Obasanjo Reveals Shocking Plot By Ijebu Elders To Stop Abeokuta From Becoming Ogun State Capital

Obasanjo Reveals How Ijebu Leaders Tried to Block Abeokuta’s Capital Status in Ogun State....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has revealed how Ijebu leaders attempted to prevent Abeokuta from becoming the capital of Ogun State.

Obasanjo shared that Ijebu leaders lobbied the then Head of State, the late Gen. Murtala Mohammed, to designate Sagamu as the capital when the state was created in February 1976.

The former president made the revelation during the induction ceremony and Gala Night of the Egba Legacy Network at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library in Abeokuta.

Obasanjo recounted that the Ijebu leaders argued that Abeokuta had limited land space and pushed for Sagamu as the state capital instead.

He shared an account of his conversation with Gen. Mohammed, saying, “When we were discussing the creation of Ogun State, our Ijebu brothers campaigned against Abeokuta being the capital, arguing that there was insufficient land. They proposed Sagamu instead. But I said to Murtala Mohammed, ‘If we’re creating Kano State, should we not make Rago the capital too?’”

This response angered Gen. Mohammed, who snapped at Obasanjo, to which he retorted, “How dare you?” “How dare you too?” was Obasanjo’s response, effectively ending the conversation.

Obasanjo later urged the Egba Legacy Network to document Abeokuta’s history and ensure prominent figures in the development of Egbaland are recognised in their heritage tourism project. He stressed that Abeokuta’s close proximity to Lagos should be leveraged to transform the city into a major tourist hub.