The monarch made the claim while receiving members of the Southwest Group of Online Publishers (SWEGOP), who paid a courtesy visit to his palace.
Oba Akinruntan said his ancestors were among the original settlers of ancient Ile-Ife before migrating to the coastal area of present-day Ondo State.
According to him, the migration followed what he described as directives from Ifa and Osanyin after the land was considered barren.
While explaining his position on the history of Ugbo Kingdom and Ile-Ife, the monarch said Oduduwa arrived in Ile-Ife as a stranger and encountered several established communities.
“It is a notorious fact that Oduduwa came as a stranger to Ile-Ife,” he said.
According to Oba Akinruntan, Oduduwa met 16 communities in Ile-Ife, 13 of which, he claimed, have been identified in present-day Ile-Ife, with descendants of the original inhabitants still occupying important positions within the communities.
He said those communities already had established systems of governance, customs and traditions before Oduduwa’s arrival.
The Olugbo identified Osangangan Obamakin, whom he described as the paramount ruler of the ancient communities, as the leader who received Oduduwa into Ile-Ife.
He claimed that Osangangan Obamakin provided Oduduwa with accommodation and farmland, adding that oral traditions among some elders in Ile-Ife continued to preserve accounts of their relationship.
Oba Akinruntan also referred to Ilero, also known as Ile Apero, which he said was the palace of Osangangan Obamakin and is located along Iremo Road in Ile-Ife.
According to him, the site is regarded by some elders as one of the oldest traditional assemblies in Yorubaland.
The monarch further linked the Ugbo-Ilaje people to the lineage of Osangangan Obamakin, whom he described as the original paramount ruler of ancient Ile-Ife, then known as Ugbomokun.
He said Osangangan Obamakin was a son of Oranfe, a prominent figure in Yoruba traditional history who, according to the monarch, was associated with the ancient settlement of Ora.
Oba Akinruntan listed several names, including Obalufon, Ojoyin, Alawo, Obawinrin, Obariyun, Owajan, Woyeasiri, Obarena, Obalara, Lowagbafin and Baba Sigidi, as members of the wider lineage associated with Osangangan Obamakin.
He added that communities bearing the names associated with the dynasty still exist in present-day Ile-Ife and are inhabited by people he described as his kith and kin.
The Olugbo also spoke extensively about Oranfe, whom he described as the father of Osangangan Obamakin and an important figure in the spiritual history of the ancient kingdom.
According to him, Oranfe was revered as a powerful spiritual figure and was associated with Ora Hill.
He said important traditional institutions and spiritual practices associated with ancient Ugbomokun, which he also referred to as Ife Ooye or Ife Ooyelagbo, were preserved under the authority of Oranfe.
Oba Akinruntan further discussed the traditional accounts surrounding Oduduwa, Obatala and the political developments that followed Oduduwa’s arrival in Ile-Ife.
He said conflicts between the two figures eventually contributed to a series of events that influenced the subsequent history of Ile-Ife and Yorubaland.
The Olugbo maintained that the historical position he presented was documented in an article titled “A History of The Oldest Throne In Yorubaland,” authored by him, as well as in Odu: A Journal of West African Studies, New Series No. 46, published in July 2015 by Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife.
Olugbo Clarifies Ugbo, Igbo Difference
Oba Akinruntan also used the occasion to address what he described as a recurring misconception about the identity of Ugbo people.
He stressed that Ugbo should not be confused with Igbo, despite the geographical proximity between the communities.
According to him, Ugbo belongs to the Yoruba cultural and historical environment of southwestern Nigeria, while the Igbo people are predominantly associated with southeastern Nigeria.
The monarch said the similarity in pronunciation had sometimes resulted in the mistaken use of “Igbo” when referring to Ugbo.
He maintained that the historical identity of Ugbo Kingdom was distinct and should be properly recognised.
Oba Akinruntan said he was confident in the historical materials supporting his position on the relationship between Ugbo Kingdom and Ile-Ife.
He challenged historians and others who disagreed with his account to present alternative evidence and engage with the historical records.
The monarch also expressed concern that, in his view, some accounts of Yoruba history had failed to adequately reflect the contributions and traditions of Ugbo Kingdom.
He therefore called on relevant authorities, historians and researchers to undertake further examination of the history of Yorubaland.
According to him, establishing and preserving well-researched historical accounts is important not only for the present generation but also for future generations seeking to understand their cultural roots.
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