As we commemorate this year’s Lisabi Day in honour of Lisabi Agbongbo Akala, we are reminded not only of our glorious past but also of the pressing responsibility to shape the political future of the Egba people in Ogun State with courage and clarity.
History does not merely celebrate us—it demands direction. At this critical juncture, we must define our collective interests with precision and clearly outline the boundaries of compromise we are willing to accept in the evolving political landscape.
The principle of balanced power—born from the sacrifices of our forebears—has long sustained stability in Ogun State. From the old provincial arrangement where Egba stood prominently alongside Ijebu and other adjoining territories, to the present tripartite structure of Egba, Ijebu/Remo, and Yewa/Awori blocs, equity has remained the guiding doctrine.
That doctrine must neither be diluted nor distorted.
As conversations around 2027 gather momentum, it is neither reasonable nor equitable to entertain the prolonged concentration of governorship power in a single locality such as Iperu. Any proposition suggesting an extended 16-year dominance undermines the delicate balance that has preserved harmony across Ogun State. Justice, fairness, and political sustainability demand otherwise.
Equally troubling are recent traditional and political signals that appear to circumvent established Egba institutions. Developments linked to figures such as Oba Kehinde Olugbenle, particularly within the context of the transition following the passing of Oba Sikiru Adetona, risk being interpreted as calculated attempts to diminish Egba influence in the state’s power structure.
Let it be clearly stated: cooperation must never be mistaken for weakness, and inclusion must never come at the expense of dignity.
Within our own domain, we must confront hard truths. The developmental stagnation across key Egba divisions—Abeokuta North and South, Odeda, Obafemi Owode, Ifo, and Ewekoro—is unacceptable. Critical infrastructure remains either neglected or abandoned.
Projects such as the Ewekoro airstrip, alongside incomplete civic and cultural initiatives in Abeokuta, symbolize missed opportunities and weakened strategic positioning.
Land administration practices, particularly in areas like Ibara GRA, raise serious ethical and generational concerns. These are not isolated administrative lapses; they are systemic failures that threaten our long-term collective advancement.
Institutions of strategic importance—such as the University of Medicine and other economic drivers within Egbaland—must receive deliberate, sustained investment. Development must reflect our demographic strength and historical contributions, not tokenism.
At the national level, the role of Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who also holds the revered title of Areago of Egbaland, carries significant expectations.
Consultation with Egba stakeholders is not optional—it is essential. Decisions concerning Ogun State’s leadership must be rooted in local consensus, not external imposition. Political legitimacy in 2027 will rest firmly on this principle.
Let there be no ambiguity: Egbaland will chart its own course.
The enduring legacy of Moshood Kashimawo Abiola reminds us that sacrifice, resilience, and conviction are the foundations of lasting progress. That legacy calls us to unity, discipline, and strategic resolve.
Egba mo Lisabi.
Omo Agbongbo Akala.
Omo a ṣẹ́ ilékun, palẹ́kun dé.
Omo yúmùyúmù lóró ké.
Aku ọdún o. Lisabi Agbe wa o.
Otunba Segun Showunmi
Odofin Keesi, Abeokuta.
