Unite for Growth, Ogun Monarch Charges Indigenes

​ABEAKUTA — Sons and daughters of Isaga Orile have been called upon to foster deeper family ties, preserve their rich cultural heritage, and channel their collective resources toward the sustainable development of their ancestral homeland.

​The appeal was made by the Onisaga of Isaga Orile, Oba Joseph Tella, in an address delivered on his behalf by the Balogun of Isaga Orile, Lawrence Osayemi. The monarch spoke during the annual Isaga Descendants Union gathering held at Isaga Orile within the Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State.

​The event, structured around the theme ‘Bonding Isaga Orile and Its Settlements for Development,’ featured interactive media sessions and comprehensive documentation sessions chronicling the community’s historical trajectory.

​Oba Tella emphasized that the community’s enduring strength relies less on its geographical dispersion or historical legacy, and much more on the unity, cooperation, and shared resolve of its people.

​“This gathering represents an important opportunity for us to reconnect with our common ancestry, strengthen the bonds that unite us, and renew our commitment to the development of Isaga,” the monarch stated. He noted that geographical separation should never become a barrier to unity or dilute a shared sense of origin.

​Calling for an inclusive approach to community building, the traditional ruler stressed that advancement cannot be left solely to traditional leaders or a select few. He urged professionals, academics, entrepreneurs, political actors, artisans, youths, and elders across all settlements to play an active role in steering the community forward.

​Political Mobilization and Regional Representation

​Adding a political dimension to the assembly, a renowned Professor of International Boundaries, Anthony Asiwaju, threw his weight behind the 2027 governorship ambition of Senator Solomon Adeola (popularly known as Yayi). Asiwaju asserted that the senator’s path to the Ogun State governorship could only be obstructed if Isaga were entirely severed from the state.

​Asiwaju voiced long-standing concerns regarding the political marginalization of Yewa communities—including Isaga—since the creation of Ogun State five decades ago. He expressed strong optimism that the region is poised to produce the state’s next chief executive, highlighting Adeola’s ancestral ties to Isaga through Pahayi in Ilaro.

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​Broadening Diaspora and Global Networks

​In his remarks, the Bada of Isaga Orile, Mukaila Oniyide, urged descendants residing across Nigeria and the diaspora to reconnect with their roots and invest in local development. He underscored the vast network of the ancient settlement’s descendants dispersed across various satellite communities, including Iju-Isaga, Isaga Agbado, Mushin-Isaga, and Isaga Isolo in Lagos State, as well as historic settlements in the Republic of Benin and Brazil.

​Earlier, the convener of the meeting, Ladipo Ajayi, explained that the initiative was designed to bridge gaps among all Isaga settlements, cutting across residential divides to spark robust community transformation.