Ikun Akoko Agog as Isolo Quarter Celebrates Ihare Ceremony
The people of Isolo quarter in Ikun Akoko have celebrated this year’s Ihare ceremony with pomp.
The ceremony, which took place at the “Olori Opon” residence where all the newly Ihare assembled for prayers, was witnessed by dignitaries across Ondo State State.
Speaking with The Focus Magazine, the National President of Ikun Progressive Union(IPU), Elder Olaniran Titus Orimijupa, who was also one of the new Ihare, said, Ihare is the celebration of age and wisdom, where people with good characters are chosen every nine years after they have attained the age of seventy years.
He said, “This is the celebration of age and wisdom, where people with good characters are chosen every nine years after they have attained the age of seventy years.
They are the ones to make policy and run the administration of the quarter. They are significant for hard work and nurturing the younger generations, propagating and maintaining the culture and tradition of our people”.
Elder Orimijupa said the quarter had a structure of administration from the beginning before the emergence of the colonial master.
“Before the coming of the colonial master, Isolo quarter in Ikun Akoko has a structure of administration. Ihare was the highest authority in the administration of the quarter.
In our quarter, we have “ogure” or “opon ” who is the oldest person in the quarter and serves as a balancing figure.
They are the group of people that could discipline the Kabiyesi and also the Ihare. They serve like a check and balance. It is from Ihare they picked the oldest person, but in our quarter, they called him “ogure, “which is always a man. He moderates and checks the meetings of the elders”.
He stated further that the duties of this Ihare are to make policy, while “itakun,” which is the next in authority, implements those policies. The “omode- ile” is the one that will execute those projects.
Elder Orimijupa urged the newly Ihare to be diligent and humble themselves and to ensure they passed the knowledge to the next generations that are coming behind.
He said, “I urged the newly Ihare to be diligent and humble themselves and to ensure they passed the knowledge to the next generations that are coming behind.
They have to maintain the training of the youths in the quarter and serve as an example for the growth of our culture for the development of the quarter”, he said.
In his remarks, the Apetu-Oke of Isolo quarter, Chief Adebayo Johnson, said the first step is “itakun.” They would be there for nine years before they moved to an elderly position, which was being called Ihare. It includes both men and women, and they must have to attend quarters meeting regularly.
He said the duties of the Ihare are to hold meetings every month and to deliberate on how to move the quarter forward. Anyone who goes against the law of the quarter, they were the one in a position to deal with such people.
Chief Adebayo Johnson advised the new Ihare to have a fear of God and do the right thing at the right time.
“I’m imploring you to have the fear of God and do the right thing at the right time. You must be trustworthy and love one another. It’s only true love that can keep us together “, he said.
