Did you know Oja’ba in Beere area of Ibadan? Have you ever noticed the giant statue on the round about of the popular market? If your answers are yes then you must have an idea of whose statue it is. But if not we can tell you for free that that is Iba Oluyole’s statue.
Iba Oluyole in his lifetime was one of the great warriors of the ancient city of Ibadan, the capital of Oyo State. In fact, he was one of the famous warlords of that time whose name must be mentioned whenever the creation and survival of Ibadan is being discussed.
After Lagelu’s first and second Eba Odan, as it used to be called, being an abandoned settlement, was discarded by raging wars across the Yorubaland back in the 16th century, Iba Oluyole ruled over what is today referred to as Ibadan land.
That is why Ibasorun Oluyole’s family is very popular and respected in Ibadan till today. That also explains why the family has vast land and properties scattered all over the city. So powerful was Iba Oluyole that he was said to have commanded enormous respect even among warlords back then. He was born into the house of a warrior. His grandfather, Yamba Bi Ekun, was Basorun in Oyo during the reign of Alaafin Ojigi. His father’s name was Olukuoye Ajala.
His mother, Agbonrin was the daughter of Alaafin Abiodun 1. Though Oluyole’s age couldn’t be ascertained, he was said to have been born around 1740-1750A.D.
At the initial stage, Oluyole learned the trade of Blacksmith and thereafter specialized in modeling weapons of war. But he was later to become a fearless warrior. Probably because of his background, as grandchild of Basorun, Oluyole was said to be very vast in charms. The source or logic behind this his diabolical powers nobody knew.
It was also recorded that Oluyole, alongside Alaafin Atiba, Kunrunmi and other warriors fought galantly to protect Oyo and indeed Yoruba kingdom from being captured by Fulani, in what was tagged Eleduwe war. After this particular war, Aladeleye Atiba was installed the Alaafin in Ago Market and he made Oluyole his second in command (Basorun) and Kunrunmi as Aare Ona Kakanfo. During Ota war, Oluyole was said to have fought to beach where he met Eleko of Eko and a Portuguese who liked his war skills and later presented him with a brass rod which he always held. Oluyole was later to be installed as the first Baale of Ibadan land after the demise of Aare Oluyedun who ruled for less than a year.
As Baale, Oluyole’s influence was phenomenon. He lived like the great war commander that he was. He was said to have married over 30 wives out of which 25 bore him children. His bravery, achievements and immense contributions towards stability, development of Ibadan land can’t be over emphazised as it was well documented and have been historically confirmed by many writers. He founded what is today refered to as Oja Iba at Beere area of Ibadan, where his statue is stylishly placed and Oja Bode at Molete area of the ancient city. Iba Oluyole died in 1850.
-Dare Adeniran
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