What No One Will Tell You About Them
The Egba people are a very important group of people who reside in Abeokuta, Ogun State. They have a rich history. Annually they celebrate Lisabi Day. The 2025 Lisabi Day is on going. And below City People presents you their story as revealed in their Lisabi Day brochure.
“We, the Egba people started to settle in Abeokuta in 1830 or thereabout, each Section settling in a separate quarter of the town. A strong system of relating with each other and general governance of the Kingdom was later developed.
At its peak, the Kingdom covered a vast expense of land that stretched from River Oba on the North to Ebute Metta on the South, Osun River on the East to Ipokia and River Yewa on the West. The 4 Sections that formed the Egba Nation are EGBA AL.AKE (Eku, Aarin and Agbeyin) EGBA OKE ONA, EGBA GBAGURA and EGBA OWU.
SEPARATION OF POWERS
Government was carried out through a delicate balance of responsibilities among the following Institutions: OGBONI, OLOROGUN, OLOGUN, PARAKOYI & ODE.
The Ogbonis were the elite ruling class. They were in charge of making laws. They also judged cases, discussed and advised the king in all affairs of the State. The society has a chamber (lIe Ogboni) in every township where
meetings were held to adjudicate on the affairs of the Townships. The Oloroguns were the war chiefs. They deliberated on military matters and advised the Obas on Wars and disputes.
The Parakoyis were the members of the Chamber of Commerce. They were charged with furthering the commercial interests of their towns. They regulated and protected free trade and visited markets to settle disputes. The Odes were the warrtors .and they performed many war duties which included scouting, spying and guarding the townships against marauders and enemies.
August 8, 1854-Okukenu’, First Alake in Abeokuta electected, 1855-Pawu, First Olowu in Abeokuta elected. 1859-Iwe Irohin, Nigeria’sfirst newspaper published, 1870-Jamolu, the first AgurainAbeokuta elected, 1897-Karunwi, the first Osile in Abeokuta elected.
TREATY OF INDEPENDENCE
Treaty of Independence dated 18 January, 1893 made between His Excellency Gilbert Thomas Carter, Esq., Companion of the most Distinguished Order of St. Michael and St. George, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Colony of Lagos and on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen of Britain and Ireland, Empress of India, etc, Her Heirs and Successors, on the one part and the undersigned King (Alake) and authorities of Abeokuta representing Egba Kingdom, for and on behalf on their Heirs and Successors on the other part. We the undersigned King and Authorities do, in the presence of Elders, Headmen and people assembled in this place hereby promisee-
* That there should be complete freedom of trade between the Egba Nation and Lagos and, in view of the injury to commerce arising from arbitrary closing of roads, we the King and authorities, hereby declare that no roads shall in future be closed without the approval of the Governor of Lagos.
* That we the said King and authorities pledge ourselves to use every means in our power to foster and promote trade with the countries adjoining Egba with Lagos.
* That we the said King and authorities will, as henceforth, afford complete protection and every assistance and encouragement to all ministers of the Christian religion.
* It is further agreed and stipulated by the said Gilbert Thomas Carter, on behalf of the Queen of Egbaland, that so long as the provisions of this treaty are strictly kept, no annexation of any portion of Egba Nation shall be made by He Majesty’s Government without the consent of he lawful authorities of the Nation, no aggressive action shall be taken against the said Nation and the Independence shall be fully recognised.
The said King and authorities having promised that the practice of offering human sacrifices shall be abolished in the one township where it at present exists and having explained that British Subjects already have freedom to occupy land, build houses and carry on trade and manufacture in any part of Egba Nation and, likewise, that there is no possibility of cession of any portion of the Egba Nation to a Foreign Power without the consent of Her Majesty’s Government, and it is desired that no special provision be made in regard to these subjects in this treaty.
1st February 1898-Egba United Government Formed, January 1904-Judicial Agreement signed:
Governor MacGregor of Lagos entered into a Judicial agreement with the Egba Government whereby jurisdiction was ceded to the British Government for nineteen years in all cases where one or both parties to the suits are natives of the Egba Nation, and in all cases of murder and manslaughter.
