Omupo

Omupo
Town
Omupo Location in Nigeria
Coordinates: 8°16′29.18″N 4°47′45.14″E
Country	Nigeria
State	Kwara State
LGA	Ifelodun LGA
Government
• Olomu of Omupo	HRM, Oba Muhammed-Yakub Adebayo Buari (Ilufemiloye II)
Population
• Ethnicity	Yoruba (Igbomina)
Time zone	UTC+1 (WAT)
Website	http://www.kwarastate.gov.ng/

Omupo or Omu-ipo is an ancient Igbomina town in Kwara State, Nigeria. It is one of the most prominent towns in the Ifelodun local government area. Situated in the southeastern part of Kwara, it is the headquarter of 34 communities of the Omupo District and Omupo/Idofian Area Council of Ifelodun Local Government. Since 1979, it became an electoral constituency (Omupo Constituency) for the purpose of election into the Kwara State House of Assembly.

Location

Omupo is 191 miles (308 km) southwest of Abuja, 24 miles (38 km) southeast of Ilorin, 3 miles (4.8 km) northwest of Ajasse Ipo, 10 miles (15.9 km) northeast of Offa, 138 miles (222 km) northeast of Ibadan and 217 miles (350 km) northeast of Lagos.

History

The early settlers in the town migrated from Ile-Ife, the source of the Yoruba nation. The founder was Ikuojenrola Adebari Alomole, the surviving son of Awogbola Olomu Aperan, an Ifa priest, a renowned herbalist with metaphysical powers.

Olomu Aperan, the progenitor was a prince from the Obadio royal family, one of the eight autonomous monarchs met in Ile-Ife by Oduduwa – the progenitor of Yoruba race. Olomu Aperan’s family spread across two big compounds - Akeran and Ogbonji of Ilare Quarters in Ile-Ife. In these compounds, the sons of the family are called Osomu while the daughters are called Molomu, but over time, his name became corrupted to become Olomu while Aperan was a coinage from his compound’s name - Akeran.

Olomu Aperan left home in the early 14th century to protest the denial of his request to ascend the throne of Obadio because he had lost most members of his immediate family to an epidemic in this period. Efforts to persuade him not to leave home because of his advanced age proved abortive, but he was reminded of the repercussions of his defiance on his traditional burial rites should he pass on while in transit. The implication was that his children shall continue to pay the traditional rites generation after generation, wherever they might settle. He left with his supporters and after many years in the wilderness, he met Fagbamila Ajagun-nla, the first Orangun of Ila at Igbo Ajagun-Nla, and established a kingdom with him.

Ibariba War

During the Bariba war Olomu Aperan, Onikoyi, Olugbon and Aresa and Ajagun-nla led the Yoruba warriors to fortify Oranmiyan's Army in order to fight the Ibaribas. He also participated in many war expeditions with the powerful Ada Ogbo (a cutlass with mystical powers that showed directions)in his care. Because of this, Olomu Aperan became popular with the name as Ologbo or Ologbo-lomona (the mace bearer who knows the way). This is where the name Igbomina was coined.

Migration

After the Bariba war, Ajagun-nla went back to a new town called Ila-Yara, but Olomu Aperan stayed back with Oranmiyan at Oyo Ile. After some time, Olomu Aperan consulted the Ifa oracle, his chief priest was Famuwagun and it was revealed through Ifa divination that Oyo-Ile would disintegrate. Therefore, Ifa warned that he should proceed to a new settlement and that wherever he found a plant called Oro Agogo (botanical bell cactus), he would find his safe place and there he should settle.

Hence, Olomu Aperan forged his way with the Ogbo cutlass in his care to his present settlement, Omupo, where Oro Agogo was found. Some of his families were left behind at Oyo until the present time, while some others left for other locations in Yoruba land. While Olomu was leaving Ile-Ife, he cut a branch of an Omo tree as a souvenir and he used it as a working stick. He passed the working stick on to his son Kujenrola, the only child who survived him, who planted it at Omupo which made him be known as Alomoole.

Introduction of Islam to Omupo

While at Oyo, Kujenrola had a female child called Awobimpe (popularly known as Adesewa or Sewa), a very beautiful and sociable woman. She married a Muslim scholar at Oyo who gave her the name Nana Ayisat after she accepted Islam. Even when her father left Oyo, Awobimpe was among those who stayed behind but she later joined her father at Omupo with a large number of Moslems including her husband. Therefore, she was the Princess who brought Islam to Omupo and she also served as a regent for more than 50 years after the demise of her father. Because she came with a ‘foreign’ religion, she was settled at a place far from the palace which was later to become known as Nana compound until today.

