Ogun State House of Assembly has passed a resolution countering the recent claims that Adire fabric originated from Ede in Osun State, reaffirming that Abeokuta, the Capital of Ogun State, is the authentic and historical home of the indigenous textile craft.
The passage of the resolution followed a motion moved by the sponsor, Babatunde Tella, seconded by Lukman Adeleye, the Minority Leader and supported by the entire House.
Earlier while opening debate on the motion leading to the passage of the resolution, Tella noted that the resolution was in response to a viral video in which Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, claimed that Adire originated from his hometown of Ede.
He explained that “in the same clip, the Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, interjected, affirming Abeokuta as the true origin”.
Commending the Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun for his strategic promotion of Adire fabric as both a cultural symbol and economic asset, the lawmaker also acknowledged the role of other national leaders who had helped elevated the visibility of the indigo tie and dye fabric.
The position was corroborated by the MinorityLeader and other co-sponsors such as Yusuf Amosun and Lukman Atobatele, emphasising that the Adire fabric originated from Egbaland.
The House resolved that the Ogun State Government and relevant stakeholders should intensify efforts to preserve and promote the true history of the tie and dye fabric by developing fact-based documentation and multimedia archives to be hosted on the official State website.
The lawmakers also celebrated the Egba people’s historical role in developing the Adire fabric and lauded the commitment of Adire traders and artisans in preserving the craft.
The Assembly also called on the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC) to officially recognise Abeokuta as the home of Adire in Nigeria and support its global promotion.
