*Photo R-L: Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Chief Lai Labode Jnr, the Osi Apagunpote of Egbaland and Chairman of Egba Legacy Network*
Former president Olusegun Obasanjo and Ambassador Sarafa Tunji Isola have pledged support for the Egba Legacy Network (ELN), a social and economic group in Abeokuta, Ogun State capital.
The duo threw their weights behind the group on Saturday, during the induction of new members and award ceremony by the ELN , held at Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library, Abeokuta.
They spoke after the Chairman of ELN and Osi Apagunpote of Egbaland, Chief Lai Labode, Jnr had outlined plans by his group to carry out some landmark projects in parts of Abeokuta.
These include the establishment of Egba History and Heritage areas where statues of iconic Egba sons and daughters like Sir Adetokunbo Ademola, Prof. Saburi Biobaku, Madam Efunroye Tinubu, Fela Anikulapo, Chief Beko Ransome Kuti, Chief MKO Abiola, Ayinla Omowura and Chief Olusegun Obasanjo would be engraved.
Lai Labode mentioned Ibara GRA, Oke-mosan-Kobape expressway and the Alake Palace as some of the areas where the monuments would be .
The Osi Apagunpote of Egbaland said the group, made up of professional like-minds, was founded 18 months ago to unify all Egba sons and daughters of social networks both home and diaspora.
Chief Lai Labode said ELN was not set up to rival Abeokuta Club, saying it was indeed already planning major collaboration with the Club.
He added that “A key part of our project is to try to re-connect those who are coming behind us to us. A lot of them have already disconnected. And one of the things we are doing right now at the exco level, we just have a new committee on bringing the younger ones to join the Network, so they can also bring people behind them. And of course traditional institutions is also important to us as well, we believe that there are more Egba can offer Nigeria, and Africa at large.
“Our plans is not just a plan we are working toward it, this project cost us our passion not our money, once we are united, let me tell you when we said a new Era of young leadership has come, it has already come and that Egba Legacy Network.”
Responding, Chief Obasanjo commended the group and call on all Egba people to support them.
The former president said the proposal by ELN to beautify Abeokuta with monuments of past and present Egba icons would motivate the younger generations to invest their resources and talents in their hometown.
On his part, Ambassador Isola, Nigeria’s immediate past High Commissioner to the United Kingdom said the initiative by the Egba Legacy Network would add value and reinvigorate the dream of the founding fathers of Egbaland.
He said the ELN heritage projects would beautify Abeokuta and contribute to the tourist attraction aside Olumo rock and the Adire mall.