Remembering an Egba Icon @ 76! Alani Bankole

Remembering an Egba Icon @ 76!

Chief Suarau Olaiwola Alani Bankole was born on the 17th of September, 1941. He is 76 years old today.

Lukere, the man who discovered the famous Olumo Rock was his great grand grandfather.

 Alani Bankole became a Petrol Station attendant at age 15 at Texaco filling station, Omida in Abeokuta now called MRS.

He attended Baptist Boys High School. He was Captain of BBHS School football team. He was also President of his school Literary and Debate Society. He was his Class Prefect in his final year in the school.

He was one of the three representatives of the academia of Nigeria’s Western Region. Interestingly, He was President of BBHS Bible Society despite being a devout Muslim.  He studied Economic and Government in his GCE-A ‘Levels.  He has a Doctorate Degree in Business.  He resigned from United Bank of Africa (UBA) in 1960 to start his own business. He became a millionaire at age 36.  He is first Nigerian to venture into IATA Air Chartering business, freight agency.  He was a Governorship Candidate of National Party of Nigeria (NPN) in 1983 elections in Ogun State. His 2nd son, Sabur Dimeji Bankole is Nigeria’s 6th Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives. He has 4 wives with one, Late Adunni Bankole.

Bankole is Oluwo of Iporo and Seriki Jagunmolu of Egbaland. He is a leading Kingmaker in Egbaland.

He is presently Chairman of Board of Trustees, of the newly registered Action Democratic Party.

Egbas remember Late Asoju Oba at One year tomorrow

Some programmes have been highlighted for the one year remembrance of the late Asoju Oba of Egbaland, Chief Lamidi Sofenwa. 

As the former Chairman of Ogun State Cricket federation, Cricket match will be played tomorrow by 10 a.m at MKO Abiola Stadium, Kuto, Abeokuta while Other programmes, including awards of Scholarship to some best students will be done at the family house at Olusegun Obasanjo hill top estate, Abeokuta.

The Royal father of the day is His Royal Majesty, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, while the Chief of the day is Chief Tunde Abudu, OFR.

Chief Lamidi Ayinla Sofenwa was pioneer teacher at the Comprehensive High School (Compro), Aiyetoro, Yewa North, also a lecturer at Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo and University of Ibadan. He was later appointed as the Chairman of the Ogun State Teaching Service Commission (Ogun TESCOM).

He was Jaguna of Itoku and Asoju Oba of Egbaland he died last year September 1st at the age of 89 years.

Lasisi Alabi Atinuke Oseni Aiyesoro

Lasisi Alabi Atinuke Oseni Aiyesoro

There was a year, it was reported that Ogun river wanted to visit Alake of Egbaland at his palace in Abeokuta. The Yemoja worshippers announced it, this could had been the disaster. There was no antidotes from the traditional worshippers, No sacrifice was recommended for the goddess of Ogun river but rather than, the reason given that Yemoja was angry. 

The water had started to move towards Alake palace, but the devoted, brave and fearless Alfas and Imams of Egbaland brought out their holy Qur'ans to cast aspersions and stopped Iyemoja, the goddess of water. Since then, Ogun River has not passed its boundaries where the Egbas wanted it to be.  It was the aggressive flowing of Ogun river that time that destroyed the beautiful hotel, brothel built by Lasisi Alabi Atinuke Oseni, also known as Aiyesoro, Apatẹmata.

(Aiyesoro house)

Photo credit: Abiodun Lasile

When the Ogun river destroyed Kano hotel (bordello) which was located at Ago ika area of Abeokuta, Aiyesoro angrily acquired lands beside the river bank to build the mighty hotels, ( Olowo Fowosedo, that was how the area was named) but Government stopped him so as to avert disaster. The foundation and the strong pillars and culverts of the mighty hotel are still there at Ogun river bank undemolised.

This is the foundation of Kano Hotel which was stopped by government. 

(I took this picture exactly 5:30p.m today)

The man called Apatẹmata was known for his exaggerated and uncommon way of trading, to the extent that if someone wanted to buy ordinary small commodity from his stores, he would ask for the background of his buyer. Where was he coming from? Who were his parents in this town? How richer was he? Ọmọ tani ẹ nilẹ yi? This made people to give him sobriquet, Apatẹmata (Someone who exhibits wares without selling)

Whenever the Ẹkẹrin of Ọjọọ Gbagura, Egbaland, Chief Lasisi Aiyesoro was going to Eid prayer at Lantoro Eid ground for the Muslims festival, he would put on Agbada clothes and drove his long and open-roof Cadillac De Ville convertible car, the vehicle's horn would be making sound... Aiye-soro, Aiye-soro. This horn would be calling attentions of the people in the areas that Apatẹmata was going for Eid prayer.

