HISTORY OF EJIGBO AND ITS KINGS.

                                                    Akinjole Ogiyan immortalized

The interests of children going to their fathers or forefathers to tell and sensitize them on the history of their origin, their land, culture & traditions etc. as well as cultures of other people, seem to have deeply slept if not dead. In this view, a short comprehensive history of Ejigbo and the list of all Ogiyan or Elejigbo of Ejigbo (Oba of Ejigbo) has been brought to the public by Ganiyu Ayanniyi M. for indigenes and non indigenes to know these past leaders till present in order to outshine others in  debate, quiz, or even when someone challenges them anywhere at anytime especially for ELGASITES (Ejigbo Local Government Area Students' Association 'ELGASA' )

Ejigbo, one of the prominent town of the then Oyo State and now of the present Osun state, was founded by Prince Akinjole at about the same time Oranyan founded the old Oyo Kingdom. Like all other Yoruba settlements, the origin of Ejigbo is traced to Ile-Ife, the cradle of Yoruba civilization. Akinjole was the son of Ogiriniyan, one of the sons of Oduduwa. After his father's death, Akinjole settled at a point about two kilometres from the centre of the present town, on Ejigbo-Oko-Ogbomoso Road. The settlement grew in size until it included what is now the town centre where the palace stands today.

All Obas in Ejigbo are known as Ogiyan (a contraction of Ogiriniyan), father of the founder of the town.

The current Elejigbo is His Royal Highness, Oba Omowonuola Oyeyode Oyesosin II, a graduate of University of Ibadan. He is the 29th Elejigbo of Ejigbo Land.

The list of the past Ogiyans goes thus;

1. Oba Akinjole (founder)

2. Oba Olugbowo

3. Oba Atakoko

4. Oba Orisawijo

5. Oba Taku

6. Oba Osunbiyi

7. Oba Gbaieru

8. Oba Ondoye

9. Oba Atata

10. Oba Osundijo

11. Oba Olukoye

12. Oba Obalamodo

13. Oba Ogbagbatamo Ejigbojo

14. Oba Onoseokun

15. Oba Osanloro

16. Oba Olomola

17. Oba Okegbalu

18. Oba Oyelayo

19. Oba Merodun

20. Oba Ikuyajolu

21. Oba Mobolaku

22. Oba Oyesosin I

23. Oba Mogbesola I

24. Oba Asani Oyewole

25. Oba Dosunmu

26. Oba Moyepe

27. Oba Bello Oyedemi (1916-1940)

28. Oba Oyetunde Mogbesola II (1940-1971)

29. H.R.M. Oba Omowonuola Oyeyode Oyesosin II (1971 - till date)

Credit: Oyo State year book of 1981.

Compiled by Comrade Ganiyu Ayanniyi M. (TheLucky)
+2348141697009
ganiyuayanniyi@yahoo.com