AN ADDRESS PRESENTED ON BEHALF OF ALHAJI PRINCE ISA IKHARO
ON THE OCCASION OF THE 75TH REMEMBRANCE OF HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS
CHIEF ABUBAKAR IKHARO IKELEBE OSIMHE, OTARU TIHE 5TH OF AUCHI (1905 – 1919).
The Elders here present,
The Daudus here present,
The Palace Chiefs here present,
The Alhajis and Alhajas here present,
Every other person here present.
We say, it gives us great pleasure that Almighty God has spared our lives till this day. We are grateful to God. You are heartily welcomed to this occasion.
The gathering of today has been an annual event for the family but is usually done internally. The family has some issues for public consumption and hence the outing and we hereby crave your indulgence to bear with us.
In the first place, both natives and the strangers hear the name “IKHARO” being mentioned and are in doubt if this family ever existed or existing. To clear their doubts, this is one of the reasons of the outdoor prayers for the remembrance of Chief Abubakar Ikharo Ikelebe. It behoves us here to register appreciation to Idao ruling family for accepting the role played by IKHARO to bring Momoh to the stage.
By Auchi tradition rulership was by elders and following this, elder IKHARO was the next person to IKHARO.
THE BIOGRAPHY OF IKHARO IKELEBE:
Ikharo was born about the year 1793. He was the third child of Ikelebe the Great, Otaru the first. The mother was called Okhiaughie, a daughter to Chief Ige of Ivbiaro Ubuneke Owan Local Government Area. The woman was popularly called Obhige, i.e. the child of Ige.
Ikharo was the only child of the mother. He was a child of all children and one would be satisfied with having only one child of his type at the time. He grew up to be very strong, intelligent, loyal and accommodating. His brothers and sisters were (1) Omonofua, (2) ldao, (3) Esieghie, (4) IZO, (5) Igechi, (6) Omomo, (7) Ikhafo, (8) Inanila, (9) Idalu, (10) Ikphetie, (11) Abikhiele, (12) Ikharuogwe, (13) Ikpesai, (14) Igesimilai, (15) Oghiela, and (16) Ainikphe.
He married seven wives and they were: (1) Obesi from lyuku, (2) Olukhu from Igbei, Auchi, (3) Ufua from Ishan, (4) Oyogu Onegbeko Zenebu from Iyofa-Akpekpe, Auchi, (5) Aishetu Isebhe from Iyekhei, Auchi, (6) Onaibie Ikhimheagie Fatimetu from Ibie Iyakpi, and (7)Aigbesimie from Ivbiaro, a widow of Ikphetie .
The children of Ikharo are as follows: (1). Okhuotse, (2) Idoghue, (3) Audulai Afegbokhai, (4) Igbaoshiobo, (5) Sado Igbaudume, (6) Aidonesi, (7) Sefia Erelume, (8) Braimah Ikhelobba, (9) Abu Oyakhire, (10) Momodu Parker Itselobho, (11) Mamudu Johnson Imotsumhe, (12)Meriamu Emaluegbe, (13) Asimawu Ineke, (14) Aliu Uderameitsuobo, (15) Amina Ighweneme, (16) Sule Oshionebo, (17) Gibia Ochema, (18) Audu Aziku, (19) Bello Itebalume, (20) Osumah Odalume, (21) Awuta Aighufue, (22) Mamuna Akpegbene, and (23) Isa Bezeferi who was born in 1919, the year Ikharo died.
The relationship between Ikharo and Idao was cordial in that they did things in common. Idao was the first direct of Ikelebe’s child to rule Auchi. He did not want that the line of Ikelebe be dented but Odifili struggled to break the line and ruled for three months. On the line of Ikelebe, this was the only time there was an interruption of succession to the throne.
During the reign of Ikharo, British colonizers took over the administration of Auchi from the Nupe/Hausa warriors. He witnessed the amalgamation of the different clans and took part in meetings with Chiefs of the following clans: (1) Uzairue, (2) Avianwu, (3) Ekperi, (4) South Ibie, (5) South Uneme, and (6) Weppa Wanno. He was second and last direct son of Ikelebe to reign in Auchi.
