THE NIGERIAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY
ISSN: 0331-4111 e-ISSN: 2736-075X
Volume 23, No. 2, November 2025
Pages 88-108
DOI: 10.36108/NJSA/5202.32.0260
Idalu Ni Iselu: A Conceptual Guide for Conflict Identification and Resolution in Ijoku, Ososa Community, Ogun State, Nigeria
1 Obatunde Bright Adetola, 1 Comfort Oyafunke-Omoniyi, 2 Abiodun Ogunola and 3 Temidayo Onojobi
1 Department of Sociology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria
2 Department of Psychology, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria
3 Department of Foreign Languages, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, Nigeria
Abstract
‘Community Ideation’ (Idalu) is considered a determinant of ‘Community Administration’ (Iselu). It is also considered a functional conceptual guide for conflict understanding and resolution in Ijoku, Ososa Community in Ogun State, Nigeria. How this conceptual guide was left unutilised or partially utilised in the traditional adjudication processes and its effects on the sociality of the community is the goal of this paper. ‘Ethnomethodology’ was basically adopted as theoretical framework to understand the phenomenon of conflict and its resolution in the study. The major instrument for the study was Ethnographic Data Collection Methods/Tools including Unobtrusive observation, archival documents, Key Informant Interviews (KII) Guides used in eliciting information from opinion, and Focus Group Discussion (FDG) Guide. The study established the various meanings attached to names of people, persons and places in Ijoku, Ososa. The existence of well-grounded traditional mechanisms of conflict identification, management and entrenchment of peaceful coexistence, such as the Ile-Ilu-in Council and Osugbo-in-Council was identified. The study identified the underlying cause of the dispute that escalated into conflict, which stemmed from the inadequate application or outright abandonment of the traditional adjudication processes. It recommended reconsidering the community’s idea of Idalu ni Iselu, meaning ‘Community Ideation determines its administration,’ as a guiding framework in the adjudication process.
Keywords: Community administration, community ideation, Ijoku, sociality, Ososa