Ibadan is a metropolis sprawling on the savanna, the South-west geo-political zone headquarters and, of course, the capital of Oyo State. The city was a war camp that rose to prominence after the collapse of the Oyo empire. Besides winning many intra- Yoruba dialectic wars, in 1942, at Osogbo, it lived up to its name as it warded off a major inter-ethnic attack to suppress Yorubas and succeeded in driving back the rampaging Fulani Jihadists. Thus, ending the empire expansion gambit and aggression of Usman Dan Fodio’s marauders, who wanted to overrun Yorubaland. The city has produced many prominent sons and daughters. Below is a parade of many great families that have made the city tick and bubble.
ADETUNJI
There is no better way of starting this list than putting on top the family of the incumbent Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Ajetunji, the Aje Ogunguniso 1. Oba Saliu was an entrepreneur who made a great impact in the commerce and entertainment sub-sectors of the economy. Recall that Oba Saliu was the giant behind Omo Aje Records that had produced many renowned musicians.
MAKINDE
This family produced the Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde. As the producer of the number one citizen in Oyo State, the family has undoubtedly become prominent in the scheme of things in Ibadan that happens to be the capital of Oyo State.
ALI IWO
If you talk of Dr. Lekan Balogun, the Otun Olubadan of Ibadanland, then you are talking of a warrior family called Ali Iwo, who came from Iwo town to settle in Ibadan. Dr. Balogun was a senator from 1999 to 2003. The family is equally the producer of the incumbent senator for Oyo South Senatorial District in the person of Senator Kola Balogun.
AJIMOBI
Ajimobi family is one of the political families in Ibadan. The family produced the immediate past governor of Oyo State, Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi. He was a versatile corporate guru, who worked in many top positions in the oil industry and other corporate settings before becoming a senator and later a governor. He was, however, not the first person in his family to hold a high office in politics.
His father, Gani Ajimobi, was a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly during the Bola Ige’s days as Governor. Earlier, Gani’s elder brother, Lasisi Ajimobi, was also a member of the defunct Western Region House of Assembly and a minister during the days of the last premier of the region, the late Ladoke Akintola.
ARE OBADOKE LATOSA
Are Momodu Obadoke Latosa was an Aare Ona Kakanfo He was the father of Shitu Are. Shitu was also a great warrior as his father. He was the father of K.O Are who was the father of Dr. Lekan Are, the proprietor of Kakanfo Inn in Ibadan.
AKINJIDE
Chief Richard Akinjide was a great lawyer. He was the minister of education in the defunct first republic in the Tafawa Balewa era. He equally served in the Alhaji Shehu Shagari government as the Federal Attorney-General and Minister of Justice. He was the father of Jumoke Akinjide, who was a minister in the immediate past government of Dr. Goodluck Jonathan.
AGBAJE
Salami Agbaje was a renowned merchant and Balogun of Ibadanland. He was a trailblazer in education. He started the first free primary education in Nigeria even before late Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s government, in the defunct Western region, did it. The family produced Ibadan’s first medical doctor in the person of Dr. Anthony Saka Agbaje, who was the proprietor of Alafia Hospital at Mokola in Ibadan. Another son of the family, the late Chief Mojeed Agbaje was Ibadan’s first lawyer. Besides, the family also produced a retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Ganiyu Agbaje not to talk of Yekini Agbaje, who was a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). From Agbaje’s stable is the first Nigerian to attend Montessori College of Education in London, Mrs M. A. Agbaje-Anozie, who is the proprietor of many nursery/primary schools, girls’ secondary school and a college of education.
KOLA DAISI
The family is the source of Chief Kola Daisi, a lawyer and proprietor of Kola Daisi University. Chief Daisi is a businessman and the Basorun of Ibadanland.
BODE AMOO
The family is the producer of Chief Bode Amoo, an industrialist and a philanthropist who has made a positive impact on many lives.
OYEDIJI
Chief Bayo Oyediji was the last Seriki of Ibadan, a popular merchant, who had his finger in the oil business. His petrol filling stations are still standing, dotting many areas in Ibadan. The family has produced many successful sons and daughters. Among them is Shola Oyediji, a Lawyer.