Revelation about Fulani invasion

Famuwagun again consulted Ifa and it was revealed that foreigners (Fulani) would invade Yoruba land from Ilorin; therefore Olomu Aperan was directed to propitiate Oro Agogo with the blood of a white horse as a sacrifice to protect his town from any external attack. The meat of the horse should be eaten in a big wooden bowl (Opon nla) with white pap by the entire populace. This is attested to in Obara and Okanran meji of Odu Ifa (the sixteen Ifa divinations) which goes thus;

A d'ifa fun won l'omu Aperan
Omo Oba ti n pa won l'esin je
Omo oloro agogo
Eru n be n'iwaju
Eru n be l'eyin
Olomu aperan gbo riru ebo o ru
O gbo etu atukesu o tu
O wa n yin Awo
Awo wa n yin Ifa Wipe
Ifa dee Alase Ebora o o o
Awise o
Ko ma si Irumole bi Ifa o

For this reason, Omupo was never attacked either by the Fulani or by any contending powers during the inter-tribal wars in Yoruba land. Omupo served as a place where warriors took refuge for reinforcement and also for inducement of their weapons because the Oro-agogo contained some poisonous juice with which they soaked their weapons for potency.

Olomu Aperan family

The Olomu Aperan family is very big and spread all over Yoruba land. There was Olomu compound at Oluwole Area in the Lagos Island of Lagos State. From Omu-Ijebu, to Omu-badore and Isomu both in Ogun State to Omu-Oke and Omu-Isale in the present Ekiti State. All these Omu towns have the same appellation Oriki Idile and many other traditions in common. There are Olomu families in Ila-Orangun, Ikirun, and Ada in the present Osun State.

The cognomen of Olomu

The cognomen of Olomu goes thus:

Omo olomu aperan
Omo oloro agogo
Omo asingba l'ona t'omu
Omo b'ewure ba sonu l'omu
E ma mo mu lo mi
Tani n ba baba won s'egbe gberangberan
Bi aguntan ba sonu l'omu
E ma mo mu lo mi
Tani n ba baba won s'egbe gberangberan
Adie opopo ti o ba sonu lomu Aperan
N'ile omo Awobimpe
E ma mo mu lo wa
Awa k'iba baba won s'egbe gbeyegbeye
Amo bi wondia rogbodo ba sonu l'omu
E ma ran elese wa p'emi
Elesin ni ki e ran wa si mi
Nitori pe awa ni omo a r'opon nla j'omitoro esin
Samu samu ki i koro l'omu
Ewu iyan d’Omu o d'otun
Asese gun iyan d’Omu o d'otubante

Like Oduduwa, the father of Yoruba nation, Olomu Aperan met some people at Omupo without any central authority but a man popularly known as Ode-Omi (meaning a hunter who resides by the river) appeared as the head. However, because of the mystical powers, military prowess coupled with his royal background, they accepted the leadership and authority of Olomu Aperan. River Osin serves as the major source of water.

When Olomu Aperan was leaving Oyo he received the blessing of the reigning Alafin who presented him with a gift of masquerades called Jenju and Owolewa. Jenju was worn by a deaf and dumb person from Oyo.

Annual festival

Major festivals in Omupo include traditional celebrations, Muslim and Christian festivals.

Tourist attractions

Tourist attractions include Omo tree planted by Kujenrola, and a place called Igbo’ta not far from Nana’s compound where Kujenrola was said to have hung a chain like Oduduwa. That chain in the olden days was drawn out to commune with him for assistance during famine or drought.

Past and present rulers

Awobimpe - Regent (more than 50 years)
Oba Ladubo - 1728-1788
Oba Oyewusi Ayinla - 1788-1832
Oba Makaaye Adungbelogun I - 1832-1858
Oba Oyelegbin - 1858-1876
Olomu Ododo - 1876-1887
Oba Adekanye - 1887-1896
Oba Muhammad - 1896-1896 (7 months)
Oba Awerijaye I - 1896-1908
Oba Adeosun - 1908-1912
Oba Olomu Aderohumu Oyehanbi - 1914-1939
Oba Olomu Buhari - 1939-1947
Oba Afolayan - 1948-1948 (6 months)
Oba Erubola Ajiboye Ajide - 1948-1960
Oba Abdullahi Alao (Awerijaye II) - 1960-1974
Oba Jimoh Olarinoye (Makaaye II) - 1974-2009
Oba Yakubu Adebayo Buari (Ilufemiloye II) - June 12, 2010-till date

Christianity

Christianity reached Omupo in 1926 through Offa/Igbomina Anglican Diocese. The first primary school in Omupo was established by the Anglican Church in 1942.

