Omu Aran

History

Omu-Aran, which was once the headquarters of the Igbomina/Ekiti Division in what was then the West Central State and is now known as Kwara, has a rich history that spans over 500 years. Today, it serves as the Local Government Headquarters of Irepodun. The community was founded due to the migration of people from Ilé-Ifẹ̀. There was a drought in Ile-Ife. To know the cause of the drought, the oracle was consulted. The oracle said Ife was over-crowded and therefore some people had to leave. Some princes were selected to migrate to other places and were given the symbol of authority. Olomu-Aperan, the founder of Omu-Aran, was one of the selected princes who boldly established himself as the first to arrive in the region now known as Igbomina land. Omutoto or Omitoto, one of the wives of Olofinaiye Oduduwa was the mother of both Olomu Aperan and Owa Ajibogun, the founder of Ijesha land. This tradition is accepted in Ilesha and Ile Ife today. Olomu Aperan became the custodian of the Ogbo because of the Royal War title Esinkin. However, Ogbo, a symbol of authority was the property of the aboriginal people of Ile Ife. The Ogbo was also the symbol of oneness among the council of Elders in Ile Ife. Through the Ogbo the council could unknot every difficult problem. Hence, the council was called the Council of Ologbomona. Olomu Aperan left Ile-Ife with the Ogbo and found various Kingdoms. Omu-Aran is made up of people from different backgrounds who migrated to the present site of the town. Omu-Aran became the headquarters of Irepodun LGA on 24 August 1976.