Newly crowned Owa-Ale of Ikare Akoko, Oba Adeleke Adedoyin, has returned to the palace after spending 21 days with his ancestors on the ancestral hills as part of his traditional rites.
Going to the hills is a must for a new Owa-Ale to enable him interface with his ancestors and seek royal blessing for the community.
It is part of the second stage of the traditional rites to ascend the Owa-Ale’s throne.
Past Owa-Ale and their subjects are believed to live on the hills before settling in their present location.
One Adedoyin stepped down from the hill at about 9 am at Okegbe quarter and was escorted to his Enuowa palace at Okorun quarter by a large crowd.
Speaking on the significance of the rite, the Olokoja of Okoja, Chief Idowu Ogunye, said the traditional practice could not be circumvented for the progress of Ikare.
He said the ancestors prayed for Oba Adedoyin during the 21 days he spent on the hill.
The new monarch was crowned the 18th Owa-Ale of Ikare-Akoko.
He prayed for peaceful coexistence and progress of Ikare, Ondo state and Nigeria at large.