Ikharo loved peace and did command respect within and outside his domain. He got the men taken by Omogbai of Uzairue out of bondage. Ege was one of them. The mother of Ege said it was only Ikharo who helped her redeem the son from Omogbai, so she said she will marry him after mourning her dead husband. IKHARO sent money through Olimioke of Iyofa to Omogbai and Ege was released. Instead of IKHARO marrying the woman, he asked her to stay with Oregbele the father of Aliu Baba.
The closest friends of IKHARO outside of Auchi were Aikabor Aviele Ubiane, and Chief Ogbechia the Onojie of Ubiaja.
IKHARO was a philanthropist and he did everything humanly possible to vindicate his philanthropism. When he felt he could no longer undergo all the journeys to Idah, Fugar and Ubiaja where Auchi was being administered in those days, he told Prince Momoh Idao to take a stand and help him go to all the areas he used to go. This was how Ikharo brought Prince Momoh to the stage. The eldest son of Ikharo was Audulai and he was senior to Momoh Idao at that time. IKHARO should not be accused of not paving a way for his children. What happened was he was upholding tradition, which is, this is how we have been living.
IKHARO got invitation to go to Lagos for a Conference and he told Momoh to go and represent him. This time Imorhe was the Daudu of Usogun. The fami1y member of Imorhe Inaboya had trouble with Idao family member. The matter finally went to Court and Prince Momoh was fined the sum of £10 (ten pounds) which Ikharo paid. Prince Momoh was aware of this trouble before leaving for Lagos. When he returned, he went to thank IKHARO for the help he gave in respect of the case. He brought pressure that Imorhe did not treat his family kindly, consequently the Dauduship should be denied of him. The elders met and decided on Chief Imorhe’s relinquishing the post which he did. Prince Momoh also moved that the Daudushp should be made to rotate within Ikelebe family. The post was then given to Igechi. After Igechi, Chief Ikadiri Idao, after Chief Kadiri Chief, Audulai Ikharo, after Chief Audulai Ikharo, Chief Braimah Ikharo, after Chief Braimah Ikharo, it went to Chief Mamudu Abikhiyele. We can only appeal to any incumbent Otaru to consider Ikelebe family for what we feel is due her otherwise there is nothing we can do.
Between 1911 and 1913, Chief Ikharo Ikelebe got Mr. F. S. Algin Isesele from Jagbe town to establish a private School at Auchi. In 1919, Chief Ikharo granted the request of Prince Momoh Idao to destroy all the Shrines and idols in Auchi to give way for Islamic religion Chief Ikharo embraced Islam and took the Islamic name “ABUBAKAR” to himself. His Royal Highness Chief Abubakar Ikharo Ikelebe renamed his children by giving them Islamic names read along their names early part of this address. During his reign all the Priests and elders of Auchi decided and shifted the meetings from Uchi place of settlement to Otaru’s Palace (Eguale). The place we are sitting now is the house and Palace of Otaru the 5th of Auchi.
His Royal Highness Chief Abubakar Ikharo Ikelebe took interest in both Islamic and Western education. He had Arabic scholars such as Mallams Audu, Aliu Abu, Bello, Sule and Mamudu. Mallam Audu was the Imam of Ikharo Mosque until his death. Alhaji Prince Osumah Ikharo, J.P.went to Government School, Auchi and passed Standard Six in 1935. He enlisted into the Nigerian Police Force. He was the first Etsako Civil Servant to retire from service. He retired in 1952. Alhaji Isa Bezeferi Ikharo is a staunch Mallam.
His Royal Highness Chief Abubakar Ikharo Ikelebe did not only live a life worth living but worthy of emulation. May his soul rest in peace – Amen.
