History we tell

CAPTAIN BOWER TOWER, OKE ARE – IBADAN The Tower was erected in honour of Captain R.L Bower, the resident and traveling colonial administrator of Oyo group of provinces. It was built in December 1936 at Are Hill as a mark of appreciation to Captain Bower whose efforts in checking anti-social behaviours prevalent at that time were acknowledged. And also for his contribution to the infrastructural development of the town. Captain Bower was also a major participant that brought the inter-ethnic wars between Alaafins army represented by Generalissimo Ogunmola (Ibadan), and Ogedengbe of Ilesa representing the combined forces of Ekiti and Ijesha to an end. The war was fought at a place between Igbajo and Oke-Mesi, known as the “Kiriji” war. AGODI GARDENS – IBADAN Agodi Gardens is right in the heart of the metropolitan city of Ibadan. The garden shares the same locality with Premier Hotel on the Hill over looking an artificial lake and the cultural centre. The Garden is a fine example of multiple use of land for forestry, nursery, arboretum, park boating and fishery, zoo, recreational and relaxation purposes. One remarkable aspects of the garden is the unique educational value of bringing various species of animals together as the garden presents a captivating site for seeing rare species to tourists. THE SUSPENDED LAKE – ADO-AWALE The suspended/hanging lake is on top of a rocky at Ado-Awaye in Iseyin Local Government area of Oyo State. The 350 steps leading to the top of the hill housing the suspended/hanging lake takes about 1 hour to climb. The route to the lake contains many shrines and notable historical spots that make a tourist delight. The inhabitants lived on the hill and the lake remains a source of water to them. The lake is never dry and retains the same volume even during the rainy season. Evidence of past civilization is many in this nature’s gift. There are the broken crucibles of earthen pots and other archeological remains. The geographical axiom of the “higher you go, the cooler it becomes” is manifested on the hill. The beauty of the hill is seen in the thick vegetation which remains evergreen all through the year. THE ROYAL FOREST “IGBO-OBA” – IGBOHO The royal forest “Igbo-Oba” in Igboho, Oorelope Local Government Area of the State is were the four Alaafins were buried, this is why it is called “Lord of the Royal Palace”. Igboho was once the second settlement of the Oyos when (Oyo-lle) old Oyo was first destroyed. Therefore Alaafin settled down at Igboho. Thus people referred to this period of settlement as “Oyo-Igboho”. Alaafin Obamoro (catcher of the ghost) moved the capital back to Oyo-Ile (old Oyo) after successful deciphering the diabolical methods of the “Oyomesi” (cabinet). Notwithstanding, the forest is in the middle of the city of Igboho, and still retains the unique features of a typical forest with big trees like baobab, iroko arere, iya etc. The graves of the past Alaafins were marked and a gate has been constructed to demarcate and to protect the sacred forest from encroachment. OLD OYO (OYO-ILE) Old Oyo lies in ruins at the northernmost tip of old Oyo national park. As a matter of fact, the star attraction apart from the flora and fauna in the Park is the ruins of old Oyo. The old Oyo was once the famous administrative capital of Oyo Empire where the Alaafin reigned supreme then. Old Oyo flourished and was known all over the world and was visited by Clapperton while on an expedition to locate Mungo Park, until it was destroyed in 1937 by the Fulani Jihadists. The ruined city was founded by Alaafin Oranmiyan and its features range from the cultural, historical, and archeological to the flora and fauna as well as wonderful rock formations. Among the features of the famous city of the Yoruba people are intricate defence walls, Kosomonu hill, Akesan Market site, Agbaku rock shelter, Mejiro industrial sites and Aganju hall. Another interesting feature is the reservoir constructed to store water during wet season for use during the dry season. The site is still there, while the apartment walls of houses provide insight into the ingenuity of the builders after many centuries. OLD OYO NATIONAL PARK Old Oyo national park came into existence as a result of the merger between the erstwhile Oyo-ile forest reserve and upper Ogun Game Reserve in 1991. it has a land mass of 2, 512 kilometres and is surrounded by eleven local government areas. The park can boost of Flora and fauna spices and kob which is the logo of the old Oyo National Park. The attractive part of the park is the ruins of the former administrative capital of “Oyo-Ile”. The ruins include the relics of the city wall, the great “Agbaku” cave, the Kosomonu Hill, the water reservoir, the old Akesan Market site, Palace etc. The Park has a number of comfortable chalets at Sepeteri and Ibuya base camps with which tourists can lodge. SOUN’S PALACE – OGBOMOSHO Ogbomosho is second largest city in Oyo State and his paramount ruler is Soun of Ogbomosho. Soun of Ogbomosho was one of the generalissimos of Alaafin army (Are-Onakakanfo). The Palace which is a combination of old and new architectural masterpieces contains many antiquities like the ancient armoury, mysterious chains, “Ajagbon” tree and “Alaagba”, the over three hundred years old tortoise which is the star attraction as it roams about majestically in the palace ground.  Other historical and tourist site include Oke ‘Badn Shrine; Ose Meji Shrine, Ibadan; Sango Shrine, Ibadan; Iddo Cenotaph, Ibadan; Akolu, Adoro, Okele and Obaseku Hills, Eruwa; Ancient Palaces of Alaafin, Oyo; Soro Hill, Oyo; Akesan Market, Oyo; Bara (Burial place of Alaafins), Oyo; Sango, Obatala, Ogiyan and Orisa-oko shrines, Akinmorin; Koso Grove, Iseyin among others.