April 20, 1904 – First Native Court Opened
May 25-July 8, 1904-State visit to United Kingdom
Alake Gbadebo, accompanied by Prince Ladapo Ademola, Mr. Adegboyega Edun, Mr. R. B. Blaize, a Lagos-based merchant of Owu extraction went to England on a state visit, the first of its kind in Nigeria. They left Lagos on May 5 and arrived in Egbaland on May 25. On May 30, Alake Gbadebo was honoured with an audience and dinner by King Edward VII. On June 7, he was presented to the Duke of Marlborough and Sir Montague Ommaney at the Colonial Officer and on June 14, he interviewed the C.M.B Committee. He visited many places, including Aberdeen College and was presented with a Bible by King Edward VII on the eve of his return to Lagos.
August 26, 1904-E.U.G Police Force Established
1908-Goverment Hospital Established
Government established a medical office and employed a British trained Medical Officer, Dr. Ayodeji Oyejola, an Egba man, who studied at the University of London and returned to Nigeria in 1905. He was later appointed as the Egba Government Medical Officer.
DECEMBER 31, 1910 – EGBA UNITED GOVERNMENT OBTAINED A 30,000 POUNDS LOAN
The Egba Government faced a lot of difficulties in providing potable water. Cases of guinea-worm and other water borne diseases were reported throughout Egba Nation. In 1905, the government sank wells but due to the rocky nature of the town, the project failed. At the first attempt, the Egba Government did record naturally, a few setbacks, one of which was in the sinking of wells. A stream carriage scheme by the Government (Farmers’ Association Scheme) in 1908 met total failure as the machine could not operate properly due to the rocky nature of the roads.
In 1910, the Egba United Government approached the British government for a loan of 30,000 pounds (N60,000) to build a water treatment plant and pumping stations. The pumping machines bought consisted of three locomotives of self-contained boilers; two Marshall Triple expansion surface condensing horizontal engines and a duplicate set of Ashley three- throw well pumps. Each set of pumps was capable of delivering 500,000
gallons of water in ten hours into the reservoir at a height of 301 ft. above the river level.
The water scheme started immediately. This scheme greatly displeased a section of the public as some educated people agitated against the Government’s action in employing foreign Engineers saying the Government ought to have waited till their own children were qualified to fill the post but the Government felt differently as it was eager to destroy the guinea worm and other water borne di eases caused by drinking impure water. The scheme was however completed in 1914. Sir Fredrick Lugard, Governor-General of Nigeria performed t e formal opening of Abeokuta water works on 21st March, 1914, on the invitation of Alayeluwa Oba Gbadebo I, Alake of Abeokuta.
The Icon was to be repaid by installment of 4,000 pounds and the first payment was made before the opening of the project. Every drawer of water as charged one penny for every ten potfulls (about two gallons) drawn.
COMMERCE
Egba United Government played a prominent role in commerce of those days. It built custom houses and improved on existing ones. By 1901, the European Merchants agitated against payment of tolls to the Egba United Government. The settlement of the dispute was in favour of Egba United”, Government. This was a major achievement for the Egba United Government for the Government would have been overthrown had the tolls been abolished. The tolls provided the necessary revenue for the administration. In 1904, the government passed the Customs Ordinance (Revision). In order to raise funds, the Government passed Ordinance for licensing of bicycles and carriages in 1911. In 1912, it passed the Shop Licences Ordinance and Auction Licence Ordinance.
The public protested against the former on the ground that it was an attempt to introduce house taxing. The Native traders petitioned the Government. Even Prince Eleko from Lagos and the white cap Chiefs “Idejo” pleaded with Egba United Government to cancel the Ordinance but to no avail. Besides, there were other issues that crept up. The failures were minor when compared with the successes recorded by the Egba United Government. The Lagos Government did not dispute the fact that the Egba United Government encouraged Commerce, paid attention to Schools, hastened economic development by improving communication, maintained Law and Order, provided health services and public utilities and, in general, gave Egbaland one of its most significant administrations. With these and many other achievements scored by the Egba United Government, there was much progress in Abeokuta.
INDUSTRY
Egba United Government established the Abeokuta Industrial Institute in 1908. The establishment of the Institute was made possible by R. B. Blaize who provided 3,000 Pounds (N6;000) from his estate for free training of the Egbas in technical work. Every apprentice was bound for 4 years and aft the expiration of the training, the participants were presented with a set of tools worth 6 pounds (N12) each.
