CITIZENS COMPASS— Former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, has called for the immediate rehabilitation of key heritage sites like the popular Iwe Irohin House (home of Nigeria’s first newspaper), and the Nigerian Correctional Service, Old Abeokuta Custodial Centre, Ibara, both in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
The Centre is one of the oldest in the country.
Obasanjo mentioned other heritage sites that require rehabilitation to include the old, dilapidated Ibara Railway Station
Okeshokori – Efunsetan Aniwura’s residence, Madam Tinubu’s storey building (near Akin Olugbade Hospital)
Madam Tinubu’s burial ground in Gbagura and the first flyover in Abeokuta among others.
Obasanjo’s Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, disclosed this in a statement.
This is just as he urged the main organiser of the Lisabi Pre-Festival Heritage tour/ Cultural Art Exhibition in Egbaland, Ogun State, to ensure that the area’s historical personalities and heritage sites are brought back into limelight to reposition the region as global tourism destinations.
The Lisabi Day Festival is a traditional and cultural celebration held annually to celebrate Lisabi Agbongbo Akala, a great warrior of Egbaland who mysteriously disappeared into the Oba forest in the present-day Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Abeokuta about 200 years ago.
The statement said Obasanjo gave the urge when the Lisabi Pre-Festival Heritage Tour and Cultural Art/Exhibition team visited him ahead of the 2026 Lisabi Festival, scheduled for March 16 emphasizing the need to preserve, renovate and promote key heritage sites, warning against continued neglect and destruction so that generations yet born would have something to see to boost tourism.
“There is no doubt that Egba is filled with notable people and places which must be preserved and given a facelift to boost tourism. The background of these great individuals should be highlighted and shown to the world, citing such several heritage sites that require attention to include the popular Iwe Irohin House ( home of Nigeria’s first newspaper), and the Abeokuta Prison Gaols at Ibara, one of the oldest in the country.
Other sites as mentioned by the former President include:
The old, dilapidated Ibara Railway Station, Okeshokori – Efunsetan Aniwura’s residence, Madam Tinubu’s storey building (near Akin Olugbade Hospital)
Madam Tinubu’s burial ground in Gbagura and the first flyover in Abeokuta.
Obasanjo also stressed the importance of showcasing notable Egba personalities such as the Ransome Kutis, Toye Cokers, Majekodunmis, M.K.O. Abiola, and institutions like Abeokuta Grammar School.
The Chairman of the Lisabi Festival Committee and Asipa of Egbaland, Navy Captain Rasheed Adisa Raji (retd) who is equally the Asipa of Egba explained that purpose of the visit was to brief the former President on the 2026 Lisabi Festival and the proposed Lisabi Pre-Festival Heritage Tour and Cultural Art & Heritage Exhibition.
“We are also here to seek your blessings on the cultural and festival tours, which will include a special exhibition of traditional herbs (Ewe ati Egbo) and medicines. We also request, Sir, our Baba, to deliver a lecture on the role of traditional herbs from Egbaland,” said Captain Rasheed Raji.
The Coordinator of the Pre-Festival Heritage Tour and Cultural Art Exhibition, Olusanya John presented a detailed itinerary and exhibition plan, emphasizing that all key sections of Egba would participate in hosting the tours and visits during the festival period.
The former President accepted the invitation and assurance to deliver the lecture, even as he pledged his support for the success of the event.
Other members of the visiting delegation included Prof. Ajao Adelekan, renowned theatre artist Ebun Oloyede (Igwe Olaiya), Chief Sina Yekinni, Chief Modupeoluwa Sanyaolu, Chief Akindele M. Olajumoke, Basirat Adisa, and Olawunmi Abiola, among others.
Additional attendees were Chief Adeolu Ogunmuyiwa, Chief Odedeyi Monsuru (Baase Itoku), Ben Jonathan Joshua, Olurebi Damilola, and Sowande Opeyemi.
