By
Alabi Quadri
The city of Ogbomoso was created in the mid 17th century. A forest site and a walled city that have strategic defence opportunities. Ogbomoso is a city in Oyo state, South western part of Nigeria. With population of 645,000 according to the 2006 census results, includes five local government areas.(Ogbomoso South,North,Orire,Surulere and Ogo-Oluwa)
ANCIENT CITY OGBOMOSO
1. Ogbomoso was a walled city, the gates of which were closely watched by day and securely closed by night and came under British rule in 1893
2. Olabanjo Ogunlola Ogundiran can be traced to Ibaribas descent. He came to the area now know as Ogbomoso in pursuit of his hunting profession. He stayed under ajagbon tree (still by the side of the palace). Ogunlola later discovered some hunters. Aale at the site now called Oke-Elerin quarters, Orisatolu at Isapa quarters, Onsile at Ijeru quarters and Akandie at Akandie quarters.
3. Egbe Alongo (Alongo society)
The Alongo society was initiated by Ogunlola and other hunters (Aale, Onsile, Orisatolu and Akandie) abide with the society and well formed. The main objectives of the society were: Defence against Sunmoni (Slave prowler) mutual assistance and raids group hunting of wild animals. Ogunlola was made the chairman of the society.
4. War Lord Base ( Aare - ona - Kakanfo base )
The Aare Ona kakanfo is the title for the generalissimo of Yoruba race out of 15 Aares in Yorubaland Ogbomoso have produced 7 that is, half of the kakanfos. The only city to produced this in Yoruba history.
5. Unbroken tradition
The town of Ogbomoso which protected the aggregating population of many surrounding towns sustained its defence long and well and with four others, now stands the remnant of what was once the original kingdom of the Yoruba. It was as a result of its strong defence that it attracted into it many people who had fled their homes when were destroyed or threatened by the Fulani Jihadists. Because of its survival through the wars, Ogbomoso boast of an unbroken tradition from the time it was founded till the present.
GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION
6. Ogbomoso is a city in Oyo State, South Western Nigeria, on the A1 highway. It between Oyo and Ilorin which were only thirty miles to the North and South.
7. Shared boundaries with major city and state Kwara state by the North, Oyo by the South, Osun state by the East and Oke-Ogun by the West.
COMMERCE AND TRADE
8. While the people were predominately farmers, some engaged in trading. The central market at Oja Igbo was the economic nerve centre of the town. Among others notable market are : Arada, Atenda, Arowomole, Akande, Tewure, Iluju, Gambari, Odo-Oba, Oko, Iresa Apa, Iregba Oja markets. Traders from the neighboring city and towns attended the markets at Ogbomoso. Some of the market are daily while some are five-five days.
9. People were predominately farmers. Ogbomoso was blessed with fertile land that almost all the crops can be grow in Ogbomoso. Agriculture was the major economy in the land; Mango plantations are widely distributed across the land, Cashew plantations are widely distributed also.
Ogbomoso is one time the largest planter of cassava across the globe. Yams, cassava, tobacco and Maize are also among the notable agricultural products of Ogbomoso.
10. To facilitate the movement of traders entering and leaving Ogbomoso from different places, the town wall had 8 gates, all in the direction of entering the town
11. Oyo - Ilorin is the main street in Ogbomosho is special because of the traffic on it and the importance attached to the maintenance and security.
12. The location of Ogbomoso also favoured trading activities. Ogbomoso had the economic advantage of being located on a network of communication routes. It could easily be linked with two state in Nigeria Osun and Kwara State.
INTERNAL RELATIONS
13. In less than four decades after its establishment, Ogbomoso had grown into a big commercial centre. From the small settlement of the mid 17th century. It rapidly expanded to such an extent that it was among the ten biggest town in the Western State of Nigeria. According to 1963 Nigeria census.
14. Ogbomoso maintained an open-door policy to strangers, attracting and welcoming them irrespective of their places of origin. Many were lured into the town by its great commercial potentialities, its liberal and accommodating attitude towards strangers and the opportunities it provided the hardly and the adventurous to make use of their talents.
15. Ogbomoso provided unparalleled security to all its inhabitants and this created in the minds of its citizens a spirit of invulnerability. Anybody who set his foot on Ogbomoso territory was completely safe from the hands of invaders. For, it was believe "Ogun ojaja koko Ogbomoso" (Ogbomoso can never be plundered in war").
ECONOMY
16. Apart from its strategic location which gave it natural protection, it boasted of many distinguished warriors who could successfully defend the town against attack from any part of Yoruba land.
17. With an expanding economy characterised by a high degree of specialisation, Ogbomoso grew into a big, urban centre.
18. Many Ogbomoso traders grew wealthy by exchanging farm products ( Cashew nots, Mangos, cassava, Maize, Yam, tobacco).
19. Many traders also grew wealthy by exchanging local products. This generated considerable employment for many people as retailers, wholesalers, food sellers and other non agricultural occupations. It also brought more revenue to the government.
20. Thus, by around 1900 Ogbomoso had become an urban centre with a population of about 150,000 to 200,000 people living within the town.
21. It had also established an identifiable social, political and economic structure.
MODERN OGBOMOSO
22. Ogbomoso ( Yoruba: Ogbomoso or fully Ilu Ogbori - Elemosho) the second largest city in Oyo state and one out of eight major cities in South Western part of Nigeria.
23. Its central location and accessibility from the capital city of Oyo State, Kwara State, Osun State.
POLITICAL
24. Ogbomoso as a city has five local government areas; three less than Bayelsa state and same with FCT local government area. Four state constituency, two federal constituency and sharing two senatorial districts Oyo North, and Oyo central respectively.
25. Ogbomoso as a city have produced premier, deputy premier, governors and other federal and state government officials.
FACTS
26. The first tertiary institution to award degrees in Nigeria. Is Nigeria Baptist Theological Seminary (NBTS), Ogbomoso.
27. Ogbomoso have the oldest animal in Africa which died recently (Alagba) tortoise.
28. First state own technology university in Nigeria (LAUTECH).
29. TOURIST ATTRACTIONS INCLUDE:
* Soun palace
* Ogun ojalu small house
*Akintola house ( the residential house of former premier) Oke Ado
*Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary, Ogbomoso.
*Bowen University Teaching Hospital,Ogbomoso.
*Township Central mosque and others too numerous to mention.
30. Some notable people from Ogbomoso include;
* HIM Oba (Dr) Jimoh Oladunni Oyewumi Ajagungbade 111. JP, CON, CFR, LLD, Soun of Ogbomosoland
* Late professor N.D Oyerinde
* Late Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola
*Late Chief Sunday Adedayo Adewusi
*Late Brig. Gen. Benjamin Adesanya Adekulne (Black scorpion)
*HRM. Oba Dr. Sunday Oladapo Oyediran Onpetu of Ijeru kingdom
Maj. Gen. Oladayo Popoola (rtd) OFR
Otunba Christopher Adebayo Alao Akala
.... Just to mention a few
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