It was indeed a show of class, pomp and pageantry at the 39th Lisabi Festival held penultimate Saturday in Abeokuta, Capital of Ogun State as the entire City was agog with colourful celebrations from the four Regions of the Ancient City, namely, Egba Ake, Egba Oke-Ona, Egba Agura and Egba Owu.
The Liberator being celebrated, Lisabi Agbongbo Akala, championed the internecine war against the Alaafin Oyo in 18th Century, curtailing the excesses of the Alaafin Oyo with his soldiers and emissaries known as Ilaris.
Egbas, being the descendants of Oodua and of course, the migrants from Eyinkule Oyo (the backyard of Alaafin Oyo and adjoining cities and towns) owed Alaafin the duty of paying annual tribute, as part of their bountiful proceeds from their various farms and investments.
But, the excesses of Alaafin Oyo as shown by the Ilaris infuriated the Egbas and went ahead to form Egbe Aro (Farmers' Club) spearheaded by Lisabi, who mobilised Egba Farners and Warriors to fight the excesses.
It should be noted that Lisabi was not only the Egba Warriors as the Egbas also had the likes of Sodeke, Oluwole Agbo, Ogunbona, Anoba LIkaa, Lunloye, among others, who fought wars at different times in Egba histrory. Few of such wars were Oloyo War, Dahomey War, Olota War and others.
Wars were fought and the Egbas won all of them, hence, the spirits of Egba forefathers follow their offsprings, they don't die even till modern days as Egbas always win in whatever engagements and ventures they engage in either in Nigeria or outside the Country, showing class and panache, so said by the Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, Okunkenu III.
This confirm the saying that the entire Country called Nigeria used to and still depends on Egba, going by the early exposure of the Egbas to Western Education, Law, Medicine, Science and Engineering, Economy, Administration, among others, which stand the City and her sons and daughters out in the scheme of things and comity of Cities and States in the Federation.
No, wonder even the present President of the Country, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was one of beneficiaries of divine blessings which are abound in Egbaland as President Bola Tinubu's prayers of becoming Nigeria's President was answered in Egba during the Presidential Electioneering held on two occasions somewhere in Presidential Lodge at Ibara GRA and at the MKO Abiola Sports Arena, Kuto in Abeokuta.
The mentality, charisma and belief of the Egbas towards achievening greatness are second to none with Midas touch in almost everything they lay their hands on. This is extended to the 39th Lisabi Festival as the celebration introduced Fashion Show called Egbaliganza on the 38th Edition held last year.
Although, the Egbaliganza - Fashion Show, which was introduced by Chief Lai Labode Jnr, Aare of Egbaland was accepted by all and sundry, the new turn of fashion, events and jamboree championed by the Egba Agura at this year celebration - the 39th Edition of Lisabi Festival - was top-notch.
The Horse-riding skills as displayed by the young Balogun Woro of Oojo-Gbagura; the royalty bragging rights of Balogun Woro, Iddo-Gbagura, Chief Semiu Adeyinka Adedapo, among others 18 Balogun Woros, and of course, leadership prowess and expertise displayed at 39th Lisabi Festival's Balogun Woros' Leader from Gbagura Section of Egbaland, Chief Shamwill Tunji Keshinro, made the entire events top-notch, more colourful and festive.
Gbagura Horse riders' procession, cheerful movement and festive moments from Oke-Iddo, Agura Palace towards Ita-Oje, Oja-Agbo, Odo-Oyo, Itoku, Ijemo to Ake Palace were gallant and royalty-like as Chiefs, sons and daughters of Egba Agura were cynodure of all eyes, rocking Lisabi Aso-Oke Attires with various patterns and designs with series of events and jamboree like never before.
The Gbagura's Section of the celebrations as approved by Agura-in-Council were full of fun and merrymaking as the celebration was grand to the extent that nobody felt the vacuum in the Palace created by Late Oba Saburee Babajide Bakre, Jamolu 11, the Agura of Gbagura Land. The celebrations, definitely became successful and talk-of-the-town as the Tobade Progressive Club of Gbagura and Gbagura Youths Development Council played series of prominently indispensable roles for the actualisation of the 39th Lisabi Festival.
Although, there were about 21 Horse Riders who were regarded as Balogun Woros, the entry of the General Balogun Woro, Chief Shamwill Tunji Keshinro, the Oganla Oojo Gbagura and President, Tobade Progressive Club of Gbaguraa changed lots of things for the good.
