The ancient town of Itori in today's Egba Division of Ogun State is the headquarters of Ewekoro Local Government. Itori has continued to grow exponentially in prominence and traditional relevance with the stool of the Olu of Itori as the prescribed authority in the local government of Ewekoro.
Like every other Yoruba kingdom, the ancestral catalog and migration expenditure of Itori took root and origin from the spiritual city and land of Ile Ife around the 13th century. Ile Ife, which today houses the various ancestral lineage and family links with major towns and cities in Yorubaland, also recognizes the ancestral affiliation of the kingdom of Itori with Orunfo family dynasty from Ile Ife.
⚔️ The Legend of Alase
Around the 15th to 16th century, a warrior and Prince called Alase in Ile Ife lived and enjoyed the benevolence of his ancestors. He was a powerful man, a magician. History has it that traditional healers and physicians of that Era go to Alase for help. He was responsible for the evocation of potency on traditional practice and voodoo. According to history, he was dreaded in his lifetime.
At the end of his life, he turned into a very powerful deity. No daily grants any requests without his permission. That's the reason in Yorubaland, while praying for a king, they will say: e pe lase, e jere Ase (meaning his reign shall be long and beneficial). They are referring to Alase.
👨👦 The Alase Dynasty
Alase's only son, Pau, inherited mystical powers from his father. Pau married and begot a son called Igbangbala Oyomu. This family inheritance passed on through generations, ultimately leading to the establishment of the Itori Kingdom.
🌳 The Sacred Iroko Tree
Lekesegba was advised by the Ifa Oracle to appease the Iroko tree with edible corn flakes called (Ori) in Yoruba. His pledge of reward included the iroko tree in his staff, and his son Ontori Oyomu established Itori in Abeokuta.
🏰 Foundation of Abeokuta Settlement
Abeokula was founded in 1830 after the inter tribal wars that engulfed the Forest, their original homestead. The name of the town "Abeokuta" was derived from the protection which the fleeing settlers sought under the Olumo Rock, a natural centre in the town. Abeokuta means "the refugees under a rock," signifying the protection Olumo Rock offered the refugees from possible attacks.
The Egba earlier encamped at Ibadan, a Gbagura Township now capital of Oyo State. The decision to leave Ibadan for Abeokuta was however informed by the hostility of the Oyo, Ife, Ijebu with whom they shared sojourn in Ibadan.
🚶 The Great Migration
Lamodi, a warrior and Balogun of Egba was credited with the initiative for the migration to Abeokuta which they arrived in 1830. During the turn of the century, the settlers in Abeokuta were forced into fighting several wars. In these wars, they creditably proved their mettle.
The first few years immediately following the settling in Abeokuta were fraught with difficulties - social, political and economic. Although Lamodi whose initiative led Egbas to the present site never saw the promised land because he died on the way, the Egba people led by Sodeke established Abeokuta as one of the first set of cosmopolitan settlements in modern Nigeria.
🏙️ Modern Itori
Itori as an important town grew from the Railway Station from Lagos to Kano along the western Railway axis. This strategic location led to rapid economic development. As early noted, the Lagos - Ibadan - Kano standard gauge railway pass through Itori with modern railway Stations which developed into modern Inland Dry Port for rail freight.
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Local Government HQ
Ewekoro LG (1996)
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Modern Healthcare
Hospital & Health Centers
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Industrial Hub
20+ Chinese Companies
Being the Local Government headquarters of Ewekoro Local Government of Ogun State created in 1996, Itori can boast of a modern Police Station, General Hospital, Primary Health Institution, many Primary and post Primary Institutions, and the state ICT Polytechnic of recent built. Itori also built Ogun Industrial Park which deshe presently play host to more than twenty Chinese manufacturing Companies.
✨ The Sacred Orisa Ase Deity
Today, Itori houses the Orisa Ase or Alase deity, and it is being considered the most potent deity for authorisation in Yorubaland. In the Yoruba pantheon, there's a popular saying among the traditional rulers during appellation and prayers that:
"Alase lo n siwaju Ase, Alase lo keyin Ase wa pe Lase, wa Jere Ase."
There is no way you pray in Yorubaland without mentioning Alase. He was in the class of Sango, Oya, and the Alase says that he has five Awos that live on his palm.
🗺️ Geographic Boundaries
Itori was bounded on the west by Igbore on the right by Igbein in the East by Itoko in the North and South by Ijeja. The kingdom is located within the Tropics longitude 003°15"E and latitude 06°54"N North of the Equator, about 65 kilometers from Lagos and 100 kilometers to Ibadan.
