Former Nigeria’s President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed that leaders of Ijebu lobbied the then Nigeria’s Head of State, General Murtala Mohammed, to have the capital of Ogun State in Sagamu.
According to Obasanjo, who spoke in Abeokuta at the induction ceremony and gala night of Egba Legacy Network, held at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, revealed how the leaders of Ijebu in Ogun East senatorial district kicked against naming Abeokuta as the capital of Ogun State.
He recalled how he confronted General Murtala to make Abeokuta the state capital.
Obasanjo said, “When we wanted to establish Ogun State, our brothers from Ijebu did their exercise very well, they said we don’t have land and they did campaign against the capital of the state to be cited in Abeokuta. When we got to the table of discussion, they said Sagamu should be headquarters of Ogun State.
“This place we called Ogun State, before 1932 it was named Abeokuta province, including Ijebu. When Ijebu province was to be established, it was DO that was in Ijebu.
“They said we don’t have land, that was why it is called Abeokuta. My boss then, Murtala Muhammed, had been briefed and agreed that Sagamu should be the state capital and said we are going that way. I then told him, since we are going to have Kano state, Rago would be the Kano capital.
“He attacked me that how dare me, I said, ‘How you too’. That was how we ended the discussion.”
He, therefore, charged the leadership of Egba Legacy Network to trace the historical background of the ancient Abeokuta cities and ensure that notable personalities involved in the development of Egbaland were given recognition in their heritage tourist project.
He urged them to take advantage of Abeokuta proximity to Lagos by ensuring the ancient town become a tourist attraction.
Earlier, the Osi Apagunpote of Egbaland and Chairman of the Egba Legacy Network, Chief Lai Labode Jnr., said the motive of the association was in a bid to retain the good memories of Egbas culture, traditions, and past, and present heroes of Egbaland.
According to him, part of the projects the group wanted to embark upon is the Egba history and heritage areas where statue of iconic Egba sons and daughters like Sir Adetokunbo Ademola, Prof. Saburi Biobaku, Madam Efunroye Tinubu, Fela Anikulapo, Chief Beko Ransome Kuti, Chief MKO Abiola, Ayinla Omowura and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo would be engraved to beautify the towns.
Lai Labode highlighted Ibara GRA, Oke-mosan-Kobape expressway and Alake Palace as areas that will witness the first phase of the historic turnaround.
The Osi Apagunpote Lai Labode explained that the group made up of professional like-minds was founded 18 months ago to unify all Egba sons and daughters of social networks both home and diaspora.
He charged the new inductees to live up to expectations and join hands with the leaders of the group and Egbaland to facilitate a development roadmap that will beautify the town.
