Many centuries ago, a group of hunters from Odo Olu-Iwa (known as IJEBU LAND) in Ogun State, headed by Ogunelegi Larinde including Prince Awoyelu Osimore; the eldest son of the king of Ijebu land; Oba Oloiwa Osimore Prince Awoyelu who was an expert on the field embark on hunting expedition.
Oba Osimore bears children thus: Awoyelu, otherwise known as Olumokanwa Osimore. Princess Osifoluren, Princes Onayelu. Osigunwa also called Osigunwa (who Awoyelu, later nicknamed Ofinran-Oye) and Princess Oluyeri Oluyalo otherwise known as Onayade Osimore.
During one of the hunter’s expedition, Oba Osimore passed on to the great beyond. The royal chiefs’ having waited for a while for the return of prince Awoyelu they made osigunwa the king; who was third male in the royal linage.
Upon Awoyelu’s arrival, Oba Osigunwa refused to hand over the kingship to him. The chiefs who thought wisely pleaded with him (Awoyele) for the peace to reign. He should return to the hunting ground and make there his kingdom, which on the other hand will not be subjected to Oba Osigunwa. These singular act pave room for the division of Ijebu land into two kingdom jugbo and jode with Agbahun River as its boundary; which is now known as Ijebu Igbo and Ijebu Ode respectively.
Upon His return to the hunting ground, he was accompany by followers including his immediate young brother(Onayelu )and his co-hunters who were not pleased with the action taking by oba Osigunwa, all accepted him as the king ( Olu Owa of Ugbo) of the hunting ground which was known as Ita-Molekere , but in recent time call Obada station.
As time passed on, the land became prosperous in population which made Oba Tako Awoyelu to find cause to divide the area into sub camp for easy administration. These gave birth to the five main wards that made up Ijebu Igbo namely; Oke Sopen, Ojowo, Atikore, Oke Agbo and Japara.
These wards are headed by Ilamoren group of chiefs which were known as Baale during the colonial era and later up graded to Grade II status Obas by the present Ogun State Government, Otunba Gbenga Daniel on 13th may 1994.
The people of Ijebu Igbo can boost of an aged-long occupation which is hunting, but in recent time, this has develops into a large commercial meat selling. At Obada market,an encounter with Alhaji {chief} Ambali Balikaka, baba oloja of Ijebu north who reveals that an average of 105 cows is killed before 7:30am and spread across boundaries daily.
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