ADEBISI (IDIKAN)
Adebisi Idikan was a great merchant who was stupendously rich and kind-hearted. He was a rare breed philanthropist. He had a myth that surrounded his display of wealth. On an occasion, it was recalled that he used currency notes as fuel to fry plantain. His residence, an architectural masterpiece at Idikan, is evidence of opulence. Dr. Adebisi is one of the successful sons of the family.
IBIKUNLE
Balogun Ibikunle was the greatest military general produced by Ibadan. The warrior came to Ibadan from Ogbomoso. He was reputed to have not lost any war in his time. He was blessed with fearless sons who took after him. They included Akintola and Iyapo who were great military commanders just like their father. Today, a retired Rear Admiral, Lateef Akintola, is the head of the family (Mogaji). He is also the Gbonka of Ibadaland.
OGUNMOLA
He came to Ibadan from Fesu, a village close to Iwo. Ogunmola became the Baale of Ibadan from the position of Otun Balogun. The Alaafin conferred Basorun title on him despite the fact that there was a surviving Basorun in Oyo town. Ogunmola was a fearful General, who had a profound influence on the military career of an Ijesha war commander, Ogedengbe. He was one of the Ibadan Generals who subdued the generalissimo of the Oyo empire, Aare Ona Kakanfo Kunrunmi of Ijaye over insubordination to Alaafin. Ogunmola did it with the assistance of Ibikunle, the Balogun.
LANLEHIN
Owoola Lanlehin was a politician of note. A close ally of the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Lanlehin was a top member of the Action Group (AG) during the first republic. One of his successful children is Solomon Solagbade Lanlehin, a lawyer, who is also a senator. He equally contested the governorship election but lost.
APANPA
Osundina of Isale Osi was a great warrior, who could not be discountenanced when mobilization for war and winning strategies were the issues. He was Osi Balogun, while Ogunmola was the Otun Balogun. Osundina gave birth to Sunmonu Apanpa, who rose to become the Balogun and later Basorun and ruler of Ibadan in 1907. He died three years later in 1910. Today, the family is headed by Abimbola Apanpa, who is the Mogaji and a retired school principal, Adedamola Apanpa.
There was also a senior polytechnic lecturer, Rilwanu Apanpa in the family.
ADEDIBU
Lamidi Adedibu was a chief of Ibadanland from Olukoyi compound at Oja’ba in Ibadan. A great politician, who was noted for his Amala politics that attracted large followership in his lifetime. He was the father of Senator Adedibu.
LADOJA
One of the sons of the family is the Osi Olubadan, High Chief Rashidi Ladoja. He is a thorough bred corporate giant, who had made his mark in the corporate world. He is into oil and gas and a politician, who was a senator and later Governor of Oyo State. He was instrumental to Makinde’s emergence as Governor of Oyo State in 2019.
OLOKO
Oloko family has made a landmark achievement in Ibadan. One of the sons of the family is Adeola Oloko, the Press Secretary to the Olubadan, Oba Saliu. The Mogaji of the family is Abasi Oloko.
AYODELE
Ayodele family has produced many notable sons and daughters who are contributing their quota to the growth and development of Ibadan. One of the sons of the family who has made a mark in politics is Remi Ayodele. He was the chairman of Ibadan North-West Local Council. Now, he is the Chairman of, Local Council Service Commission.
AKANDE
Akande’s family has produced successful children who have made an impact in their different fields of endeavour. Lawyer Akande, who is the proprietor of Flash FM, is the son of the family. Every year, he organizes a marathon race to boost sport and the health of people in the city.
ADEJUMO
Adejumo family is one of the sources of successful sons and daughters in Ibadan. An expert in Animal science, Professor Soji Adejumo is a son of the family. He was a chairman of SUBEB. His elder brother, Tunde Adejumo, who is late, was a lawyer.
ALABI
High Chief Lekan Alabi is a member of the family. A mass communicator of note, Chief Alabi started his journalism career at Sketch. He later crossed to the Government House, where he served as Chief Press Secretary to military and civilian governors. He still writes as a contributing editor to this magazine.