Other Industries Established during the period were:
- First exportation of cotton to England was executed by Revd. Later Late Bishop Ajayi Crowder;
- First Corn Mill worked in Abeokuta in 1849. First corn-crushing machine was set up at Sapon in March, 1909. Brick-making was introduced by Mr. Champness of the Wesleyan Mission. First brick was molded in Abeokuta on 18th June, 1863.
- Publication of the first Newspaper titled “Iwe Irohin” by Revd. Henry Townsend in 1859. This necessitated the establishment of Printing Press in Abeokuta named by Egba printers.
RAlLWAY/ROADS
The Railway line from Lagos to Aro was opened for traffic in 1900 and extended to Ibara (Abeokuta Station) in 1901. The railway made the journey from Lagos to Abeokuta easier. It also helped to improve and advance the country; for it led to the opening of roads for traffic and carriages and the construction of bridges over rivers and streams.
Between 1900 and 1901, the government started to widen and level the existing roads and by 1905 was constructing many good roads in the Kingdom. Mr. David A. Taylor (a Surveyor and an Egba man) was appointed as the Superintendent of Works and Roads. The first concrete bridge in Abeokuta, Sokori bridge, built by Egba United Government was opened by Governor MacGregor of Lagos on rs” July, 1903. The bridge was constructed by Mr. John Israel Adenekan without the supervision of any European Civil Engineer Lafenwa-bridge over Ogun river was opened in 1911 in the year Egba United Government introduced Motor Lorries into Egbaland.
EDUCATION
Egba United Government realized that the destiny of Egba’s future generations very much depended on Education and gave much attention to the establishment of schools and promotion of education. In 1908, Abeokuta Grammar School was established as the only Secondary School then in Abeokuta city. The school started in a rented small room at Ijemo Agbadu owned by Mr. John Macaulay. God used Ariyo Sorinolu as an instrument in His hands to revive the Secondary School in Abeokuta until when in 1910, the school moved to Isale Igbein in Abeokuta. After a short period, the school was taken over by Abeokuta District Church Council and by gradual improvement, the school was developed into its present stage at Idi Aba, Abeokuta.
Although Late Oba Gbadebo (Alake 1898-1920), the then Alake, was not educated, he took very great and unflagging interest in all that concerned Christian Religion and Education in Egbaland during his reign. He was the first to carry the first foundation stone of the building of the Abeokuta Grammar School.
It would be interesting to know that the very spot on which Abeokuta Grammar School formerly stood is rather historical. It is the first place in the whole Egbaland where higher school was established in the year 1861 for the purpose of imparting secondary school education not only in Egbaland but in Nigeria as a whole and for some reasons had to be moved to Lagos which is still referred to as C.M.S Grammar School, Lagos, today.
In 1907, Egba United Government appointed a Custom Officer, Mr. Feyisara Sopein as the first Inspector of Schools. His appointment marked the introduction of a proper system in school management. After the Government passed an ordinance relating to Education for the organization of the schools at Abeokuta, yearly grants were awarded to each school.
In 1923, the second Secondary School in Abeokuta, Baptist Boys High School, Oke-Egunya in Oba quarters of the town was opened.
The Egba people of Abeokuta, Ogun State are reputed to be one of the most cerebral and foremost leaders of the Nigerian nation. Some of the revered and respected Nigerians who have distinguished themselves in their various chosen fields of endeavor have been men of Egba extraction.
1 “February, 1898
I Osokalu-Alake of the Egba United Nation in accordance with advice given to me by His Excellency the Governor of Lagos do hereby proclaim for the information of all persons residing within the confines of the Egba Kingdom that I have this day made arrangement for the better government of the Nation and for the happiness and prosperity of the people.
Acting on the advice, I have dismissed the Balogun and Seriki from their position of sole advisers and have appointed a Council of State to assist me in my government and to take charge of various departments which are hereby formed for advancement of my Kingdom namely: The Osile – Minister of Justice, The Agura – Minister of Communication and Works, The Olowu – Minister of Finance, The Sule – Minister of Public Order, The Soruntan – Minister of Trade and Agriculture, Josaiah Olumide – Minister of Sanitation and Public Health, Apena – Secretary to the Government.
“And I do hereby direct all people to obey any order given by these Ministers in due discharge of their duties and to assist generally in supporting and maintaining any decision made to by the said Council
of State”.
Witness (sgd)
HIS MAJESTY
OBAOSOKALU
M.W. FRED ALLEN
Superintendent of Native Affairs
