The genesis of the founding of Egba Settlements known as Abeokuta commenced with different tribes and groups who met one another in Egba Forest and later harmonized themselves into bigger and stronger group of migrant settlers. The Gbaguras were one of such group of migrant settlers. Others include Egba Alake and Oke-Ona and they all finally settled down and took shelter under, and around Olumo Rock in 1830.

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According to history, the Gbaguras emigrated from their respective homestead situated on an imaginary line drawn from the present day Awe, Ejigbo, Akinmorin, Ilobu, Fiditi, Ilora and Oyo and coming westward past Ibadan and ending on the Outskirt of the present day Abeokuta. However, as a result of the intermecine wars in Yoruba country, the aftermath of Owu War resulted in the resettling of the Owus in Abeokuta in 1834 and they joined their fellow Yoruba kinsmen namely the Egba Alake, Egba Oke-Ona and Egba Gbagura to build a strong Abeokuta.

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In the Gbagura section of Abeokuta, there were at one time 144 townships (wards) that made up Gbagura out of which 72 were under Onigu of Ilugun who did not agree that Agura was his ‘Senior’ despite the Yoruba proverb that stated “TI AGURA BA SII IGBA ONIGU YIO GBA”. Translated literally, this means that, “IF THE AGURA OPENS THE SACRED CALABASH, THE ONIGU WILL ACCEPT IT”.  The remaining 72 townships swore allegiance to the Agura of Gbagura. As the process of the federation and unity became necessary, the 144 townships were eventually merged under the Agura. A fallout of this merger was the loss of the capital by Ilugun Township finally to Iddo Township. The Onigu of Ilugun finally left the Gbagura section of Abeokuta and joined the Egba Oke-Ona; although the Idomapa and Ilawo townships still has cordial relationship with the Gbagura Community in Egbaland.

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In the process of forming a primary Egba Federation, Gbagura emerged as the largest entity in the whole of Egba forest and played a major commendable role in the struggle by the Egbas to free themselves from the truancy of the Ilaris who were the emissaries of the Olooyo (The Alaafin of Oyo). The Ilaris were stationed in each Egba town during the Yoruba civil was of conquest.

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Gbagura is presently made up of seventeen townships; five principal townships and their allies namely:

1. IDDO - Iddo is the capital township and has no ally.

2. OJOO - Ojoo has one ally named Ikeye. 

3. OWE - Owe has two allies namely Idere and Ojesemi  

4. IBADAN - Ibadan has the largest allies of six townships namely: Oje-Ile, Offa, Ojokodo, Oorun, Iraa, Ikereku-Iwere.  

5. IKAA -  Ikaa has three allies namely: Iwo, Ijaye, Ikereku-Idan.

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