AJIBADE
Amidu Ajibade, a high chief in the metropolis, is the head of the family. He is a successful merchant, who has his fingers in many pies.
LADAPO
Ladapo family of Abebi in Ibadan has produced a daughter, who is the present Iyalode of Ibadan, Chief Elizabeth Oyekanmi and the late Ladapo who was a lawyer and SAN.
KARIM
From the Karim, family is a scion called Kola, a shipping magnate, who bought Costain West Africa. He is a polo buff. He is the present Agba Akin of Ibadanland.
FIJABI
A warrior family that has continued to contribute to the growth and development of Ibadan ab initio, Fijabi was the Abese Balogun of Ibadan. He rose through the ranks during a crisis to become the Baale of Ibadan. Chief Akinade Fijabi is one of the notable sons of the family.
OSUNTOKI
Osuntoki was the first chief from the civil line of Ibadan Chieftaincy to become Baale of Ibadan. Unlike most of his predecessors, who were military men, Osuntoki, whose abode was at Ayeye area of Ibadan, became Baale after the death of Baale Fijabi in 1895.
AKINLOYE
A great trading family, members of the family were known to have engaged in international trading across the sea in the past. Chief Adisa Meredith Akinloye was a scion of the family. He was a lawyer, administrator and renowned politician. His father was a produce buyer who used to take his wares abroad.
OKUNADE
Maye Okunade was a great warrior who migrated from Ile Ife. He was prominent among the rampaging group during the expedition that sacked Owu and Abeokuta in alliance with Ijebu and the remaining Oyo refugees who were looking for a place of abode. Maye Okunade later came to Ibadan and became Baale in 1810.
OLUYOLE
History said that Oluyole was a son of Olukoye, who was a grandson of Bashorun Yamba and Agbonrin, the daughter of Alaafin Abiodun. The crisis of the time he was born made him become a private soldier. He was among the rampaging group that migrated to Ibadan. He believed in violence and this helped him to quickly rise in status and rank to become Baale of Ibadan in 1826.
OLUGBODE
Oyasile Olugbode could be said to be lucky as he rose from a junior title of Abese to become a contender for the Baale position, as the incumbent Baale who had not appointed a Balogun and other chiefs suddenly died. Thus paving way for Olugbode to emerge Baale in 1851.
ODERINLO
Balogun Oderinlo was a valiant war commander, who was reputed to have contributed to the growth and development of many towns in Yorubaland. Balogun Oderinlo was regarded as a mystic who reared mysterious birds, which he deployed for intelligence gathering. He was said to have lost two of the birds that he deployed for intelligence gathering during a war. He was said to have used them to spy on the Fulani war camp at Osogbo in 1842. The success of the birds’ mission paved way for the defeat of the Fulani army by the Ibadan warriors, who sent the Jihadist scampering in the face of Ibadan soldiers’ superior assault. He could claim with evidence that he rescued the Yoruba from the plunder and enslavement of the Fulani. His status adorns the front of Mapo Hall.
KOBAMOJE
Balogun Kobamoje was popular for his resistance to the colonial masters’ imposed taxation. The need for funds, to run the administration of their colonized territory, made the Colonial Masters introduce taxation to collect revenue from people. At the announcement, Balogun Kobamoje said ‘no’ to taxation. He said no one would pay tax in his presence in Ibadan. Truly, as he said, he committed suicide on the eve of the day that the payment of tax was due. A great architect, High Chief Layiwola Balogun was a son of the Kobamoje family.
ABASI ALESINLOYE
Before 1930, all traditional rulers of Ibadan were called Baale, but that was to change in 1930 when Okunola Abasi refused to bear the title, Baale. He told the Alaafin that he would not accept the title of Baale, but Oba. Thus, Okunola Abasi was installed as the first Olubadan. That was how Oba Abasi ended the era of Baaleship in Ibadan.
LAWAL
Lawal family has brought to the world well-educated, enterprising and successful sons and daughters who have made their marks in their fields of endeavour. Kase Lukuman Lawal, who is based in the United States, is a scion of the family. A great entrepreneur, he has made his mark far away from home.