Chief Lasisi Oseni married 7 wives; they were Salamot, Nimotallahi, Wulemot, Safurat, Saidat, Isiwat, Adufe. He had many Children. He was socialite and philanthropist, musicians around that time waxed record for him, they included Yusuff Olatunji (Volume 20) Akogun njaye...ile Alabi, ile Oba. 

Chief Lasisi's mighty building, Ẹkẹrin of Ọjọọ House is still one of the beautiful houses and tall building in Abeokuta till date. It is located at Fowosedo Ikereku area via Enu gada to Lafenwa in Abeokuta.

Mr. James Adedamola said "It was not Ayiesoro Hotel Building at Enu Gada that make the Area Fowosedo. It was a Two storey Building Stone Wall after the Old Kano Hotel Adjacent to The New One  that Derived the Area Fowosedo"

Abeokuta (Under the rock) and its unique areas

Abeokuta (Under the rock) and its unique areas

Abeokuta town is sorounded by hills/Ups (Oke) but with Isale (down hill), 'Ago' , 'Ita', 'Idi', 'Isale', and 'Oni'.

Oke-igbein
Oke-Itoku
Oke-Aregba
Oke-Sokori
Oke-ijeun
Oke-Egunya
Oke-ilewo
Oke Lantoro
Oke Ejigbo
Oke-igboore
Oke saje
Oke Ago-Owu
Oke-yidi
Oke Ijemo
Oke-ileru
Oke-Ido
Oke-mosan

Oke yeke

Isale Ake
Isale igbein
Isale Kuto

Onikoko
Onikolobo

Onijanganjangan

Idi ape
Idi aba
Idi ori

Ago oba
Ago egun
Ago ijaye
Ago oko
Ago ika
Ago ijesha

Ago odo

Ita Oshin
Ita ika
Ita morin
Ita Eko
Ita olori
Ita Agemo
Ita-Elega
Ita-imo

Ita Iyalode

Ekiti traditional rulers invade markets, reduce prices of non-dollars affected goods

The news from Ekiti State had it that the the traditional rulers invade the major markets in the State to force the market women and men to reduce the price of the consumable goods that were not affected by dollars.

According to the sources the moves followed a brief meeting that
took place at the Government House in
Ado-Ekiti, the state capital where the Obas
unanimously adopted to match on all to
reduce the cost of food stuff by at least
half of the current prices to reduce the sufferings of the people.

The traditional rulers ensured that mostly the price of the agricultural products were all reduced by half.

The source said the gaari that was sold before at N200 has been reduced to N100,

Best Amala Joints in Abeokuta

*Stand out African Cuisine, Quarry road

*Iya Sunday, Adigbe

*Eji Amala, Mokola round-about

*Surulere foods canteen, Abiola way

*Kosalabaro Amala, Ita eko

*Iwe Iroyin foods canteen

*Iya Abass, Olomoore

*Madojutimi Oluwa Foods canteen, Abiola way

*Iya Ila foods canteen, Ęnu gada

*NIPOST foods canteen, Sapon

*Iya Saida, Ita-Oshin motor park

*Iya Ahmed, Lafenwa (24 hours service)

*Iya Bilikisu Yakoyo Food Canteen, 5, Adegan Street, Isabo

*Ekowas, Onikolobo, Abeokuta

*Iya Twins, Iyana Oloke, Abeokuta

*KowyKaff, Quarry, Abeokuta

*Grills and Greens, Ibara, Abeokuta

*Egba Cafeteria, Oke Ilewo, Abeokuta

*Iya Taira, Oba Lipede market, Kuto, Abeokuta

*Kikelomo Foods canteen, Rounda area along Igboora road

*Iya Morufa foods canteen, Olorunsogo, Abeokuta

* Ope Oluwa foods canteen, Kobapę

* Iya Guarantee foods canteen, Leme

Credit : PIA 

Olumo rock: The dichotomy of ancient Egba rock

According the history, An Hunter called Adagba firstly discovered the Olumo rock, he and his family would stay under the rock after returning from their daily farming.

The Egbas were originally under the Oyo
Empire, but became independent following the
Inevitable collapse of Oyo in the first half of
the 19th century. "EGBA GB' OMINIRA"

Also an hunter, Warrior and the leader of Egba refugees
from Ibadan area, Sodeke founded
the town of 'Abe-okuta' which
means “beneath the rock”.

The rock was later named
“Olumo” which had two
different meanings. “Olu” (God)
“Mo” (Molded), “Oluwa fi
mo” (God has put an end to our suffering and the war), "Ibiti Oluwa fi Ogun Egba mo si"

Picture 1: Olumo rock after the renovation 

 

The main entrance of Olumo rock 

Olumo rock before the renovation