Oba (Dr) Adekunle Aromolaran II, PhD, CFR, the Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland, has joined his ancestors at the age of 87.
The passage of the foremost traditional ruler in Ijesaland was confirmed by Asiwaju Olayinka Fasuyi, the Asiwaju Of Ijesaland, in a statement entitled “Farewell, The Ijesa Quintessential Imperial Majesty!”
Born on 13 October, 1937, the late Oba Adekunle Aromolaran was a renowned writer, teacher and publisher of about 100 books, most of which were the official titles of the West African Examination Council (WAEC) for its O and A Levels examinations.
The late Oba Adekunle Aromolaran ascended the throne in 1982 when he succeeded the late Oba Peter Adeniran Olatunji Agunlejika II (1912-1982) as the Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland.
Oba Aromolaran is the first Nigerian Oba to hold a PhD (Economics). His first book, Economics for West Africa was published in 1966. The book was a collaborative effort with his friends, Alabi Ogun and Areoye Oyebola.
Owa Aromolaran left the old Oyo State Civil Service to become a full-time publisher on December 1, 1971 and established the Aromolaran Publishing Limited, a firm he ran till he ascended the throne in 1982.
His pen never lost its power and his proclivity of writing never waned. Even as paramount ruler of the Ijesas, Oba Aromolaran, Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Yola, wrote and published 14 educational books since ascending the throne.
The List Of His Predecessors
Owa Ajibogun (1150-1255)
OwaAwoka Okile (1260-1358)
Owa Obarabaralokun (1360-1459)
Owa Owari (1466-1520)
Owa Owaluse (1522-1526)
Owa Atakunmosa (1526-1546)
Owa Oge (1572-1587)
Owa Biilayi Arere (1588-1590)
Owa Yeye Ladegba (1646-1652)
Owa Yeye Gurogbo (1652-1653)
Owa Biladu I(1653-1681)
Owa BiiladuII (
Owa Biilaro (1681-1690)
Owa Wayero I (1691-1692)
Owa Wayero II (1692-1693)
Owa Wayero III (1698-1712)
Owa Biilagbayo (1713-1733)
Owa Ori Abejoye (1734-1749)
Owa Biilajagodo (1749-1771)
Owa Biilatutu (1772-1776)
Owa Biilasa (1776-1778)
Owa Akesan (1789-1795)
Owa Biilajara (1796-1803)
Owa Odundun (1804-1814)
Owa Obara (1814-1832)
Owa Gbegba Aje (1832-1846)
Owa Ofokutu (1846-1858)
Owa Aponlese (1858-1867)
Owa Alobe (1867-1868)
Owa Agunlejika I (1868-1869)
Owa Oweweniye (1869-1874)
Owa Bepo (1875-1893)
Owa Alowolodu(1894-1895)
Owa Ajimoko I (1896-1901)
Owa Atayero (1902-1920)
Owa Aromolaran I (1920-1942)
Owa Ajimoko II (1942-1956)
Owa Ogunmokun (1957-1963)
Owa Agunlejika II(1966-1981)
Owa Aromolaran II (1982- 2024).
The name ‘Ijesa’ is a generic term denoting the people of Ilesa and its sibling towns like Ibokun, Esa-Oke, Ipetu Ijesa, Ijebu-Jesa and more.
Ilesa, the traditional headquarter of Ijesaland, is the capital of the first local council in Nigeria, the Ijesa/Ekiti Parapo Council, as it was then known. It was established by the British Colonial Administration on June 21, 1900 and comprises of the present Ondo and Ekiti states.
Ilesa was officially named by Owaluse, the warrior grandson of Ajibogun Ajaka, the Owa Obokun Onida Arara, the most accomplished son of Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yoruba race of South-West Nigeria and Benin Republic.
Ilesa is the home to the famous Omole, Ajanaku, Oginni, Ogedengbe and Fajuke families, Ilesa is also home to the prestigious Ilesa Grammar School, 1934 (the first secondary school in Ijesaland). The school produced the likes of Justice Alfa Belgore, former CJ of Nigeria; Justice Emmanuel Ayoola rtd, CJ Gambia, President, Seychelles Court of Appeal; Justice Kayode Esho; Alhaji Lateef Kayode Jakande; Alhaji Ismail Oladimeji Oginni; Justice Oye Agbaje-Williams; Chief Wole Olanipekun SAN; Alhaji Wahab Folawiyo; Professor Femi Odekunle (Africa’s first professor of Criminology); Professor Wale Omole; Prof Oye Ibidapo-Obe; Dr Abel Goubadia; Philip Umeadi (Awolowo’s running mate); Rev Abiodun Bada; Pastor E A Adeboye and many more great minds.
The late Oba (Dr) Adekunle Aromolaran was 87-year-old. He spent 42 years on the throne as the Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland.
•Additional source: Arambara, a TV show celebrating Yoruba culture and its people.