Ikharo could not read nor write but geneaologically, he produced academicians of high reputation. From the grand children, we have Dr. Abu Momodu from UNIBEN, Engr. Zeberu Momodu from Auchi Polytechnic, Barrister Abdul Momodu from UNIFE, Mr. Musa Momodu, M.Sc. from UNIFE, Mr. Ahmed Momodu, B.A. from UNICAL, Mr. Sule Momodu, B.A. from UNIJOS, Miss Awurat Momodu B.A. from UNILAG, Engr. Kareem A. Ikharo from YABATECH, Engr. Musa A. Ikharo B.Sc UNIBEN, Mr. Shaibu A. Ikharo H.N.D. Accountancy from Auchi Polytechnic, Mr. Bashir A. Ikharo, H.N.D. Business from Auchi Polytechnic, Miss Meliamu Juli Ikharo the first female Police Inspector at Auchi of blessed memory, Barrister M.A. Garuba, Abdul Mojid M.A. Momoh – Medical Doctor.
We have the first female Doctor in Auchi and Etsako as a whole. She is in the person of Dr. Rabi Garuba, B.Sc. (Nsukka), M.A. (London), Dip. Ed., Ph.D (Wales) of blessed memory. Dr. Mustafa Lecky, Dr. Mrs Medina Kadiri, Sadiq Bello Ikharo, Ph.D Accountancy U.S.A. , M. S. Ikharo Quantity Surveyor, N.S. Ikharo, B.Sc. Building Technology – UNIFE. There is Ismaila B. Ikharo based in the United States of America. He established a fund from where scholarship is awarded to 8 indigent students annually in higher institution of learning. Members of the Committee are Dr. C.S. Momoh, Dr. Z. I. Oseni, Dr. (Mrs) Medina Kadiri and others. You are free to apply to them. There is the immortalization of IKHARO through the establishment of Schools and naming them after him “IKHARO NURSERY AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS”, AUCHI by a retired Educationist in the person of Alhaji S. B. Ikharo. It will interest you to know that the schools are government approved. If you want the best for your children academically, the schools will take care of this so take your children there. People say good of the schools in town; you might have heard.
We have Alhaji Muhammed Abdulkadir Lawal an Arabic scholar of no mean repute with Diploma in Arabic and Islamic Studies from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He, with Alhaji Isa Shaibu established the Izheru-Deen Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Jattu – Uzairue. He is the Principal of the School and one time Chairman of Edo State Muslim Pilgrim We1fare Board. Born of Ikharo’s daughter.
There are Princes Alhaji Abdul Ikharo, DIP. GR. HDPAP, (Glasgow) Managing Director – BALU NIG. LTD., Rev. Isa Osumah Ikharo, M.A. Criminology, Wilbeforce University, U.S.A. , Alhaji Isa U.Ikharo, M.Sc.; MNIFST, PITS, PICS, etc. Deputy Comptroller of Immigration in Edo State and at the same time the Edo State Passport Control Officer now posted to Oyo State; Abdulai A. Ikharo, Chartered Quantity Surveyor Portallah Consultancies, Kano; Momoh-Jimoh M. Ikharo, M.Ed. Education Consultant, U.S.A.; Engr. Rilwanu A Ikharo H.N.D. Auchi Polytechnic; Abdul-Azeez A. Ikharo, B.Sc. Economics from Edo State University, Ekpoma.
The family has had the following posts:
- Chief Audulai Ikharo as Yamah and then Daudu.
- Chief Braimah Ikharo as Kesaraki and then Daudu.
- Chief Abu Ikharo as Yamah which has been taken over by Alhaji Chief Umoru Abu Ikharo.
Finally, we call on the children of Ikelebe to know themselves. They should not look at themselves as enemies. H.R.H Abubakar Ikharo Ikelebe, Otaru the 5th of Auchi has to be reciprocated for the part he played in helping the children to live. He was the architect of fortune.
There are four ruling families in Ikelebe ruling house:
- Omonofua/Omomo/Igechi
- Idao
- Ikharo
- Abikhiele
These families should look at themselves as part of the system in the governance of the town. We pray for the progress of the town.
Long live the Otaru of Auchi.
Alhaji Isa Ikharo
On behalf of the Family
December, ‘95