OLUPELE OF IPELE.
The title of “Atiba” for Olupele was continued until 1917 when Olupele, Atiba Ogbola (Snr) joined his ancestors. The title of “Oba” was then adopted when Olupele, Oba Otekalu Ogbola (Jnr) ascended the throne in 1917.
From the first Olupele- Atiba Ope to the seventeenth Olupele of Ipele- they all ascended the throne through the ladder system, which gave way for the new Declaration Order in 2007 to be using the voting system.
PAST TRADITIONAL OLUPELE OF IPELE
1. Atiba Ope; 2. Atiba Ajara; 3. Atiba Mate; 4 Atiba Ogbola Agborijowa (1836-1887); 5 Atiba Olomolehin ( 1887-1897); 6. Atiba Odenusi 1 (1897-1907); 7. Atiba Akinrogbe (1907-1911); 8. Atiba Elegbe (1911-1913); 9. Atiba Otikun (1913-1915); 10. Atiba Ogbola (Snr) (1915-1917); 11. Oba Otekalu Ogbola (Jnr) (1917-1955); 12. Oba Adejokun Ogbonde (1955-1965); 13. Oba John Mamude (1965- 1974); 14. Oba Rueben Oginni (1974-1978); 15. Oba Micheal Alade 1 (1978-1983); 16. Oba Benjamin Olokeogun 11 (1983-1997); 17. Oba Oniwaya Adesida (2001-2006); 18. Oba Abel Olaleye Alade 11 (2007-2015).
” The voting system is yet to produce another Olupele even after more than five years since the passing of last Olupele and the stool is still empty. The changing system of what “Ifa” said is gone down the drain. Almost every towns and villages are in shambles now due to power accorded to politicians. We; sometimes, are not sincere with ourselves to the extent that when we are in political power; we forget our roots. It happened at Ibadan which almost led to another crises if not the divine pronouncement by Governor Seyi Makinde that Ibadan Chieftaincy, should observe status quo ante. Many instances are available worth looking into but at the same time, it should not come to a point of killing”
(C) 2022. Hon. Shola OLUMOLA, Principal Consultant, SKOL NIGERIA ENTERPRISES
skolnigeria@gmail.com 08156724302
