The traditional institution in OTTA dates back to the IFE OODAYE or ORUNMILA period in particular to say the least as ORUNMILA the great IFA Prophet met a woman OBA named IYARIGIMOKO OTAYO, titled OLOTA ODO, OBA ARODEDEWOMI the original mother of OTA and the first OLOTA in history as succinctly confirmed by the ODU-IFA title IRET OLOTA (OWONRIN) and OSA MEJI (ODU ELEYE).
Thus IYARIGIMOKO was the first (OBA) OLOTA in history which dated back to the BC era at least as confirmed in the Odu-ifa traditions mentioned above.
She was, however succeeded by ATELE OLODE MERO, ERELU AFINJU OLOJA EKUN otherwise known as OLOTA ELEGBEJE OJA and OLOTA OLOFIN ARAOYE, first male traditional ruler as the fourth OLOTA in succession that reigned in OTA without any specific date, and many Obas that still reigned after him (Olofin ARAOYE) no date could be ascribed.
ARUGBA -IFA, the powerful female IFA priest was the last relic of ODELU-FAGBBA.
ARUGBA IFA was born in OTA towards the end of the 13th century.
She later married Alaafin Oluaso (circa 1300-1350) and was the mother of Alaafin ONIGBOGI, OLOFIN AREMITAN, the founder of ILE-OLUJI and prince Koyi, the founder of ADO-AWAYE in lbarapa land.
Osolo (Son of Olofin Ogbodorigiefon of Oduduwa dynasty ) was a very powerful prince of Ile-Ife and he brought his beaded crown directly from Ile-Ife and he reigned in OTA as an OBA long before Akinsewa.
Before the arrival of Osolo and Eleidi Atalabi (Eleidi Atala), OTTA had been producing 0bas (Kings) in succession but not without interregnums When a reigning Olota dies, the Ota Council of Chiefs receives an official report of his death.
Following the end of the three-month mourning period, the selection and enthronement procedures for a new Olota begin.
Ruling houses are rotated so that each has an opportunity to produce an Oba.
Eventually, the ruling family meets and presents one or more candidates to a group of Kingmakers.
Additionally, other chiefs play important roles in the installation of a new Olota, such as the Odota and the Aro, who perform the installation rites, and the Oluwo, who performs rituals at predetermined dates following the crowning of a new Olota.
^ Jump up to:a b "Lagos belongs to Awori, the Bini met them there — Akintoye".
^ Jump up to:a b "Irete Owonrin - UCLA Library Digital Collections".