Paramount Ruler raises search party for family of late Lisabi, Progenitor of Egbaland
The Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo has raised a search team to locate the family of the progenitor of the Egbaland, Lisabi Agbongbo-Akala who died mysteriously over ten decades ago.
Penpushing reports that, Gbadebo made this known on Monday at a press conference in preparatory for the 34th Lisabi Festival with the theme, ’Culture: A Panacea for Sustainable Socio-Economic Development of Egbaland scheduled to hold between February 24 to March 1,2010.
The monarch who affirmed that the family house of the late Egba warrior is located in Igbein area of the ancient town, said it was high time to identify with the deceased family, hence, the need to locate them for their regular participation in the celebration of the late progenitor and contributions to the ancient town.
Penpushing further reports that, the royal father at the press conference held in his palace tasked the Festival Committee to start the search with immediate effect, and report back to the palace, stressing that history of Egba will remain incomplete without Lisabi, who liberated Egbas, from the war that almost consume them.
The traditional ruler who expressed satisfaction on the erection of 18 feet Statue of Lisabi at Adatan roundabout, an axis known as Lisabi avenue in the town, also announced plan by the Egbas to construct a city hall estimated to cost N600million.
Penpushing also reports that, Gbadebo said, the over 100 years Centenary Hall will soon be turn to tourist centre, hence, the need for the proposed Abeokuta City hall, which on completion will be of 3,500 capacity, adding that the laying foundation ceremony at the 7 hectares of land in Ewang Estate axis of the town will hold on Saturday.
‘Those who initiated the construction of the Centenary Hall over 100 years ago are gone, so we should let our impact known, and therefore all Egbas both at home and in diaspora have concluded that a multi-million naira Abeokuta City Hall will be put in place’, Gbadebo said.
The Alake commended his subjects resident abroad for their regular support towards developmental growth of the land, and cited Chief Femi Shodunke, a one-time National President of Egbas in Canada( North America) for his regular contact back home towards his homestead development.
Penpushing reports that, Gbadebo speaking on the forthcoming Lisabi Festival, Gbadebo said about 10,000 members of the Odua Peoples Congress, (OPC), are to participate, adding that some of the programme of events include;, exhibition, cultural display, booming of guns, debate, indoor games competitions, concert and hero award among others
However, history has it that, Lisabi, a native of Itoku in the ancient town of Abeokuta, lived at Igbein area of the city, 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.
The record also has it 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, and 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.
The Abeokuta’s history points to the fact 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.
The history also has it that ,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 also reports that, its on record 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, and some years later after winning the war he was said to have died mysteriously in a sacred forest, known as Igbo Lisabi located in Oba village, Obafemi -Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State.
