Isara-Remo
Isara-Remo is an ancient town in the present-day Remo North Local Government Area in Ogun State in Nigeria. It is the headquarters of the Remo North LGA local government area (LGA). It has an area of 199 km² and a population of 59,911 at the 2006 census. It is the 6th largest town in Ogun state following Abeokuta, Ijebu Ode, ijebu Igbo, Sagamu and Ago Iwoye. Isara-Remo is almost exactly halfway between Lagos and Ibadan, very large metropolitan cities that have strongly influenced the history of Nigeria.
Isara-Remo was founded by a hunter who was an Ife Prince. Prince Adeyemo had wandered into the hinterlands hunting for game. History has it that since Prince Adeyemo had little or no chance at all of attaining the throne, he elected to create his own living away from the palace and on getting to what is now called 'Okerekere' in present day Isara, he found the site suitable due to its defensive topography and decided to settle there. He had in his entourage two men of repute; Ise and Ara who were his advisers. Both men settled in locations not to far from each other and the saying 'I am going to Ise and Ara' - mo fe lo si odo Ise ati Ara - was soon contracted into 'I am visiting Ise-Ara' -mo fe lo ri Ise-Ara. This is where the name of the town was eventually coined to Isara (from Ise-Ara) in honor of those great men. After settling in the location, because he was a Prince, he became the de-facto King of the town and took the title Ode-omo. The title has since been contracted into Odemo and remains the official title of the Oba. Till date, all Obas of Isara have gotten their official emblems and crowns from Ile -Ife.
A town of predominantly farmers and hunters, the men of Isara-Remo have not been known to take part in any major wars except as peacemakers. The city has been called "Isara city of joy." An old saying describes it as "Isara afotamodi, ko'gun ma wo 'lu," which roughly translates into "Isara of the impregnable city walls".
The present-day Isara has seven royal households, which include: Igan, Rokodo-Erinshiba, Ogunshere-gbuko, Afonlade, Poke Bi Owu'la, Ayoledoye and Ojo Ko B'oye. In an ancient traditional rotation system, each family takes turns to present its preferred son or candidate to serve as the Odemo of Isara.
The population practices Christianity and Islam in similar proportions. Its people still practice the Egungun, Oro, Agemo and other traditional celebrations.
The town is bordered by the Ode-Remo, Akaka, Ipara and Imagbon communities. Isara-Remo is important in Ogun state for its belief in people politics in lieu of party politics.
Notable natives and residents
- Wole Soyinka, poet, writer and playwright, winner of 1986 Nobel Prize for Literature.
late Sir Olaniwun Ajayi - politician and lawyer. he was quite active in the days of the defunct Action Group and an adept discipline of late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Late Oba Samuel Akinsanya - former Vice President, Egbe Omo-Oduduwa, politician and activist in the pre-independent Nigerian political landscape. Chief Francis Fasasi Banwo - former Commissioner for Education, Ogun state. Teacher and foremost Educationist
Mr. Akintunde Adekanmbi, the former Sales Manager of the Now defunct Onward Paper Mill LTD who also happens to be the Son of the First Tailor in Isara that sewed Suits for foreign UAC expatriates in the Early 1900s, Apagun of Isara, Otunba Michael Adekanmbi.