Lisabi celebration: Abiodun vows to give approval to new monarch in Ogun Community
By Aremu Sosanya
Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has assured residents of Orile Ilawo, an agrarian community in Odeda local government area of Ogun State of his readiness to give approval for the installation of Prof. Alexander Olusegun MacGregor as the new monarch for the town.
Prince Dapo Abiodun who was the special guest of honor at the 36th Lisabi Day Celebration held in Ake, Abeokuta over the weekend, said it is imperative for the people to reawake the spirit of love, selflessness, patriotism and nationalism as exemplified by Lisabi.
He said Prof. Macgregor, the Oba elect of Orile Ilawo has shown an exemplary leadership trait and epitome of culture, thereby nothing stopping him from signing his approval letter as a new monarch for the town
It was gathered that Prof. Olusegun Macgregor who is from Oke Ona section of Egbaland, and Balogun Wooro, was adjudge as the best in horse riding during this year Lisabi Day Celebration.
But speaking, Gov Abiodun called on the people not to allow primitive sentiments to cause division among them but continue in the communal love and co-existence that transverse all parts of Ogun.
The governor noted that Ogun is made up of different people who have lived together as one, saying the pride of the people lies in their culture.
“This celebration affords us the opportunity to reawaken the Lisabi in us. It should reawake the spirit of selflessness, patriotism and nationalism that Lisabi represented. We must be a leading light in all that we do by not allowing primitive, primordial or decisive sentiments that diminish the bond that defines us.
“The celebration is the symbolic demonstration of a communal love, peaceful co-existence that transverse Egba community. This is the demonstration of the people’s collective commitment to the development of their homestead”, he emphasized.
Lisabi, the governor noted, is the celebration of history in its finest form and a memorial of the legend who emancipated his people from oppression and destruction.
He said the annual celebration has metamorphosed into a unifying force that has become a cultural platform that brings all sons and daughters of Egbaland together for continued development.
While noting that the state government will soon approve Prof. Macgregor as Oba of Orile Ilawo, he reitrated that policy on culture and tourism is based on cultural heritage, the governor said his administration is committed to the implementation of programmes that engender prosperity to everyone in the state.
In his welcome address, the Chairman, 2023 Lisabi Day celebration, Navy Captain Rasheed Raji (rtd) said the celebration is an opportunity to showcase the cultural heritage and bring all sons and daughters of Egbaland together to brainstorm and chat development course for the people.
He described this year’s celebration as unique as all the four sections of Egbaland have come together to plan for the event, stressing that the theme for this year is focused on effective ways parents could bring up their children to be useful to the society, submitting it was time for all and sundry to contribute to the development of the land.
Highlights of the celebration included paying of homage by warlords to the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Michael Aremu Gbadebo and displays by various towns and villages in Egbaland.
At this year celebration, Egba Oke-ona took the first position with Prof. Alexander Olusegun MacGregor leading the warlords.
