Egba as Nigeria’s premier nation

Egbaland, (Abeokuta, capital of Ogun State), emerged as a sovereign state, four years before Miss Flora Louise Shaw invented a name for the “Niger Area,” now called Nigeria.

This ancient city gained political independence from the British, 67 years ahead of Nigeria’s independence; and it existed as a sovereign nation, 21 years before Nigeria became a single (amalgamated) nation in 1914. Thus, the Egba United Government existed from 1893-1914, when the instrument, which gave the Egba people sovereignty was eventually abrogated by the British.

They were, therefore, instrumental to the invitation and arrival of the Christian missionaries, who were warmly embraced in Egbaland. Thus, Thomas Birch Freeman was the first European, who arrived in Abeokuta on 11th December 1842. Later, the Christian Mission Society (CMS), led by Rev. Henry Townsend, as the first mission, arrived in the ancient city on Wednesday, 4th January 1843.

Eventually, the British Government developed a keen interest and began to build confidence in the Egba people, for their hospitality to the Europeans and for allowing the foundation of Christianity to be laid on their soil.

As a result, the British proposed a “Treaty of Friendship and Commerce”, which was signed by both parties in 1893. Basically, the intent of this treaty was “selfishly” meant to guarantee full protection to the economic interest of the British, most especially, the smooth transportation of agricultural produce and other commodities, coming from other Yoruba towns, through River Ogun to Lagos, where these goods were eventually shipped to Europe.

The Egba-nation practiced a loose confederation system of government, without a written constitution; and the Egba United Government started issuing its own official Gazette as from 24th March 1904; her own police, prisons service, judiciary, postal service, public works; as well as a bureaucratic structure. Therefore, as a sovereign nation, Abeokuta had her own indigenous anthem, which firmly unites the Egba people and they hold it very dear to their hearts with a burning passion.

The anthem, which was composed and set to music by late Rev. Israel Oludotun Ransome-Kuti, portrays Olumo Rock as a unique symbol of Abeokuta and a well-cherished monument and pride of the Egba people.

The Egba anthem is titled – “L’ori oke ati petele, ibe l’agbe bi mi si o…” meaning – “on a land, hilly and low; that’s where I was born…” The Egba people are popularly called “Omo Lisabi,” meaning – “the children of Lisabi”; who was a very brave and great warrior. He led the Egbas to victories in so many wars and eventually turned himself into a legend.

Lisabi’s name is immortalized in the Egba’s anthem, as the “father of the Egba people.” Under his leadership, Egbaland was founded in 1830, with the support of other great warriors like Sodeke, Ogundipe Alatise (“Arapasanwu”), among others.

Nigeria’s first medical school, known as Abeokuta Experimental Medical School was established in 1861. Both water and electricity schemes were executed in this ancient city in 1910, leading to the establishment of Abeokuta Water Works, which was opened in 1914.

The first government-owned hospital in Nigeria was built in Abeokuta in 1908, to complement the Sacred Heart Hospital, which was built by the missionary in 1895, as the first standard hospital in Nigeria. Moreover, the first secondary school, Abeokuta Grammar School, was established in 1908 and the first female secondary school, Abeokuta Baptist Girls High School, was established in 1912.

Therefore, Abeokuta ranked among the few cities in Nigeria with the highest number of both primary and secondary schools, before Nigeria’s independence in 1960. In addition, the first church in Nigeria, St. Peter’s Anglican Church, Abeokuta was built in 1898. Moreso, Sokori bridge, Abeokuta, which was constructed in 1903 was the first bridge to be constructed in Nigeria.

On September 16th 1914, (exactly 46 years to the date Nigeria’s Independence constitution received the assent of Lord Fredrick Lugard, on behalf of late Queen Elizabeth), the British Government abrogated the “Treaty of Friendship and Commerce”, which made Egba a sovereign nation, since 1893. In this regard, the Egba-nation is the only territory that enjoyed the special privilege and status of political sovereignty in the annals of Nigeria’s history.

The British Government eventually deprived the Egba people of the right to self-government, due to a series of uprisings and confrontations against the colonial officials, resulting from the imposition of frivolous taxes and forced labour on road works without pay, as well as the undue interference in Egba socio-economic and political affairs by the colonial Governors in Lagos.

The history of journalism, printing and publishing in Nigeria, began in the ancient city of Abeokuta, when the maiden edition of “Iwe Irohin Fun Awon Egba Ati Yoruba” (a newspaper for the Egba and Yoruba people) was first published on December 3rd 1859, by Rev. Henry Townsend. Thus, “Iwe Irohin” became the first newspaper to be published in a native language in Nigeria and entire West Africa. The English edition of the newspaper (bi-lingual edition) was published on March 28th 1860.

The printing press was destroyed, when the Egba people rose against the Europeans and chased them out of Abeokuta in October 1867, for their overbearing influence on the economic and socio-political life of the Egba people.

As a fallout of Egba’s brave revolt against the Europeans in 1867, many of the indigenous people, who fled to Lagos for the fear of reprisal attack by the British, were settled in an area called Ago-Egba (“Egba Quarters”) in Ebute-Metta, on the Lagos-Mainland. Thus, the missionaries and other Europeans were chased out of this ancient city.

The incident happened on October 13th 1867; followed by the Kemta Disturbance in 1893; the Itori Disturbance of 1901; Ijemo Massacre, which took place between the 7th and 9th of August, 1914; and lastly, the Adubi War of 1918, which was triggered by Lugard’s insensitivity, as he was bent on forcing his experiment of land tax and other forms of direct taxation in the South as he did in Northern Nigeria. Thus, the Egba people revolted and fought the British forces, with heavy causalities on both sides.

At the end, they lost the battle to the superior firepower of the British. Having a good understanding that the display of ‘white flags’ is the white man’s language of surrender in wartime, the Egba people massively hoisted white flags on the roofs of their houses and on the pathways, to their villages.

At the end of the day, the colonial office in London realized that the Egba people had become a big threat to their interests. Thus, the sovereignty of the Egba United Government was abrogated on September 16th 1914. As a result, Abeokuta was eventually reduced to a Native Authority (a Local Government).

On this ground, the present-day Abeokuta-South Local Government Area of Ogun State, which earlier served as the headquarters of the Egba United Government becomes the first and oldest Local Government Area in Nigeria. It has existed for exactly 129 years (1893 – 2022).

Owolabi-Abdullahi wrote from Abudu’s Court (Isale-Igbein), Abeokuta, Ogun State.
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