Olugbon: How he saved Ogunlola from execution

By Idowu Adelusi

Alayeluwa, Kabiyesi, Oba Samuel Adegboyega Osunbade, the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, had wanted to become an active politician.

While in London between 1961and1967 as a student, he was a firebrand student union activist. His contemporaries are Professor Bolaji Akinyemi, former Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr. Ibrahim Tahir, former National Party of Nigeria (NPN) national secretary, Alhaji Inua Wada, a politician from Kano and Igwe Michael Abi, among others.

Oba Osunbade who while at the Birmingham College of Commerce, London, qualified as a chartered accountant, ascended the throne of hisfore fathers in 1992 as the 21st Olugbon.

Orile Igbon is an ancient town located in the present day Surulere Local Government of Oyo State.

Tracing the origin of Orile Igbon, Oba Osunbade stated that Olugbon was a direct descendant of Oduduwa.

“We came from Ife. Olugbon, Aresa and Olukoyi were junior brothers of Ala’afin Oranmiyan and of same mother with the Ala’afin.

According to Oba Osunbade, when Oranmiyan left Ile-Ife to settle in Oyo Ile , his three brothers went with him. Ala’afin Oranmiyan made them viceroys of the Oyo Empire and heads of the settlements they had found for themselves. The Olugbon settled at Orile Igbon around 1025 AD.

Due to the relationship between Olugbon, Aresa and Olukoyi, the Yoruba will say Olugbon legbon, Aresa laburo, Olukoyi leketa won lenje lenje omo agba to nya oorun (Olugbon is the eldest, followed by Aresa and Olukoyi as the last).

Kobaje laye Olugbon, kobaje laye Aresa, konibaje fun gbogbo wa. Ase (That it will be well with us ).

History has it that anytime the mother of Olugbon, Aresa and Olukoyi needed sunlight to dry her dresses , she would sing thus, Oorun Olugbon, oorun Aresa, oorun Olukoyi omo agba ti nya oorun, and the sun will appear immediately.

The monarch revealed that his father, Olugbon Japa was instrumental to the origin of Ogbomoso town.

According to Oba Osunbade, the Yoruba history stated that Ogunlola, the first Soun was an adopted son of Olugbon Japa. Around 17th century, an Ibaribaman from Borgu in the present day Niger State migrated to settle in Igbon. He was skillful in hunting and the use of bow and arrow to kill animal.He was equally a messenger to Olugbon.

The Ibaribaman was nicknamed Gborungunle. He used to sell his catches to the people and to the family of Kabiyesi Aresa Ikin. Gborungunle used his catches to entice Omonla, a princess and daughter of Aresa Ikin . Gborungunle impregnated her. Because of this he fled Igbon. Omonla was sent out of the palace.

Later, Omonla delivered a baby boy and Olugbon Japa named the child as Ogunlola, Ogundiran, Aisagbe.

After the naming, Omonla sent emissaries to her father of her intention to bring the baby to him for blessing but the Kabiyesi replied her “Ma soun at’iwo ati omo re, ngo fe ri yin” (stay off, I don’t want to see you and your baby).

This was how the name, Soun came into being.It became the nickname of Ogunlola who grew up in the palace of Olugbon Japa. Later when he started to rule over the then tiny settlement now called Ogbomoso on the authority of Olugbon, he adopted Soun as a title. Ogunlola mastered the use of bow and arrow to kill animals.

Sooner, some emigrants were coming to settle within the domain of Olugbon. Some of the strangers were Baale Elerin, a Nupeman, Baale Akandie, an Ibaribaman, Baale Aale, also a Nupeman and Orisatolu, a renegade from Ota. They were all hunters. These areas are quarters of Ogbomoso town today.

To keep the strangers in check, Olugbon Japa sent Ogunlola to go and live with them. Ogunlola pitched his tent at the foot of Ajagbon tree. The tree is still at the palace of Soun Ogbomoso till date. Ogunlola had a wife called Lorungbekun, a princess of kabiyesi Alapa, a minor king at that time. Ogunlola was a man with high temperament.

His wife, Lorungbekun bought a cloth from an Ijesa man on credit. She was a palmwine seller.

On the day she told Baba Ijesa to come for his money, the money was not fully ready. Baba jesa refused to go home. When Ogunlola arrived home he saw Baba Jesa, and he also begged him to leave but Baba Jesa refused.

In the process, Ogunlola attempted to drag Baba Jesa out of his house and a fight ensued. Ogunlola brought out a charmed ring from his pocket and beat Baba Jesa with it and he died.

The matter was reported to kabiyesi Olugbon Japa that Ogunlola his son, had murdered somebody. Olugbon was confused on what to do. He did not want to adjudicate over the matter because he would have no option than to pronounce Ogunlola guilty.

Tactically, he referred Ogunlola to Ala’afin Ijagbo at Oyo Ile with conflicting messages.

He sent Ogunlola with a message called aroko. In the aroko were ewe apelaye (long live leave) meaning leniency, Ida (sword) that he should be killed, erupe (sand) that he should be buried.

Ala’afin Ijagbo was confused on the conflicting messages because while it said Ogunlola should be executed, it also asked for leniency.

The Ala’afin ordered that Ogunlola should be detained till he has decided on what to do over his matter.

At that time, there was a renegade from Ogboro led by Elemoso terrorising Oyo Ile. Ogunlola overheard the guards discussing about it and he implored them to allow him see the Ala’afin. He told the kabiyesi that he should be allowed to go and confront Elemoso. Ala’afin allowed him to go and luckily, Ogunlola killed Elemoso with his arrow and beheaded him.

Ala’afin therefore freed him and sent him back to Olugbon. Olugbon, who was gladden, also returned him to Idi Igi Ajagbon (Ajagbon tree).

Some of the past Olugbon were Olugbon Ise (the first Olugbon), Olugbon Japa, Olugbon Amoka, Olugbon Orisafayo, Olugbon Oyedele Akanni, Olugbon Elerin, Olugbon Olugbeji.
The ruling houses in Orile Igbon are Adeyelu, Ajayi and Tanmoni.

Oba Osunbade is the vice chairman, Oyo State Council of Obas. He has a flourishing accounting firm. His reign has brought development to the kingdom. There are about 143 villages in Orile Igbon.

In November every year, the king makes sacrifice to Iwin Meje (seven gods) to bring peace and economic prosperity to the town.

The gods are Ori, Oba, Osun, Ogun, Oya, Ife and Obatala. For that reason, the oriki (cognomen) of Olugbon is Oni win meje a kunlebo ni popo ajagun.