EGBAS UNVEIL 18-FEET LISABI AGBONGBO AKALA STATUE

The ceremony which was part of activities to mark the 33rd Lisabi Day Festival Celebrations also attracted number of Egba sons and daughters within and those in diaspora, as well as number of residents of the town

Penpushing further reports that, the statue was sculptured by Dr Funke Ifewa, a daughter of the Coker’s family of Iporo-Ake, Abeokuta, who is a lecturer in the Department of Fine Arts, Tai Solarin University of Education(TASUSED),Ijebu-Ode. The cenotaph is a donation of the Coker family.

The annual festival l is usually held by the Egba people in remembrance of Lisabi Agbongbo Akala. Lisabi, an Egba warrior, who recorded heroic exploits during those turbulent days of inter-tribal wars and he is thus identified by all Egba people as the strength of their togetherness.

The history has it that Lisabi, a native of Itoku in the ancient town of Abeokuta, lived at Igbein area of the town, and because of his prowess in warfare, the people of Igbein, till date, have the exclusive right to the war title of Balogun of Egbaland.

Penpushing also gathered from the history that, when the other Egba leaders had resigned to fate under the unbearable servitude they were consigned to by the Oloyo, Lisabi was preoccupied with the thought of how his land of birth would be freed from the shackles of slavery.

The history added that, towards uniting the people for an onslaught against Oloyo’s formidable force which was an amalgam of many towns and villages which were similarly consigned to servitude, Lisabi reportedly formed a cooperative society which had able-bodied men who were farmers as members.

Penpushing also reports that, history revealed that, Lisabi proved to be an energetic leader as he worked harder than others whenever they went to work on a member’s farm, so much that every member promised to do his best when it was time to work on Lisabi’s farm.

However, when his (Lisabi’s) time came, instead of asking members to work on his farm, he declared war on Oyo, and his   cooperative society members were amazed and afraid, but accepted to go to war because they did not want to disappoint him by reneging on their promises.

Penpushing report from the history further that, with supreme war tactics, Lisabi’s army, whose numerical strength was far less than that of the Oloyo, won the battle, consequently obtaining freedom for the Egbas.

The history also stated that, after the successful war, which he (Lisabi) led to liberate the his kinsmen, his last abode where he was reported to have breath his last, and his remains buried  was a Sacred Forest, known as Igbo Lisabi in Oba village, Obafemi/Owode Local Government, Ogun State.

The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo while speaking at the unveiling event, pointed out that, the history of the town will be incomplete without mentioning Lisabi who liberated the Egbas from the onslaught of the Oyos

Penpushing reports that, the monarch emphasized that the late warlord and liberator would be ever remembered by living and coming  generations who are indigenes of the town, stressing that, the anniversary, to remember him has remained annual event, which will continue forever, as far as Egba exist

The Ogun State  Governor, Ibikunle Amosun on his own part pointed out that, there is always need not to forget history, as well as those who made history, particularly in positive manner like the late Egba warrior and Egbas liberator, Lisabi

Penpushing reports that, Amosun stated  that  example is the annual remembrance of the late warrior who died number of years ago, but still remain in minds of all Egbas, hence, the regular celebration of his life after death.

‘We don’t want to forget history, and we must learn not to forget history, and this is what we are doing today, as we unveil the statue of the great Egba warrior Lisabi who died long time ago. Lisabi fought for the liberation of Egbas, and he fought diligently. Egba history will be incomplete without mentioning Lisabi’, he emphasised