The charisma, character, pedigree and panache were the words to describe his personality as Horse Rider and the General Balogun Woro that led the other Balogun Woros from Agura Palace to Ake Palace did the assignment in admiration of many people and celebrants.
Leading the 20 Horse Riders from the 19 Townships of Gbagura Nation, including the Ikaas that produced two Horse Riders, was the Oganla Oojo Gbagura a Senior Police Officer in the Country.
Joining the Balogun Woros to and fro Ake Palace, the Epicentre of Lisabi Festival, were Prince Adeola Olaloko and Olori Ogogo Olaloko; Chief Dayo Aderinwale, Ogboye Gbagura and his wife, Erelu Aderinwale; Chief Siji Alawode, Prince Razaq Ayinla, Chief Tunde Keshinro, Sarumi of Oojo, Chief Monsuru Akindele, Chief Adeniyi Adekunle and several others, who were enthralled with the performance of Gbagura Horse riders.
Speaking at the Agura Palace, Headquarters of Gbagura at Oke-Iddo, the Secretary to the Abeokuta North Local Government, Hon (Engr) Mutiat Agbaje, declared that Lisabi Festival is bringing more and more Egba Sons and Daughters together home and abroad, saying the Egbas are not only sophisticated, but also well-positioned and well-connected all over the World.
"We are actually celebrating Lisabi and other warriors that served as Liberators; he joined other warriors the check excesses of the Alaafin Oyo in the 18th Century, fought and won. So, he and other warriors are being celebrated today and you can see that not only the Gbaguras that are celebrating, but the entire four Regions of Egbaland.
"You can see that we have been having fun with our local music, food and beautiful scenery here and there. We have been doing Lisabi Day in the past but this was massive and unprecedented, we can surpass this in the future", she said.
While making some comments on behalf of the Agura-in-Council, the Representative of the Council at the Egba Committee for the 39th Lisabi Festival, Lion Abdul Adedeji Adebayo said, "the 39th Edition of Lisabi Festival is unprecedented, especially for the Gbagura.
"In the past, the Horses being ridden by the Gbagura during Lisabi Festival was always confined to five Principal Townships but the efforts of present Ogboye Gbagura, Chief Dayo Aderinwale and Oganla Oojo-Gbagura, Chief Shamwill Tunji Keshinro increased the Horses from the usual five to 20 and even 21 because two persons rode the Horse from Ikaa Section of Gbagura.
"You can also see that improvement has caught up with Lisabi Festival. It used to be Egba Ake dictating the tune, but now they have allowed borrowed ideas and taken up opinions of other Regions. I am not saying it's perfect, but there is an improvement and it will.continue to improve year in, year out."
Also, the Iyaloja of Lafenwa Market, the Biggest Market in Egbaland under the purview and control of Agura of Gbagura, Chief (Mrs) Sidikat Ayinde said that the celebration of for the victory, unity and peace of Egbaland.
The Iyaloja Lafenwa, who is also the Otun of Ikaa, Gbagura, added that the celebration is for all and sundry, covering all four Regions of Egbaland, which does not exclude anybody irrespective of religious or political party affiliations.
Meanwhile, one of the Balogun Woros (The Horse Riders) from Ideere, Chief Ramoni Fatai, declared that he had been riding horses since 17 years and Gbagura had never had it so perfect and unrivalled as the one celebrated this year.
While shedding light on his comments, the Apena Ideere said, "This is the 17 years that I have been riding horses at Lisabi Day and later became the Lisabi Festival. Then, we - The Gbaguras - used to ride five horses, but it changed for the good even when we don't an Oba on the throne.
"Thanks to Osi Egba. He is one of our Principal Baloguns, the Balogun Ibadan, High Chief Bode Mustapha and other Baloguns. They supported the youths and Ogboye Gbagura and their Committee of Friends to introduce 20 Horses for the Gbaguras during this year Lisabi Festival. It has never happened, it's unprecedented.
"It's getting better because more than 20 horses were introduced by Ogboye Gbagura, the Oganla Ojo and the Prince of our late Oba Khalid Adddayo Olaloko, the Sobekun II, Agura of Gbagura. You can see what they are doing, they and their Club - Tobade Progressive Club of Gbagura are brains behind all this celebration.
"The Agura Palace and the entire Oke-Iddo, which is the Headquarters of Gbagura are full to the brim, spreading to other Twonships such as Ikeye, Ikaa, Oojo, Ideere, Offa, and so on. We will do more next by God's grace."
