Ado-Odo
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Ado-Odo is the metropolitan headquarters of the ancient kingdom of Ado renowned as the ancient fortress of age-long traditional practices of Ifa (Ado n'ile Ifa), the Oduduwa/Obatala temple with a theocratic set - up. Oodu'a is regarded as the mother of all deities in the world. All of these made Ado an inviolate territory in Western Yoruba land the same status accorded Ile-Ife as "father figure" in Yoruba land. Unlike the other kingdoms which had a taste of bitter pill in the fratricidal wars that ravaged the entire Yoruba land in the nineteenth century, Ado stands out as an unconquered sanctuary city-state throughout the period till date.
Ado-Odo is located in the modern-day Ogun State in the Southwestern Geopolitical zone of Nigeria. thumb
In pre-colonial times, the independent state of Ado had at various times been referred to as Ado-Oodu'a, Ado-Ife, Ado-Ibini and Ado-Awori all pointing to its generational evolution. The advent of British rule led to the adoption of Ado-Odo that was first used at the introduction of colonial rule for a clear-cut identity between her and other major settlements bearing similar name in other parts of Yoruba land such as Ado-Ekiti, Ado-Awaye and Ado-Soba.
The Ado Kingdom as presently constituted is inhabited by Aworis and Yewas of Ishaga, Imasayi, Ibooro, Ketu, Eguns (Ogu), Oyos, Ijebus, Egbas and non-Yoruba elements particularly the Hausa., Igbo, Ijaw and others. Nobody could say precisely when the kingdom was founded. Ado probably evolved from the events which historians dated around the eleventh century when the instinct for survival, prestige and adventure forced people out of Ile-Ife, the cradle of the Yorubas, to spread in all directions in search of new lands.
Monarch
The Traditional Ruler of Ado-Odo is refer to as the Oba of Ado and Olofin Adimula Oodua of Ado-Odo, of which the reigning Oba is, His Imperial Majesty Oba Abdul-Lateef Adeniran Akanni Ojikutujoye I[1] [2] The Oba of Ado during the reign of Oba Ogabi Akapo served as the Vice President Western House of Chiefs and later Permanent Chairman,Ogun State Council of Obas for Egbado Traditional Council following creation of Ogun state in 1976 and held the office for years until his demise in 1989,shortly after the creation of Ado Odo /Ota Local Government .The truth needs being stated that the colonial henchmen recognized River Ado in 1889 and the name of the Kingdom till date see The History of Yorubas by Johnson .
Economic Activities
In the 1960s, the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo led Action Group administration in the Western Region acquired a very large expanse of land in Ado-Odo. Part of this was used to establish farm settlement with settlers still on ground. Being an agrarian and riverine community, the main economic activities of Ado are farming and trading. Commercial farming is pronounced in the community through co-operative societies and private investors who are into cocoa and palm tree plantations as well as other tree crops. Fishery, livestock and animal husbandry are also in practice.
Festivals
The notable festivals in Ado-Odo are connected with either the traditional religion as well as Christianity and Islam. The ancestral Oduduwa Festival called “Odun Alaje” in Ado involves the parade of two bulls round the town, rope game by able bodied men and using soft cane (‘Igbo’) to whip anyone freely. Raiding of stray fowls and dogs are synonymous with traditional cleansing activities during this festival, though the owners would have been forewarned through the town crier or Itepa Ilus. Igbi-Ora set of drums and Gbedu drums are used for the entertainment throughout the festival. The traditional devotees are led by the Oba Ora and other chiefs notably Oluwo, Olomu-Ajiga and women chieftains: Alaje and Aragba, to entertain spectators with dance steps on special days. [3]