Institutions in Omupo

Omupo Moslem Community built a primary school in 1956. The following projects were commissioned through communal efforts:

• Omupo Poster Agency (1958)
• Pipe-borne water (1961)
• Omupo Grammar School (1967)
• Electricity project (1974)
• Omupo Cottage Hospital (1981)
• Omupo Town Hall (1981)
• Omupo Muslim College (1994)
• Omupo Constituency was created in 1979 for the purpose of election into the Kwara State House of Assembly.

The largest congregation of Moslems ever to be witnessed in any Nigerian Moslem community is the annual Moulud Nabbiyy celebration organised by a renowned Islamic scholar of the Tijaniyyat school of thought, Sheikh Mohammad Ayinla Al-Awwal. The event has been taking place in Omupo since 1979.

HRM, Oba Jimoh Aweda Olarinoye (Makaaye II, 1974-2009)

The late Oba Jimoh Aweda Olarinoye was born to the royal family of Baba Alabi Oyewale by Iya Bigogo Asumowu during the reign of Olomu Aderohunmu Oyehanbi (1914–1939). The young prince lived his childhood life here in Omupo before he ‘stowed away’ to Lagos in 1945. He was a successful businessman there until he was appointed by the Kwara State Government to succeed his brother, Oba Abdullahi Alao Awerijaiye II, in 1974.

By his appointment from the Makaaye ruling house, Oba Jimoh Olarinoye became the 15th Olomu of Omupo and the first traditional ruler in the contemporary history of the town to be turbaned by his people in his domain. His predecessors after Oba Oyelegbin (1858–1876) were turbaned in succession by the Emir of Ilorin like every other graded Igbomina/Ekiti Obas in the defunct Ilorin province of the old Northern Region.

Before he ascended the throne of his forefathers, Oba Olarinoye was an activist and one of the movers and shakers of events in Omupo. He worked in collaboration with the likes of Chief Samuel Aremu Omoyiola, Sheik Mohammad Awwal (Mukadam), Alh. Abdul-Kareem Aremu Kolawole (Oluoko), Alh. Lawal Kanisuru (Eleree), Alh. Aminu Aweda (Ajinge), Alh. Jimoh Iyanda (Oloko), Alh. Jimoh Otuyo (Dasitolohun), Chief Reuben Olaoti (Councilor), Chief Joshua Adebara and Alh. Karimu Talibi (Ogbele) - all of blessed memory. The list of the pillars behind the throne is long, including those who are still alive.

Oba Olarinoye had a finger in almost every development-oriented activities ranging from politics, religion, economic and socio-cultural either in Lagos or Omupo. He was the first Chairman of Egbejoda Omupo Muslim Society, which was established in 1967 to coordinate and direct the affairs of Islam in Omupo. He was the Chairman (otherwise known as Giwa) of Egbe Amuludun Omupo and in 1957 the Egbe Ore-Metta of Omupo made him a life Patron. He served in the same capacity to quite a number of such socio-cultural associations of Omupo indigenes in Lagos.

In 1976, he constituted a central working committee for the community called Omupo Descendants’ Union, to assist him in the planning, coordination, and execution of development programmes in the town.

He led his subjects irrespective of political persuasions, religious leaning, social creed or ethnic affinity. He was an apostle of due process, transparency and fairness without necessarily mortgaging his conscience or compromising his primary responsibility to the government of the day, either military or civilian. He strove for the greatest happiness for the greatest number. His reign was peaceful and witnessed appreciable growth and development, including:

• Electrification project in 1976
• Commissioning of a town hall in 1981
• Commissioning of a health centre in 1981, upgraded to a cottage hospital by the state government in 1993
• Increase in human and housing population in Omupo
• Omupo entered the political lexicon in Kwara State as an electoral constituency in 1979.
• Omupo became the Headquarters of Omupo/Idofian Area Council of Ifelodun LGA.

In the traditional hierarchy in Kwara State, Oba Olarinoye was the first Omupo monarch to be graded and presented with a Staff-of-Office as Oba of 3rd Class status in 1975 by the Kwara State Government which also graded the Olupo of Ajasse Ipo; Elese of Igbaja; Olofa of Offa and Elerin of Erin-Ile 2nd Class Obas in the same gazette but the exercise was abrogated by the administration of Col. Ibrahim Taiwo shortly after.

However, the civilian administration of Alh. Adamu Attah revisited the contentious issue in 1981 and he did justice by re-grading Oba Olarinoye a 3rd Class Oba. Unfortunately, Olomu Olarinoye was not a beneficiary of the Gen. Alwali Jauji Kazir Chieftaincy review exercise of 1994, which saw some of the 2nd Class Obas elevated to 1st Class status. Therefore, in the year 2002, the whole town went agog in jubilation when Oba Olarinoye was promoted to the status of a 2nd class Oba by the civilian administration of late Real Admiral Mohammed Lawal along with Olupako of Share; Elesie of Esie; Olora of Ora; Olusin of Isanlu-Isin; Olosi of Osi and Alofa of Iloffa.

