BY LEKE ADEGBITE
After spending twenty one days with his ancestors on the popular Hill behind his palace as part of his traditional rites, the new Owa-Ale of Ikare Akoko, Oba Adeleke Adedoyin, has returned to the Palace amidst fanfare and jubilation.
The hill is where Ikare people derive their popular cognomen, “Omo Oloke meji, tako tabo” and history has it that some past Owa-Ales and their subjects lived on the hills before settling in their present location.
As part of the second stage of traditional rites to ascend Owa-Ale’s throne, every new monarch must spend 21days on the hills to interface with his ancestors and to seek royal blessings for the community.
Oba Adeleke Adedoyin who stepped down from the hill at the weekend was given a royal welcome by residents, elders and high chiefs of the ancient town who trooped out in their numbers to dance with him to his Enuowa palace at Okorun quarter.
The new monarch whose selection was approved by the Ondo state Executive Council last month, prayed for peaceful coexistence and progress of Ikare, Ondo state and Nigeria at large.
Speaking on the significance of the rites, the Olokoja of Okoja, High Chief Idowu Ogunye stated that the traditional practice was paramount to the progress of Ikare.
On his part, the Olona of Okegbe- Ikare, High Chief Rafiu Okunade, underscored the fact that it was mandatory for the newly installed Monarch to leave the Palace for twenty one days.
Also commenting, the Asoju Oba of Ikare, Chief Olabisi Babajide, charged Oba Adeleke Adedoyin to use the influential royal stool to usher in higher institutions in order to mitigate societal decadence that has eaten deep into the fabrics of the nation.