Perhaps the pivot on which the stability of Ikorodu rests was the legal recognition given to only two ruling houses-Rademo Royal Family and Lasunwon Royal Family. To date, the two ruling houses have produced eighteen traditional rulers. The first recognised traditional ruler was Lasunwon. At his demise, Rademo took over the reigns of power. There was Lugbekan (from Lasunwon); Dotelu (Lasunwon), Kaalu (Lasunwon); Oguntade 1 (Rademo); Petu (Rademo); Kuyinu (Rademo); Ireshe (Lasunwon); Idowu Alagbo (Rademo); Orelaja (Rademo); Ogunlaru (Lasunwon); Aina Odubote (Rademo); Odunjumo Araba (Lasunwon); Ajayi Owujebe (Lasunwon); Adenaike Alegbe (Lasunwon); Samuel Oladega (Lasunwon). The incumbent, traditionally ruler, His Royal Highness Oba Salawu Oyefusi is from Rademo, and the third Ayangburen.
Late Oba Adenaike Alegbe, the Oloja of Ikorodu was installed Adegorushin on Monday 3rd June 1929 at the age of 75. He was formally crowned the Ayangburen of Ikorodu.
Oba Alagbe is recognised in Ikorodu history as a transition-ruler. Not only for being the last Oloja and the first Oba to be crowned Ayangburen, he was also instrumental in the movement of the palace from Awofin in Ajina to Alyeluja when the community felt it was high time they built a befitting new palace for the traditional ruler of the town. A new world was discovered on the other side of the city wall, the present location of the palace Ayangburen of Ikorodu.
With this development, Oba Alagbe succeeded punishing the frontiers of Ikorodu beyond the ancient city walls, to begin the town’s march into a new era.
The last forty years has witnessed a tremendous growth in Ikorodu. The town is now six times its original size as a circular town. The frontiers of the Local Government now stretches as far the new industrial lay to the north at Odogunyan, to the far reaches of the Ogun River in the east. When fully developed, the industrial Estates at Odogunyan will be the largest industrial estates in black Africa.
The construction of Lagos-Okorodu road which was completed in 1953, and the coming of electricity three years later in 1956 opened a floor gate of business activities that laid the foundation for today’s economic development and inherent gains.
It is interesting to note that commercial activities that brought Ikorodu to the threshold of history and national prominence was spearheaded by sons and daughters of the town-who asatsu traders, had established themselves as first among equals, and relevant in the international business sphere of the time.
These pioneers, come across as visionaries, men and women in the thrall of belief so powerful that they ignore all else to ensure that reality catches up with their dreams of lifting Ikorodu up the ladder. The emerging commercial, enterprising spirit produced such business tycoons as late Chief Joseph M.Shonubi popularly known as Owolowo. He was one of the earliest business magnates in Nigeria and easily one of the richest Nigerians of his time. Apart from running ferry services from Ikorodu to Lagos, Shonubi was recognised by all, from far and near, as the most prosperous trader in the stockfish and tobacco trade.
Ikorodu lies on a plateau’ that assertion by my teacher holds good today. Ikorodu town is 5.3sq Kilometres from North to South. It stretches from Gbasemo (Aga) and Oriya stream in south to Agbala/tokin road in the north. It is bounded in the west by the Majidun River and in the cast by a straight line that connects Itamaga to Abel Abu factory on Igbogbo-Ipakodo road.
The top of the plateau is gently undulating. The most important streams are Apeka, Etunrenren, Erikorodo, Melegoke, Yewa, Eri-Ijomu, Ota Ona, Ota-Igbo and Erunwen. Most of these streams have now been savagely polluted by environmental resultants or modernity.
These streams were the sources of cool, smooth potable water to Ikorodu of yesteryears. Ikorodu town lies 30 30’ East of Greenwich and 6075 "North of the equator. Glimpses of what it used to be in the past could be seen at present day "Oro groves"-Igboti. Ikorodu lies a few kilometres north of the Lagos Lagoon and, in actual fact, less than 10 kilometres North of the Atlantic Ocean (the bright of Benin). I remember that when I was young, after rainstorms, especially in the quiet hours of early morning, on my bed at Aga. I used to hear, loudly and clearly, the rumbling and roaring noise made by the breaking of waves on the Atlantic shores.
This was before the noise pollution of these days as a result of the invasion of electronic sound gadgets. How I wish we could sleep in Ikorodu and have the refreshing and sublime quiet of those days!
Our fathers were rain forests farmers and hunters. Their Arabic crops were mainly yams-different varieties-Akosu, Obisu (Ewura) and Isu alo, Maize and vegetables, beans (Ewapupa)- which I believe is almost extinct now Ewa ewuje and popondo. They also grew melons. They also cultivated cassava which was used to make garri and a large quality of which were reserve for the feeding of animals especially goats which were very many within the town. They had paw-paw, oranges, plantains and the native banana (Ogede Omini) but most of these fruits were never harvested because of the absence of markets and sales outlets for them. They were mainly left to rot away on the trees or were consumed by birds and animals.
The first settlement around here was Igbogbo, then followed by Ipakodo and lastly, Ikorodu’. It is interesting to note that ‘Ewu-Elepe’ is even older than Igbogbo in age. The chronological sequence of the four settlements is almost exactly the reverse of their present day size. -‘The first shall be last, and the last first.’
1. Ita Efulase- this is still our popular "Ita-Efulase O, kero wa wejina Olokobo, Ita-Efulase, kero wa wejina Olokobo".This is Ajina the venue of all traditional festivals – the amphitheatre of traditional display, dancing and drumming. The hub of the ton’s social and religious activities.
2. Obun Ale: The only night market of those days and it is still in existence today. One important thing to note is that, socially, Obun Ale provided the venue where young men and women met in order to profess their love for one another than at any other venue. An unmarried would be full of expectations of meeting a suitor at Obun Ale.
3. Obun Oke: This is still an extant market. However one recollects that there were some " Aba trees", about six of them, dotting over the landscape of the market. These trees had disappeared. Their role was to announce the death of any traditional chief because of such an occasion; the trees had the most expensive ‘Aso-Oke’ tied around them for upwards 14 days to signify woven cloths were never stolen. Go and try such for 10 hours today. They will disappear into thin air.
4. Ita Aro: Ita Aro is a minor daily market for food items only.
5. Ita Elewa: This was a water logged open space. There were two very tall, coconut trees at one end and a very tall Akoko trees on a spot now opposite the entrance of the present day Methodist Church. Later, Ita Elewa was transform into a children’s playing ground before it yielded place to a motor part on the completion and commissioning of the Lagos Ikorodu road in 1954.Ita Elewa had the reputation of harbouring ‘Elegbere’ (spirits) in those days and only the most courageous and daring would pass by that area at night.
6. Early Morning Markets; These were markets that were held between 5.00am to 7.00am. They were located at Ojubode, Ota Ona and Oju-baba (opposite the present salvation army church Itumaja). These early morning markets enabled those who were going to the farms to buy food they would consume on the farms. Main commodities were ‘dipon’ (Adaluewa), Igbalo (robo) and Igbalo Elewe, gari offered in small measures, smoked fish, etc. These markets have naturally by now become extinct.
7. Native Authority Prison; There was a native authority prison on the site on which you have ‘Exclusive Club House’ today. The prison was closed down around 1938. We were told the prison got closed down because the inmates mutinied and incarcerated their warder.
Native Court; The assessors were Oba Adenaike Algbe, Oba Ogunlewa and Balogun Jaiyesimi. Of the trio, Oba Ogunlewa, Oloja of Igbogbo was literate. He was a product of Methodists Boys’ High School, Lagos.
