Egba not created in 1830 - Alake

Alake

Historians who were of the thought that Egba was founded in 1830 may be taken aback as the Alake and Paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, has faulted such belief, saying it was Abeokuta that was founded in 1830, not Egba.

The monarch disclosed this during an interview with our correspondents in his palace, Ake, Abeokuta.

Alake was correcting the erroneous belief that Egba was created in 1830. He stressed that Egba had been existing more than two hundred years before taken the decision to come together under a community now known as Abeokuta.

His words: "We didn't get here in 1830; the Egbas were not created in 1830. Abeokuta was founded in 1830. We didn't just drop from somewhere in 1829 to come and found this place in 1830, of course not!

"Because of the desire for a safe haven, our warriors, who have become 'Ajagunjeun' came down from Ibadan so that the enemies who have been taking Egba township won by war could be discouraged the moment we where together. And that was what led to the founding of Abeokuta in 1830.

"All the other people have been where they are today for over 200 years. Ijeun people have been in Obafemi area, all those places, over 200 years ago. Lisabi never came to Abeokuta because there was no Abeokuta when he was alive, but he still saved the Egbas from Oloyo." he explained.ake of Egba