AKANDE
In Ibadan, there are many Akandes who cannot be ignored in the scheme of things. Harry Akande’s family is one of them. The family house is at the Orita merin area of Ibadan. Harry, though late, was the Agba Oye of Ibadanland. He was the proprietor of a science university in the Caribbean. He was a businessman who had an interest in many firms, home and abroad. He was once a presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Nigerian People’s Party (ANPP).
AGBAJE
Just as the Akande(s), there are many Agbaje(s) who are prominent in Ibadan. As all persons bearing the name, Agbaje are also Salami, there is another Salami at Ayeye. The scion of the family was a great Fuji musician, the late Sikiru Barrister Agbaje. He was the founder of Fuji music.
IBIRONKE
Ibironke family has been blessed with successful sons and daughters who have made marks in their areas of endeavour. Ola Ibironke, a great music promoter, was one of the sons that any parent could be proud of. Ibironke, who died recently, was the captain of Ibadan Golf Club (IGC).
JALARURU
Jalaruru is a respected family if one is talking of culture in Ibadan. Tatalo Alamu, a great Dundun musician was one of the lights of the family. Today, the family has also produced a Fuji music star, Abass Obesere. Now, the scion of the family is Gbolahan Ajalaruru, a grassroots politician and a staunch supporter of Seyi Makinde, the governor of Oyo State.
AKANDE
This is another Akande family in Ibadan that has produced an Ibadan-based Fuji icon, Taiye Adebisi. He is the father of one of the legislators in the Oyo State House of Assembly, Yussufu Adebisi Currency. Taiye Currency is a big supporter of Governor Seyi Makinde.
ADELABU
Adelabu family has made a name for itself in the politics of Ibadan since the First Republic, when the scion of the family, the Late Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu, emerged as the driving force of the opposition party, the National Convention of Nigeria Citizens ( NCNC) and Ibadan District Council Chairman. A scion of the family, Bayo Adelabu was the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate in the 2019 governorship election. He was a Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria before he ventured into politics.
FOLARIN
Folarin family has through its son, Teslim, contributed much to the political development of Ibadan and Oyo State. Now, he is in the Senate. It is not his first time in the Red Chamber. He even contested the governorship election in Oyo State in 2015 but lost.
OLUNLOYO
Olunloyo family has produced a governor of Oyo State in the person of Dr. Olunloyo, a renowned Mathematician.
OKUNOLA
Akorede Babatunde Saheed is the scion of the family whose compound is at the Ayeye area of Ibadan. Saheed is a Fuji star. He takes after his father who was a Were artiste in his lifetime.
SALAMI
The late football buff, Chief Lekan Salami, was the Chairman of the 3SC football club. He was reputed to have taken the club to greater heights as he was totally committed to nurturing the club to glory. He committed a huge sum of his personal money into funding the club.
ONIKEPO AKANDE
Onikepo Akande merits mentioning in the list. Besides being the wife of Chief Bayo Akande, she is an economist, accountant and industrialist. A Havard-trained professional, she is a two-time Minister of Industry.
AKINDELE
The scion of the family was the late Bode Akindele, who was an industrialist and the Parakoyi of Ibadanland.
ALABI
From the stable of the Alabi family is an author, a business mogul, an entrepreneur and philanthropist. Alabi has written many books on marketing. He built NairaBet from scratch.
FAGADE
Abisoye Fagade is a marketing communication professional. He is the founder and Managing Director of the Sidium Brand and he has built goodwill in his area of speciality.
ASANIKE
Oba Asanike was popular for raising controversy over the superiority of Olubadan’s stool in the ranking of Yoruba Obas. He will be remembered for sitting on Ooni of Ife’s seat at a Conference held in Ibadan in the old Oyo State, which led to a hot debate on which of the Obas is superior to the other. The Alaafin of Oyo was earlier involved in contesting superiority stool with Ooni of Ife.
-Tajudeen Adigun
READ ALSO: CELEBRATING GNI’S MUM, ALHAJA KUBURAT ISIAKA
Send Us News, Gist, more... to citypeopleng@gmail.com | Twitter: @CitypeopleMagz