Oba Olarinoye was a prominent member of the Igbomina/Ekiti Traditional Council sitting at Ajasse Ipo. He was highly respected by his royal brothers for his experience, having been on the throne much earlier than most of them. He was regarded as a repository of knowledge, a ‘walking and talking’ encyclopedia of traditional politics in Igbomina/Ekiti land. These attributes made his opinion on important policy issues not only relevant and sought for, but also respected before the Council took decisions.

Olomu (as was fondly called by his colleagues) was known for forthrightness, bluntness, astuteness and honesty. He was seen in some quarters as ‘stubborn’ and ‘heady’ because he was an Oba who never prepared to do anything that would bring public odium to his exalted office as a custodian of customs and tradition of the people of Omupo.

As the paramount ruler in Omupo District, Oba Olarinoye had a good inter-personal and inter-communal relationship with the traditional leaders and people in the 34 communities in Omupo land. He loved his people and his people loved him.

Oba Olarinoye died in the early hours of Thursday, April 30, 2009 at the age of 94. Four wives, 22 children, many grandchildren and great-grandchildren survived him.

HRM, Oba Yakubu Adebayo Buari (Ilufemiloye II) - June 12, 2010 - present

The new Olomu of Omupo town in the Ifelodun Local Government Area of Kwara State, HRM, Oba Yakubu Adebayo Buari (Ilufemiloye II), was born in Omupo on New Year's Day in 1952 to the royal lineage of Olomu Mohmmed Suleiman Buari, the twelfth Olomu of Omupo.

The young Buari had his primary and secondary school education in Nigeria and had his post-graduate education at the London school of accountancy, United Kingdom. He has a Master's of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Ilorin.

He has to his credit over 30 years in the banking and financial industry and has spent more than 35 years in senior management positions. His work experience spans through Barclays Bank, Kwara State Schools Board, Guinness Nigeria Plc, Bauchi State Investment and Property Development Company Limited, Trade Bank, B-square Consultants, O.A. Group, OAK Group among others. At the Bauchi State Investments & Properties Development Company Limited, he was the Chief Accountant before he joined the services of the Trade Bank Plc as an Assistant General Manager at the Bank’s head office in Ilorin.

As a mark of his integrity and demonstrated competence, Oba Buari represented the interest of the Trade Bank on the Board of Biomedical Company Limited as an Executive Director in charge of Administration and Finance. He left the employment of Trade Bank Plc in 1993 after six years of meritorious service and became a co-founder and partner in Bayo Buari & Co (Chartered Accountants).

He was at different times an associate lecturer at the Federal Polytechnic, Bauchi, the University of Ilorin, The Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). He also served as External Examiner for Banking & Finance and Accountancy courses to the Kwara Polytechnic, Ilorin.

Oba Adebayo Buari’s membership of various local and international professional bodies are the hallmarks of his quest for knowledge and expertise in the areas of human and materials management, accountancy and banking. He is a fellow and associate of several accountancy, banking and management institutes, viz. FCA, FCMA, FCIS, FCTI, ACIB, ACIM, AMNIM.

As a demonstration of his versatility in knowledge-sharing, Oba Adebayo Buari has presented seminar papers on topical issues in his field of core competencies (Accounting, Banking, Information Technology, Administration and Business Management) across Nigeria, and he has to his credit, a publication titled “Introduction to Value Added Tax in Nigeria", which he co-authored in 1994.

Oba Yakubu Adebayo Buhari is bringing to the leadership of Omupo and its people not only his wealth of experience from the corporate world, but his humanness, integrity, and sense of purpose, which are critical for the upliftment of his people.

Upon his selection by the Traditional Kingmakers of the Town, Governor Abubakar ‘Bukola Saraki of Kwara State confirmed and approved the selection of Oba Adebayo Buari as the Olomu of Omupo with effect from 1 May 2010. This was followed by the traditional turbaning, which took place on Saturday, 8 May 2010 at a colourful ceremony.

Oba Yakubu Adebayo Buhari is married to Olori.

External links

• Satellite images of Omupo, maplandia.com
• Ifelodun Local Government Area, kwarastate.gov.ng
• Olomu-designate of Omupo town emerges, compassnewspaper.com
• The Growth of Islam in Pre-colonial Igbomina, informaworld.com
• Enclosed Walls in Northern Yorubaland, Nigeria, web.ccsu.edu/afstudy
• omupofoundation.org
• 1979 Moulud Nabiyu at Omupo Kwara State Nigeria, sheikhawwal.com
• The leadership vacuum in Omupo, Kwara State, by Abdul-Rahoof Adebayo