The recent death of His Royal Highness, Oba Victor Olusegun Aganun, the Olupele of Ipele, has left the town in deep mourning.
The Olupele, who was crowned as the 19th traditional ruler of the town barely a year ago, was known for his wisdom, integrity, and commitment to improving the lives of his people.
His passing is not only a loss to Ipele but to the entire Ondo state. In his short reign, the late Oba Aganun initiated various projects and programs aimed at improving the standard of living in Ipele and encouraged youth empowerment through skills acquisition and entrepreneurship training. He was also a strong advocate for education and preserving Ipele’s cultural heritage, earning him the admiration and respect of many in the town.
The history of Ipele Kingdom is rooted in tradition, with a lineage of traditional rulers that dates back to the late 1700s. The kingdom is made up of twelve communities, including Omolege, Ago Alao, Ajagbale, Oloko, Uwese, Okeogun, Ugbojeu, Ago Mila, Oyoroyoro, Ago panu, and Ago Aderinola, all controlled by the Olupele dynasty for generations. The order of selection and declaration of an Olupele has always been through the “ladder system,” with the first Olupele to the seventeenth ascending the throne using this method. However, in 2007, a new declaration order was introduced, leading to Oba Olaleye Alade becoming the first Oba to ascend the throne by the new voting system.
The town’s foundation is traced back to its eight ancient groups of Benin extraction, which played a vital role in shaping Ipele’s history. The Oko Quarters were the first settlers in Ipele around 1640 A.D., and Prince Oluehin, the son of Oba Ohuan of the Benin Kingdom, was the town’s founder and first settler. He was later joined by Aga and Ijale, the children of Oba Esinge of Benin, who became the co-founders of the modern-day Okeriwo Quarter of Ipele. Atiba Ope, who migrated from Otuo village near Benin City, founded the Igemoh Quarter, while Ilana, who also migrated from Benin City, initially settled at Ighonren near Sabongida Ora before being led to settle in Ipele by Imehenkongba. Over time, four other quarters – Ofi, Ujan, Usolo, and Ibire – merged.
Today, the Olupele title holds great significance as a first-class traditional ruler in the hierarchy of Ondo State’s Obas. Despite the loss of the Olupele, Ipele will continue to cherish the values and principles he embodied and worked tirelessly to promote. His legacy of positive change will remain indelible in the minds of the people, and his memory will forever be enshrined in the annals of Ipele’s history.
It is important to also note that the key leadership of YabaCity and CCB brands are illustrious sons of the Ipele Kingdom.
