History of Ibadan Part 26 : The reign of Opeagbe, The Ogbomosho man who became the Baale of Ibadan
After the death of Balogun Oderinlo, Opeagbe who is the Osi Balogun became the Baale. Opeagbe is from Ogbomosho, He is a famous wealthy and influential man in Ogbomosho, he was one of the people who came to Ibadan wealthy, not that he got wealthy and influential after getting to Ibadan, He is already a successful man.
When Opeagbe was entering Ibadan, he was led by 3 horsemen, Opeagbe is one of the key people who fought the Gbanamu war (when Baale Maye came to Ibadan with Ijebu and Egba troops) and that was where he became the Sarumi of Ibadan because he rode a horse to the war and back and he didn’t come down from the horse all through the journey and the war activity. Opeagbe is a Hero
Opeagbe was Osi Balogun during the time of Oluyole, and from the seat of Osi Balogun, he became the Baale (head of the town)
Here are the Eulogies (Oriki) of Opeagbe
“Gbàngúdú-füù Olúkàtáá
Omololú Opeagbe
O dokùnrin pepệệ
dokùnrin páki t’ori ökè walė;
O lonişèse wo odò
Timo léyin eni ti n gbò tiba
Ogbiri-gbiri, Olugbiji Ajao
O yi ökè ti bi ęni yí odó;
Eni tí o bá n re ònà ljàyệ
Opeagbe ní ki ę má bá t’lka wolé
Torí egúngún Omololu faşo kogi níbệ;
Okéré a resė sun bàtà
On sùn lode à n gbo nilé, oko Tawo-ni-yíò-şe
O jí kùtù fi Ajộrin bo’gun
O ni tani agbèyin șộsó n fojudi?
O şí ori silė, șí orí sínú
Ni ojo ti baba yio wo ilédì
Kúkúmó funfun ló mú lo,
Ewù funfun ló mú lo,
Sokotò funfun ló mú lo,
E bá mi ké Héèpà
igbi Ajãó ló ni olóbàtálá;
Lannisà: Okúnribidó;
láti orí
A sura ijà bi eni mò télé
Bàbá Ògúnjúmobí, Bàbá Imoru
Obiriti a jí feran jeun bí omọ odę;
O kolé kan, ó kỹ o sí Teúre;
ó kölé kan ribiti, ó ní ki gbogbo ọmọ kewu
O pokunrin yòyò rún, a to kolù bájà
Omololú, a tó fagogo lé ogun;
A f’obę idi pàgbalagba,
A bilekun pomọ Onilu láfệmójúmo
Kìí békéé soré, Onínúure níí bá șe;
Opeagbè ni a kì kì kì tí a lò lè kì tán
Orin ni won n fi șe ko:
“Láyé Opęagbe
Oşupo là bá ni lóde. ”
Continuation of Opeagbe story
The reign of Opeagbe was short but there were peace and order during his time. There was no war nor conspiracy and crisis as Ibadan and his leaders have been known for , That’s why they call him ” Late Opeagbe, Osupa la ba lode” which means ” during the time of Opeagbe, We could stay outside till the moon comes out”.
Opeagbe is being praised this way because nobody dares stay out late at night in Ibadan before the time..of Opeagbe, the consequences of staying out late is getting kidnapped and sold as a slave or get killed if such person is too tough to be sold. All these inhumane acts were absent during the time of Opeagbe. The house Opeagbe was living before was where we call Ile Kure today, and after he left there, he allocated the place to one of his soldiers called Kure
Opeagbe was the one who allocated land for the Muslims to build their build a new mosque, which remains the permanent site where the mosque was built and it remain till today after Oluyole has demolished the one built at Oja-oba, where Opeagbe gave them is where the Jumat mosque (Central mosque is today
It was during the time of Opeagbe, that the white missionaries of C.M.S came to visit Ibadan for the first time, but they never settled until the time of Baale Olugbode
Baale Opeagbe was the Godfather of all the powerful and influential people all from Oke kure to Oke Eleta and Elekuro. The key people of Ibadan then like Orowusi, Ogundepo, Abayomi, and some other big and great people also are his God sons who look up to him.
In short, Baale Opeagbe was a great and successful man before he entered Ibadan.
Opeagba ended his life well and died honorably and peacefully, Opegba is not one of the Baales that was troubled or killed with a crisis, war, or conspiracy.
Here are the names of his children who became influential and their portfolios
1. Ojo Dawoodu Aare ago – Balogun
2. Labiyi Ekarun un – Balogun
3. Omiyale – Balogun
4. Oyekan – Agbaakin Balogun
5. Anwoo – Ikolaba Balogun
6. Oyeyemi – Laguna Balogun
7. Adeoye – Asaaju Balogun
