Ipara omo Iroye, Ibiti Iro Nye Ni, Ti Ika Ngbe Enia.....
Welcome to the Ancient town of Ipara Remo, a northern part of Remo Kingdom in Ogun State. A land founded around 12 A.D by a Royal blood from Ile-Ife called Oguola and his beautiful wife Iroye with other settlers who followed them on their journey from Ile-Ife through jungles down to Apomu, Ikire, Ibadan and which they kept south till they arrived at this present location and settled here without a name until a season when great Oguola a man who is today the founder and father of Ipara Remo; a great and brave hunter, a great and ruthless warrior, who was always travelling to hunt and fight wars when on a journey and didn't return early, his sheath sword which was made from bamboo had been eaten by termite and left with just the earth, on his return and sighting what happened remarked, " OPA-RA" which today became "IPARA" the name of their settlement.
It is a town located after Sapaade, a one road town, it was a federal road from Lagos- Sagamu-Ode Remo in those days . Ipara is a town with boundary with Fidiwo in Obafemi-Owode Local Government by the North, Isara- Ode Remo boundary by the South-West and some other farm lands and villages also from Obafemi-Owode Local Government. In the olden days, Ipara was well known as a port of rest for travellers going on a long journey especially North and their business of Fresh Palm wine and delicious Bush meat which those travellers indeed enjoyed but the construction of the now Lagos-ibadan Exoressway had reduced this business for the Iparians.
Oguola was told left Ile-Ife in the Ancient 12 A.S with his wife Iroye who at that time had no child, there was no record of who his parents were but history made us know he was from the royal lineage, he left Ancient Ile-Ife with a beaded crown having 16 birds which serves as a reminder and confirmation of his relationship with the Royal throne of Ile-Ife.
History revealed to us that Oguola was a very great warrior who was never defeated in battles and other warriors of Yoruba Kingdom seek his help to conquer battles in those days, after his death, there were other notable warriors; such of those warriors is Balogun Keere. Balogun Keere was fondly called Ogbo ori olori ka ri. He was a strong warrior who was known to put other people's head on while he fight battles and will replaced with his own after he had conquered the battle. Balogun Keere was known to have a potency in those days of commanding a vacuum to cover the people of Ipara for safety during war and ask the vacuum to open after the battle. The site were this took place is still in Ipara till date and called OLODURU.
Iroye, Oguola's wife cannot be left out in the history of Ipara Remo for a bravery and tremendous act in the fight against the enemies of Ipara. Iroye would make Akara( bean cake) and carry it for sale at the enemies camp, any soilder who buys and eat such akara stood as a frozen fish which weakens the strength of the enemies and make Ipara warriors capture them and have victory.
There is a River in Ipara call ODO-LISA, it is worship annually by the chief Priest and other priests. Another god worship is BABANLE, it is also worshipped annually at it's Shrine, it is believed that the front and the back of Babanle is the same.
IPARUFU is another tourist center in Ipara where there are plenty of sand, it was believed that that location had a lagoon in those days but the lagoon was driven away by incantations but the sand remains till today as s memorial.
Onipara is the paramount ruler of Ipara Remo who has 14 baales under his Administration who are responsible to him.
There are 4 ruling houses in Ipara Remo
(1) Adumari Apekunjoy
(2) Olumasa
(3) Amororo
(4) Agbagunmote
And there are 12 King Makers who helps Onipara in the Administration of his Rule is categorised under 3 units
- (1) Osugbo groups
- (2) Odi groups
- (3) Eno groups
In Ipara Remo, there are educational development and Religion. The first School was founded in 1908 by Mr Owolaja from Ogere Remo called CMS School, then came Methodist School. Islam came in last into Ipara. The first church in Ipara Remo is Holy Trinity Anglican Church established in 1893 by 8 families who were going for Sunday School Services in Iperu Remo before they eventually established a church in Ipara.
Ipara Remo omo Iroye is indeed a place of tourist attraction to be visited anytime you are in Remo land.
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