The National President of Ikire Progressive Union, Prof. Peter Olaitan has said the town which is located in Irewole Local Government area of Osun State has no link whatsoever with Ikire-Ile, a town near Iwo.
This is contained in a press release personally signed by the National President of the Union on a misrepresentation of a purported historical link of both towns.
The release said in parts: “The attention of Ikire Progressive Union, and in deed, the entire sons and daughters of Ikire in Irewole Local Government has been called to the misrepresentation on a possible historical link with Ikire Ile, a town near Iwo.
“At the coronation of Akire-Ile a couple of weeks ago, a short history of the town was published in the program of events. There was a claim that the founder of Ikire migrated from Ikire-ile following his finding out that his brother had become king and he then migrated to Ikire to establish a new kingdom now called Ikire. This is far from the truth as even the origin of the names differs.
“Akire of Ikire was a title derived from the progenitor of Ikire whose name was Akinrere.
“But Ikire-ile, according to the published history at the coronation and their traditional title of Akire was derived from Ekiire( greet them well) which was later corrupted to Ikire-Ile.
“While the two towns originated from Ile-Ife, our own Ikire only has direct link with Ejigbo in Osun state, as both Akinrere and founder of Ejigbo land, Akinjioole were both siblings.
“History is a product of serious research. it is not a product of imagination or manipulation.
“While I congratulate Akire of Ikire-Ile and wish him the very best as he occupies the throne of his fathers, this small note is put forward to effect correction to the error of history observed and to set the record straight.”
