Ìwó, Osun State – Thursday, September 18, 2025
An indigene of Ìwó, Bayonle from Oloye’s Compound, has waded into the ongoing hierarchy tussle between the Ataoja of Osogbo and the Oluwo of Ìwó, insisting that Ìwó has always been a recognized kingdom with a crown directly traced to Ile-Ife.
According to Bayonle, Ìwó’s stool is historically tied to Luwo Gbagida, the only female Ooni of Ife, making the Oluwo a direct descendant of Oduduwa. He emphasized that unlike Osogbo, Ìwó never had a Baale status but has been a kingship from inception.
Quoting the late Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, he stressed that Ìwó’s importance was so pronounced that it appeared on the world atlas map of the 1970s, alongside major Yoruba towns such as Ibadan, Ogbomoso, Akure, Ekiti, Oyo, and Ife while Osogbo was absent.
He further described Osogbo as an “accidental town,” chosen as Osun’s capital only because of its central location.
“In the Osun State Council of Obas, Ife remains the president while Ìwó stands as the vice. These are facts that cannot be disputed. Before making comments, people should do their findings and know the reality,” Bayonle stated.
He concluded by affirming his identity with pride:
“Apart from the direct sons and daughters of Oduduwa, we are not anybody’s mate. Proudly Ìwó son Omo Iwoni mi.”
Comments
Oluwo is not the mate of their fathers.