Alara of Ilara-Epe

Alara Of Ilara

The ascension of Oba {Alhaji} Akeem Okunola Adesanya II as the Alara of Ilara
more than five decades ago makes him the longest reigning monarch in Lagos
state and he is not capable of being challenged or disputed as an epoch of history
considered noteworthy, with an unparalleled swift advancement of the highest
quality and an architect of substantial development beyond comparison, since his
appointment on the 10th of October 1960, with the tremendous changes
witnessed in Ilara, its Epe divisions and in Lagos state.
His Installation as the Alara of Ilara makes him the 54th King to have ruled over
Ilara and the Epe divisional chieftaincy committee, Oba Akeem Okunola Adesanya
II, is the son of Prince Abudu Salami and Madam Alimatu Sadia Adesanya, Oba
was born on October 10, 1944, in Ijebu Ode, Ogun state, His father married 3
wives and gave birth to 9 children in all, his mother was the last wife of his father,
while he was the second son of his mother, Alara chieftaincy titles is usually a
rotation among the three prominent towns the first Alara {Oba Adesonwon} settled
and left his comestible legacies, after his departure from Ile-Ife, namely Adeleke,
Abigi, Onamade, Telade and Alagbala ruling houses.
Oba Akeem Okunola Adesanya II, have his proper place among the Alara
Adesonwon-Abigi ruling house, his name entered the Guiness book of record in
1961 for becoming the youngest King at the age of 16, his royal documented files
was transferred from the Old Western region to Lagos Colony and was handed
the staff of office and the royal insignia by the Action Group of Nigeria [{AGN}
under the leadership of Chief Obafemi Awolowo as the prime minister. Alara
chieftains are always the head and paramount ruler of the Epe obas council since
the 13th centuries and was drafted among the 5 principal obas in Lagos state and
one out of the 4 permanent vice chairman of the Lagos state council of Obas and
chiefs, together with the Ayangbunren of Ikorodu, Akran of Badagry, Olu of Ikeja
and also the permanent chairman of the Epe Divisional chieftaincy committee.
A biography of the longest reigning monarch in Lagos state, published by Mrs.
Memunat Gbemisola Akinbayo, referred to his Royal Majesty as a man of destiny
and a child of covenant, a monarch with immense virtue, understanding and
wisdom, he is neither a materialistic nor worldly insatiable Oba, because he is
content which is why he is impregnated by some qualities with a strong desire for
social change, he is a truthful and loving person, for truth without love is brutality
and love without truth is hypocrisy.
The unrivalled contributions of Oba Akeem Okunola Adesanya II to assemble the
traditional council during the layoff of the Western region by the administration led
by Military President, General Yakubu Gowon in the 1960s is somewhat
outstanding, that the influence Alara had during those days allured the council of
Obas and chiefs together to discuss on daily basis till the creation of Lagos state
in 1967, he still remains a force to reckon with, with his physically energetic and
active advocations for attracting better life for his subjects and as a groundwork
member of the council of Obas and chiefs in Lagos state till date.
Having ruled since the days of independence, and have witnessed the impressive,
awe-inspiring and despicable moments Nigerians had gone through, Oba Akeem

Okunola Adesanya II have never been a subject to pessimism for a better Nigeria,

he has never imbibed the doctrine that this part of the world is the worst of all

possible worlds, that is why he thinks the successful election of President

Muhammadu Buhari, on March 28th, 2015, is one of the prolonged answers

tending to contribute immensely to the good living conditions of the Nigerian

citizens, delineated to his prayer requests by God.

The aggregation of the events in contrast to the present and the future of the Epe

territorial province during the colonial era was solidly influenced by the then Alara,

Epe riverine territory is the most comprehensive in extent in Lagos state,

hallmarked with its aquatic brilliance, where fishing and domestic farming is the

major profession that can be conducively practiced among the local inhabitants,

Epe became part of the British Colony in 1892 under the Ruler ship of the Alara

chieftaincy title, The then Alara gets constant patronage from the Old colony

province on all major administrative matters affecting the welfare of the Epe

divisions and in Lagos state as ''Oba Ijimji'' {Grade A, First Class King}, this

historical record makes the Alara Chieftaincy title possessed the potential qualities

to keep in possession his office as the Chairman of the Epe Divisional Chieftaincy

Committee which comprises of Aladeshonyin {Odo Noforija}, Orijeru {Igbooye},

Aladeuraka {Poka}, Olu Epe {Epe Eko}, Oloja {Epe Ijebu}, Aladegunshebi

{odoragunshen}, Elejinrin {Ejirin}, Alaketu {Ketu}, Onibeju [Ibeju}, Onise {Ise}.

The prominence and significance of Oba Akeem Okunola Adesanya II seized to

be exaggerated or be placed with assertive coercion, as his reign have always

gained recognitions with its eminent position and personal status from the

successive administrations of both military and civilian rule from the former

western region of Nigeria to the present Lagos state, Oba with painstaking care

and support have always put the sons and daughters of Ilara and the scattered

villages in the Epe divisions at heart, his subtle distinction and physical intellectual

traits to assemble prodigious throng for a cause he believes in crowned the efforts

of the Epe divisions of Lagos state to have produced two executive governors in

recent years, late Sir Michael Otedola from Odoragunshen town, from the Eredo

Local council development area, and the incumbent governor, Governor

Akinwunmi Ambode.

Oba Akeem Okunola Adesanya is the longest reigning monarch in Lagos state

and second In Nigeria behind His Royal Majesty Oba Sikiru Adetona, The

Paramount ruler and the Awujale of Ijebuland, who was enthroned 2nd of April,

1960, History had it that during the eviction of Alara {Adesonwon} from the

confines of Ile Ife, He wandered through the land of the Ijebus in the 13th

centuries, He visited the eastern part of Ijebu {Ijebu Ife} to pay homage to the then

Ajalorun of Ijebu Ife, the news of Alara's presence on Ijebu's soil have already

gotten to the Awujale, but according to the customs and traditions of the Yoruba

people, during those period of indeterminate length, supreme Kings don't meet

eye to eye in each other domains, as it is being practised this days, Awujale then

left his palace to meet Alara {Oba Adesonwon}, The location they met, is where

the statue of Obanta [The Immediate ruler before Oba Awujale} was erected in

Ijebu Ode till this very moment, now inside the Ijebu Ode local government