- Chief ALANI BANKOLE, The New Apena Egba Reveals A Lot
Iporo, is one of the townships in the Egba Alake section of Egba Land. I am always proud of Iporo, not because it is the place of my birth but more because of the strategic roles that my forefathers played in the formation of what is today known as Egbaland. Their roles were so strategic that without sounding immodest, it will be almost impossible to discuss issues relating to Egbaland, Egba Alake, the Alake stool or even the process of choosing an Alake without reference to the roles played by the great Egba sons of Iporo extraction. I must state clearly that this is not limited to a particular era. From generation to generation, Iporo has become renowned in producing men noted for bringing glory to the Alake’s Kingdom. It is important for me to put it on record that Iporo is the number two, only next to Ake in the chain of omo-iya-marun, the five Permanent members of the Kingmakers Council in Egbaland. This group can be likened to the five permanent members of the United Nations. Others are Kemta, Itoku and Ijeun. I will talk more about the omo-iya-marun and their roles in the subsequent chapters.
As a matter of fact, if history were to be followed, the Iporos should be either the Oba or the Permanent Regent having ruled for the first sixteen years of our arrival to our present base. But that was not to be, following the 1958 permanent declaration that deprived the Iporos of that privilege. I am of a strong opinion that, that declaration was made on tradition and not on history. The reason I make this statement is that if history were considered, the contributions of every section would have been brought to the fore and that probably would have put emphasis on the roles played by each of the sections and ultimately determine who does what. I do not have any misgiving as it were, it is just that I have penchant for putting records straight. Frankly, but for the politicians who were behind the 1958/63 declaration, Iporo would have been given its appropriate position in the declaration.
The Iporos
The Iporos are generally very strong-willed, intelligent, straight forward, patriotic and progressive minded people. An average Iporo is a dogged fighter and is not given to betrayal. Right from time immemorial, once the Iporos give you their words , you can be sure that it will be kept. The Iporos along with other omo-iya-marun settled along Olumo Rock, after Ikija on arrival from Igbo Egba. Our home stead is however situated around Boodo Village, a settlement situated along Ibadan road in the present Obafemi /Owode Local Government area of Ogun State. It is no doubt a small but closely knit and peaceful community. Iporos are also in the remaining five Local Governments in the Ogun Central Senatorial District and beyond; including the present Lagos State.
Every major issue involving the Iporos, especially traditionally, will have to be blessed at Orile Iporo. Despite our strong footing in Abeokuta, the shrine for instance, is still in Orile Iporo. The Iporos are a special gift to Egbaland. At critical moments, they have always played strategic roles centered on the Progress of Egba Nation. Let me quickly go down memory lane to provide you with justifications for this statement. When the Egbas were to move to their present location from lgbo Egba, it was an Iporo man, Lukere who was saddled with the responsibility of locating the place where Ifa oracle had advised them to relocate to. When it was time for them to move in late 1829, it was again another Iporo man, Sodeke who eventually led the Egbas to the Promised Land after Lamodi got missing at Odo-Ona. On their arrival, he was the first “paramount ruler” the Egbas had ruled, though not in the capacity of an Oba. He ruled for fourteen years before he passed on in 1843. After his demise, Somoye, another great Son of Iporo took over the leadership of the Egbas. He was in charge for about two years and later another six years after Okukenu before he passed on. No other person was able to do that until Sagua Okukenu of
Igbein was in 1854, installed as the first Alake in Abeokuta.
There is an area that cannot be over emphasized when discussing the efforts of the Iporos in the growth, togetherness and progress of Egbaland. I want to state emphatically that, that moment was when the Iporos came out in their full majesty to show their strength both traditionally and otherwise. It cannot be at any other time, than the moment of choosing our Oba. The exalted stool of the Alake of Egbaland is not only sacred but also highly revered. The Iporos realised this quite early and have ensured that only worthy Sons of Royalty ascend the throne. During interregnum, there have always been great conflicting interests among those who struggle to wear the crown but our concern in Iporo has always been that the right person should emerge. I am quite aware that more often than not, our genuine intentions have been misconstrued but my joy is in the fact that at the end, we have always been vindicated.
At the time Oba Gbadebo 1 st was to ascend the throne of his forefathers, history had it that one of his strongest supporters was Bankole 1st. Bankole was the first son of Lukere. His mother was Efunsanya the daughter of Aro Igbein. He later became the Apena of Iporo. He was a trader and a farmer. In those days, he exported Cocoa and imported ammunitions. As a proof of his wealth, he owned six horses and his wife Yewande, daughter of Okikilu and a niece of Sodeke, who also was a great trader bought him the seventh horse which he rode personally.
When Oba Oshokalu who ascended the throne on the 18th of September, 1891 joined his ancestors on 11th of June, 1898, one of the contenders for the throne, the then Prince Gbadebo, was a very close friend of Bankole 1st, who was at that time, the leading surviving Chief from Iporo, kingmaker and the secretary to the Egba united Government which was formed in 1898. Bankole pulled all the strings at his disposal to ensure that the right man, Oba Gbadebo 1st, became the Alake of Egbaland. Again Chief Coker, one of the greatest legal practitioners that ever lived in Nigeria was the Oluwo Iporo at the time of Oba Mofolorunsho Oyebade Lipede was to ascend the throne in 1972. Chief Coker equally played a major role in the emergence of Oba Oyebade Lipede as the Alake of Egbaland.
At the time, out of the thirty Kingmakers, six were from Ake, yet none of the Ake delegates supported Oba Oyebade Lipede while the whole delegate from Iporo threw their weight behind the Oba, who later proved himself to be one of the most outstanding Obas that ever reigned over Egbaland. When Oba Oyebade Lipede joined his ancestors, the Iporos again played a great role in the ascension to the throne of Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, Okukenu IV It was a serious battle but at the end, the Iporos again proved that they have penchant for ensuring that, at all times, the best candidate emerges as the Alake of Egbaland. I will provide you with the details in the subsequent chapters. But let me say quickly, that as a result of the sincerity of purpose and overriding public interest which drives the Iporos, their candidates have always emerged victorious. This I believe might have formed the joke often said that “Ade wa I’ Ake, Ase wa ni Iporo”, which literally means, the Crown is in Ake while Authority is at Iporo.
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