In 19th century, Lisabi Agbonakala emerged in a territory popularly called Egba forest (Igbo Egba) to re-write the history of the area for good. At the time, the Egba people were under the suzerainty of Oyo empire. The political lords were doing every thing in their power to worsen the plight of the subjects. They were eager to maximise their personal benefits and advantage acruing to them. The subject people faced harsh conditions that were not conducive to to good living. Many levies were imposed on them. Thus, Oyo people became leeches that were sucking money from the purses of the Egba, making them poor. This oppressive socio-political conditions were making life a tough place to live. This bred discontent among the people. The daunting socio-political challenges of the time irritated Lisabi to embark on rebellion that led to the liberation for his people.
Olu Owolabi Lisabi was born into farming. He believed in the power of food as an instrument of giving people a happy and good life. As farming was the most popular occupation among the people, Lisabi knew he could grow a dominant group among the farmers and turned them into an instruments of war.
Thus, he set up a cooperative society that boasted of a large number of farmers as members. He told the members that the society would enable members to harness its large number for a big economic returns that would redound to all members benefits. At that point, Lisabi knew he was recruiting soldiers who would revolt against Oyo empire. He kept his rebellious plan under wrap. He didn’t do anything to betray the rebellion that was in gestation.
There were, however, a small group of trusted inner circle, who could be described as the movers of the rebellion, they were members of the war cabinet. They were responsible for sourcing resources, materials, procuring weapons and other logistics for what they described as a war of liberation. To make a success of gathering logistics for what was nothing but a dangerous expedition, there was a need for secrecy. That was the source of the success of their endeavour. Lisabi succeeded in building a goodwill that earned him the trust of the people. Once, he succeeded in building the trust, he quickly went ahead to let more and more members know the real motive and intention of the so-called Farmers Cooperative Society/ His efforts to build trust in the people brought him from obscurity to the limelight. It gave him the necessary leverage that catapulted him to the height of people’s consciousness. This, undoubtedly earned him an unprecedented recognition. He became a constant topic in group discursion at night gathering among the so-called farmers. He told farmers who were turned to warriors that they should not be affraid of Ilaris.
It was at that point that the Oyo overlords unaware of the building discontent among the subjects increased levies on certain produce and food crops. The Ilaris Oyo agents, never suspected that the levies could lead to rebellion. The Egba who were bent on war of liberation had, for a long time, prepared for the war. By the time they killed all the Ilaris in Igbo Egba, they had succeeded liberating themselves from the yoke of the Alaafin of Oyo empire. Lisabi led the revolt and succeeded. The great warrior thus succeeded in liberating the Egba people. They henceforth became free-born. They were no longer under the control of any external power or forces. Lisabi in Ifa panegerics was described a confident, bold and brave son who spotted a pelican garment. Afinju omo abi ewu akala lorun.
With this unprecedented titanic exploit, Lisabi thus became the people’s hero. He was born and walked the terrain called Egbe forest and could never be forgotten. He became the father of Egba nation. No controversy. Today, Egba people are and they call themselves children of Lisabi. By the time Lisabi took his exit , he upgraded the status of his people and the people, were never the same again. He did not only touch their political life, his pronounced impact on Egbaland was also felt on the people’s socio-economic life. The people experienced what could rightly be called a rebirth and a new life. Lisabi had taken the people to a higher level of existence where they started enjoying a new status of a free-born. No wonder every year Egba people rolled out drums to celebrate him. Lisabi is, no doubt their hero.
–Tajudeen Adigun
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