The Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, emphasized the need for national unity, stating that sustained prosperity, growth, and development in any society hinge on the embrace of love and cooperation among its people and their leaders.
Speaking at a gathering on Friday dedicated to honoring the late Chief Tairu Olaleye, recognized as the Hero of the Year for the annual Lisabi Festival and the grandfather of the former High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Amb Safadeen Ishola, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo highlighted the festival’s dual significance.
He underscored that the Lisabi Festival not only serves as a platform for celebrating the rich cultural heritage of the Egba people but also plays a crucial role in fostering unity, selflessness, and admirable leadership qualities among the community.
Oba Gbadebo acknowledged the indelible contributions of Chief Tairu Olaleye to the development of Egbaland, emphasizing the late Egba chief’s dedicated service to the people and justifying the posthumous award bestowed upon him.
The Alake further expressed that such events are essential for recognizing achievements, honoring exemplary individuals, and promoting unity among the sons and daughters of Egbaland.
“We use Lisabi festival to promote selflessness, to promote leadership qualities in all Egba sons and daughters, to promote what we are known for. Education is our number one industry; to promote education and entrepreneurship.
“This year, we chose agric business, and we have had a series of lectures, bankers coming to tell us about what facilities are available to farmers and we have gotten so many Egba sons who have produced the equipment that so many of our children will need when they’re going into farming.
“We can truly achieve a lot in unity and cooperation. This is why I am calling on all of us irrespective of our tribes to be more interested in fostering unity and peace, not only in Egba land but across the country because the progress, prosperity, growth and development of any society lies in these ingredients of unity and peace”, the monarch said.
Tunji-Isola, the immediate past Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, reflected on his family’s pride in their heritage, with his grandfather being honoured.
He said, “Unity will achieve a lot in terms of having a common agenda for development. The essence thus, is to galvanise ourselves together and uplift Egbaland in terms of socio-economic issues, employment and other infrastructure because one thing that always brings development for any set of people is their unity of purpose and I am happy that we are getting that in Egbaland.”
The high point of the event was the presentation of a certificate in recognition of the late Chief Tairu Olaleye as the Lisabi Festival Hero of the Year, 2024.
Other royal fathers at the event were Oba Adedapo Tejuoso, the Osile of Oke-Ona Egba as well as Oba Saka Matemilola, the Olowu of Egba-Owu, among other dignitaries.
Lisabi Festival is an annual event held in March in commemoration of the legendary Lisabi Agbongbo Akala for his heroic exploits in securing freedom for the Egbas from the Oloyo.
The festival is to showcase and foster the virtues and values held by Lisabi to further develop the Egbaland and Ogun State.
The festival brings people from the entire Egbaland together in a spectacular display of pomp and pageantry.
