Nigerians, especially political office holders have been challenged to imbibe the spirit of resilience, courage and legacies of Lisabi Agbongbo Akala – a legendary warrior in their nation-building efforts.

The Akinfiwatolu of Egbaland, High Chief Mustapha Abdulhakeem, who made the plea in a statement to commemorate the 39th edition of Lisabi Festival, said the legacy of Lisabi has continued to inspire and build a new generation of Egbas and the many “firsts” in a nation called Nigeria.

Mustapha noted that the story of Lisabi and the Egba people offers an enduring lesson, particularly for a generation navigating its own challenges, adding that it underscores the importance of collective action, the value of long-term vision, and the reality that meaningful change often comes at great personal cost.

He said: “Lisabi may never have seen Abeokuta. He did not witness the unity and progress his actions would inspire, nor the stability that would eventually emerge. But his courage in the 1760s set in motion a process that would define a people.

“In the final analysis, the making of Abeokuta is not just a story of settlement; it is a story of persistence. And the legacy of Lisabi is not merely in what he achieved, but in what he began. It is a legacy that continues to inspire and build a new generation of Egbas and the many “firsts” in a nation called Nigeria.”

Mustapha revealed that the history of the Egba people is a powerful story of courage stretched across generations, a story that begins in resistance, passes through hardship, and finds its fulfillment in unity and identity.

He noted that at the centre of the historical journey stands Lisabi Agbongbo Akala, a figure whose actions in the 1760s reshaped the destiny of his people. “In the early to mid-17th century, the Egba people lived under the authority of the formidable Oyo Empire.

“This system of control was enforced through tribute and political subordination, leaving many Egba communities with little autonomy. For years, this dominance went largely unchallenged. But by the 1760s, a quiet resistance began to take shape—one that would alter the course of history.

“Lisabi was not merely a warrior; he was a strategist. Recognising that unity was the foundation of any successful resistance, he turned to the traditional Aaro system a communal labor practice as a tool for mobilisation.

“Under the guise of farming cooperation, he built a network of trust, coordination, and shared purpose among the Egba people. What followed was not a spontaneous uprising, but a calculated revolt.