By: Prof Yemi Oke

Background

It was a time like this in the Second Republic in 1978/9. The Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) needed to nominate its Governorship candidate for the elections.

The host was Chief Toye Kuti - the late Ogboye Egba, at his Onikoko residence, Abeokuta.

Four prominent Ogun indigenes were in the crucial race for the No. 1 job in Ogun State. Three of them were from Yewaland while one was from Ogun East.

Results of1st Ballot

At the 1st Ballot,

Chief Jonathan Odebiyi - 6 votes

Dr Tunji Otegbeye - 4 votes

Chief Bisi Onabanjo - 20 votes

Chief Soji Odunjo - 20 votes.

The second ballots became a fierce one between the two main contenders, Chief Soji Odunjo from Ilewo-Orile and Chief Bisi Onabanjo

How Yewas Defeated Yewa

The second ballots threw-up interesting dynamics. As you might have known, there are sections in Yewaland-the Amagos, Ihoris, Eguns, Aworis, Yewas and others comprising mainly of Yoruba speaking tribes from Ife and Oyo.

Some of the Yewa people are Yewa Egba such as Ilewo-Orile and Ibara-Orile people. They settled around "Oke-Ilewo and Ibara axis. Even Oba Olubara in Egba is a Yewa Oba and explains why you will not see his portraits in any core-Egba functions like Chieftaincy installations, Lisabi festivals, etc unlike those of Alake, Osile, Agura and Olowu.

Historical and ancestrally, Ilewo-Orile are Yewa but largely living in Egbaland.

It would also interest you to note that, ordinarily, Egbas are brothers to Egbado and explains the old conjoined bonds as Egba-Egbado. It existed even in Anglican and other religious structures, for example the Egba-Egbado Anglican Diocese, for almost a hundred years.

The Yewa-Egba Theory

The invocation of Yewa living in Egba was a strange and unknown theory deployed to vote in the second ballots.

Chief Soji Odunjo had three factors in his favour. Chief Awolowo was neutral as he wanted a popular candidate that would emerge in a fair contest, as only that would be acceptable to the Egba elites, who were largely NPN. The choice of an Egba High Chief as the host of the primaries s was to further ensure fairness and openness due to the volume of votes anticipated from the capital, Abeokuta.

Secondly, Chief Odunjo is a Yewa indigenes. He grew up in Egba among Egba elites, and very formidable. It was almost a foregone conclusion that the 20 votes of the Egba delegates will be added to those of his two brothers from Yewa who had 6+4 votes (10), to make him score 30 votes. Alas!!! His Yewa brothers defeated him

Results of the 2nd Ballots

At the second ballots, the supporters/Delegates of the other two Yewa candidates suddenly realised that their Yewa brother, Chief Soji Odunjo is  Yewa-Egba

What happened next was shocking. The 20 core Egba delegates renewed their interest in their Yewa brother in the name of Egba-Egbado bonds and voted for their Ilewo-Orile brother, Chief Soji Odunjo.

Curiously, all 10 delegates of the other two Yewa candidates refused to vote their ancestral brother based on the perceived misconception of being YewaEgba at a time, and till date under the Constitution, that they remain Egbado meaning Egbas on the other side of the River-Egba Eti-Odo, Egba'do

In the 2nd ballot, Chief Onabanjo had the benefit of the initial 20 delegates added to the 10 from the other two Yewa candidates who would rather go with the Ogun East candidate.

Onabanjo - 30 votes

Odunjo - 20 votes

Forming Government

After Chief Onabanjo became UPN candidate, it became obvious that his Deputy must come from Egba. Chief Awolowo prefers Chief Odunjo for his popularity.  The Egba again put forward Chief Odunjo who was rejected by his brothers as Yewa-Egba.

But, Chief Onabanjo felt threatened riding with a man of overwhelming popularity and strong Egba backing. For peace to reign, and in the interest of the party, Chief Odunjo accepted to rather nominate a Deputy Governor as against being the No 2 man himself

He nominated his friend, the late Chief Sesan Soluade, who was then the Principal of Lishabi Grammer School, Abeokuta. That was how Chief Sesan Soluade became the Deputy Governor to Late Olabisi Onabanjo.

Conclusion

As the saying goes, The Rest is History

This is another opportunity for righting historical wrongs and injustice, which some often perceive as repeatedly, historically being self-inflicted, by Yewa-Awori themselves.  This notwithstanding, the marginalisation of Yewa-Awori in the leadership and general administration of Ogun State must not be allowed to continue in-perpetuity.

This time around, it appears only Yewa may defeat Yewa in 2023.

But, for Egba elites and intelligentsia caucuses, alati'se Yewa-Awori ni ki won mo ati'se ara won o

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(N.B: The writer was just 6 years old in 1978, and benefited from narratives (aro'ba) from an elder. His late Dad was also an ally of Odunjo's elder brother, documented in pictures)

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Oloye, Ojogbon, Amofin

YEMI OKE

Bada-Baamofin Egba