When Gbajabiamila countered the assertion, saying adire was a heritage of Ogun State, Adeleke replied curtly, “They stole it.

By Titilope Adako

Traders at the historic Itoku Market have come out swinging against Osun State Governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke, over a claim that the popular Yoruba adire textile originated from Ede, Osun State, and was allegedly “stolen” by the Egba people.

Recall that Governor Adeleke, in a now-viral video, had told the Chief of Staff to President Bola Tinubu, Femi Gbajabiamila, that the adire fabric originated from his hometown, Ede.

When Gbajabiamila countered the assertion, saying adire was a heritage of Ogun State, Adeleke replied curtly, “They stole it.”

However, zddressing a press conference in Abeokuta on Thursday, the Iyaloja of Kemta Adire/Kampala Market, Mrs Somodale Akamo, described the Governor’s comment as “deeply offensive, historically inaccurate, and an insult to the Egba heritage”.

“We are no doubt shocked by the statement credited to His Excellency, the Governor of Osun State, that adire is originally from Osun State and that the Egba people stole it.

“The Egba people are noble and hardworking. The truth is that adire is from Egbaland. It is a craft and trade our forebears have practised since as far back as the 13th century,” Akamo said.

She further explained that the textile trade blossomed after the Egba settled in present-day Abeokuta in 1830, with the second Iyalode of Egbaland, Madam Jojoyinola, playing a pivotal role in empowering women through the trade and spreading its popularity across the region and beyond.

She said, “Since then, adire has gone global. We are shocked to hear that the Governor said the Egba people stole this ancient craft from Osun. This history is false, and we urge him to withdraw the statement and publicly apologise.”

The traders warned that such a comment from a sitting Governor risks stirring unnecessary ethnic tension and undermines the cultural pride of a people whose economy and heritage are deeply rooted in the textile.

“This is not a matter of political banter; this is our history, our livelihood. To dismiss that with a flippant remark is unacceptable,” another trader, Alhaja Taofeekat Adebayo said.

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