The Alake of Egba is the paramount Yoruba king of the Egba, a clan in Abeokuta, Ogun State, southwestern Nigeria. Egba consists of Egba Alake, Owu kingdom, Oke-Ona and Gbagura
The first Alake of Egbaland was Sagbua Okukenu who ruled between August 1854 to 1862. Prior to the appointment of the Sagbua Okukenu in 1846, Shomoye was installed as regent for one year, between 1845 and 1846, and following the demise of Oba Okukenu in 1862, Shomoye returned to the throne of the Alake of Egbaland as a regent, where he spent four years between 1862 and 1866. Following this, Oba Ademola I was appointed in November 1869. He ruled for eight years until his demise in December, 1877. In January 1879, Oba Oyekan was appointed as the Alake of Egbaland. He spent three years on the throne before dying in September, 1881. Thereafter, Oluwajin was appointed in February 1885, and ruled in this capacity for four years (d. 1889). After a two year vacancy, Oba Oshokalu was appointed Alake in September, 1891.
He ruled in this capacity for seven years until his demise on the 11th of June, 1898. In the same year, Oba Gbadebo I became the Alake of Egbaland. He spent twelve years on the throne until his death on the 28th of May, 1920. He died at the age of 66 years old (1854–1920). Following the demise of Oba Gbadebo I in 1920, Ladapo Ademola II became the new ruler. He ruled for 42 years, two of which were spent in exile between 1948 and December 1950. After his death in 1962, the throne was vacant for one year and in September 1963, Oba Adesina Samuel Gbadebo II was appointed as the new Alake of Egbaland. After the death of Adesina Samuel Gbadebo on 26 October 1971, Samuel Oyebade Lipede became the king. He ruled in this capacity for 33 years until his demise in February 2005, which led to the appointment of Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo .
Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo III (born 14 September 1943) is the current Alake of Egba, a clan in Abeokuta, Nigeria. He has ruled since 2 August 2005.
Gbadebo was born on 14 September 1943, into the Laarun Ruling House. He is a grandson of the sixth Alake of Egbaland, Oba Gbadebo, who ruled from 1898 to 1920, and is a nephew of Oba Gbadebo II.[1]
Gbadebo attended the Baptist Boys’ High School in Abeokuta and Ibadan Grammar School, then went on to University of Ibadan in 1965, obtaining a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1969. He joined the army in 1969, and attended the Command and Staff College, Jaji from September 1978 to August 1979. He eventually became a Principal Staff Officer to Major-General Tunde Idiagbon, the Chief of Staff at the Supreme Headquarters, Dodan Barracks, from January 1984 to September 1985. He retired from the army as a Colonel.
Gbadebo’s election as Alake in August 2005 ended a six-month period of uncertainty about who would succeed the former Alake, Oba Oyebade Lipede, who died on 3 February 2005.[3] He scored 15 out of 23 votes in an election conducted by the Egba kingmakers, defeating eight competitors including his younger brother, Adeleke.
In April 2010, a dispute between Gbadebo and the Olu of Igbein, Oba Festus Oluwole Makinde, was taken to the High Court of Ogun State, Abeokuta Judicial Division, Ogun State, Nigeria. The Olu of Igbein was contesting an attempt by the Alake to change his title from Olu of Igbein to Olu of Mowe, a change which would affect his rights to use certain traditional symbols including the Igbein stool.
