Oba (Dr) Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran II, PhD, CFR, the Owa Obokun Adimula of Ijesaland, Paramount Ruler of Ijesaland.
Born, October 13, 1937. A writer, teacher and publisher of about 100 books, most of which were the official titles of the WAEC, for its O and A levels examinations.
He ascended the throne in 1982 by succeeding Oba Peter Adeniran Olatunji Agunlejika II (1912-1982).
Oba Aromolaran is the first Nigerian Oba to hold a PhD(Economics).
His first book, Economics for West Africa was published in 1966, a collaborative effort with his friends, Alabi Ogun and Areoye Oyebola.
Owa Aromolaran left the old Oyo state civil service to become a full time publisher on December 1, 1971 and established the Aromolaran Publishing Limited, Ibadan, a firm he ran till he ascended the throne in 1982.
His pen never lost its power and his proclivity of writing has never waned.
Even , as paramount ruler of the Ijesas, Oba Aromolaran, Chancellor, Federal University of Technology, Yola has written and published 14 educational books since ascending the throne.
List of Owa’s :
*Ajibogun (1150-1255)
*Awoka Okile (1260-1358)
*Obarabaralokun (1360-1459)
*Owari (1466-1520)
*Owaluse (1522-1526)
*Atakunmosa (1526-1546)
*Oge (1572-1587)
*Biilayi Arere (1588-1590)
*Yeye Ladegba (1646-1652)
*Yeye Gurogbo (1652-1653)
*Biiladu I (1653-1681)
*Biiladu II (
*Biilaro (1681-1690)
*Wayero I (1691-1692)
*Wayero II (1692-1693)
*Wayero III (1698-1712)
*Biilagbayo (1713-1733)
*Ori Abejoye. (1734-1749)
*Biilajagodo (1749-1771)
*Biilatutu (1772-1776)
*Biilasa. (1776-1778)
*Akesan. (1789-1795)
*Biilajara (1796-1803)
*Odundun. (1804-1814)
*Obara. (1814-1832)
*Gbegba Aje (1832-1846)
*Ofokutu (1846-1858)
*Aponlese (1858-1867)
*Alobe (1867-1868)
*Agunlejika I (1868-1869)
*Oweweniye (1869-1874)
*Bepo (1875-1893)
*Alowolodu (1894-1895)
*Ajimoko I (1896-1901)
*Atayero (1902-1920)
*Aromolaran I (1920-1942)
*Ajimoko II (1942-1956)
*Ogunmokun (1957-1963)
*Agunlejika II (1966-1981)
*Aromolaran II (1982 till present).
The name ‘Ijesa’ is a generic term denoting the people of Ilesa and its sibling towns like Ibokun, Esa-Oke, Ijebu-Jesa and more.
Ilesa the traditional headquarter of Ijesaland is the capital of the first Local Council in Nigeria, the Ijesa/Ekiti Parapo Council as it was then known.
It was established by the British Colonial Administration on June 21, 1900 and comprises of the present Ondo and Ekiti states.
Ilesa was officially named by Owaluse, the warrior grandson of Ajibogun Ajaka, the Owa Obokun Onida arara, the most accomplished son of Oduduwa, the progenitor of the Yoruba race of Southwest Nigeria and Benin Republic.
Home to the famous Omole, Ajanaku, Oginni, Ogedengbe and Fajuke families, Ilesa is also home to the prestigious Ilesa Grammar School, 1934 (first secondary school in Ijesaland), the school that has produced the likes of Justice Alfa Belgore, former CJ of Nigeria, Justice Emmanuel Ayoola rtd, CJ Gambia, President, Seychelles Court of Appeal, Justice Kayode Esho, Alh Lateef Kayode Jakande, Alhaji Ismail Oladimeji Oginni , Justice Oye Agbaje-Williams, Wole Olanipekun SAN, Wahab Folawiyo, Prof Femi Odekunle(Africas first professor of criminology), Prof Wale Omole, Prof Oye Ibidapo-Obe, Dr Abel Goubadia, Philip Umeadi(Awolowo’s running mate), Rev Abiodun Bada, Pastor E A Adeboye, John Ogunlela, Segun Ogunlela, Ifeoluwa Olagunju , Moyosore Olubunmi, Seweje Elubeku Bukola, Niyi Olufemi Ogini and many more great minds.
Oba Gabriel Adekunle Aromolaran was 87years old and spent 42years on the throne. (vitalnewsngr.com)
