Awori Group Rejects Lagoon State, Demands Own State Carved From Lagos, Ogun States

 By Ogungbayi Beedee Adeyemi / Posted July

The Awori Welfare Association of Nigeria (AWAN), the umbrella body of people, comprised of mainly indigenous Awori ethnic nationalities in Lagos State and parts of Ogun State, have strongly canvassed the creation of a Awori State to be carved out of Lagos and Ogun, instead of being lumped together in the proposed Lagoon State, in order to preserve their historical roots, cultural heritage, economic contributions and political influence, noting that it would give them a sense of belonging that upholds their nativity and identity.

In a statement by Mr. Niyi Jafojo, President of AWAN, he highlighted that Awori is a distinct Yoruba subgroup that will likely be distorted if they are subsumed under the proposed Lagoon State.  He said such a scenario would fragment their ancestral lands and marginalize their legacy. 

Ogungbayi Adeyemi, a prominent Awori campaigner, declared; “we are the original settlers of Lagos and a powerhouse in Ogun State. The Lagoon State proposal disregards our history and contributions. We demand an Awori State that unites our people and protects our heritage,” he said.

The Aworis dominate 16 of Lagos State’s 20 local government areas (LGAs), spreading across Alimosho, Ikeja, Mushin, Eti-Osa, Apapa, Ojo, Ebute Metta, and Iddo, and cover 37% of Ogun State’s landmass, notably in Ado-Odo/Ota, Ifo, and parts of Yewa North and South. Key settlements include Isheri, Oworonsoki, Agbara, Sango, and Badore. With millions residing in populous LGAs like Alimosho (Lagos’s largest Awori settlement) and Ado-Odo/Ota. The high population number of Awori people is a veritable demographic subscription to any election in Lagos and Ogun States, capable of shaping the electoral outcome.

The Aworis have been a major force in the economic growth of Lagos and Ogun States. In Lagos, their geographic land areas play host to Nigeria’s busiest ports (Lagos Port Complex and Tin Can Island) and leading technological holdings like Yaba’s “Silicon Lagoon,” contributing to Lagos’s $84 billion GDP. In Ogun, Ado-Odo/Ota’s industrial estates in Agbara and Ota rival Ikeja’s economic significance, while Awori farmers produce cassava, maize, and palm oil. 

“Our lands power Nigeria’s economy. An Awori State would harness this potential for our people,” Adeyemi stated.

The Awori’s rich cultural heritage, including their unique Yoruba dialect, bilingualism (Yoruba and Ogu in Badagry), and festivals like Oro, Egungun, and Gelede, will face dilution under the Lagoon State plan. The Awori Day Cultural Festival, launched in 2022, showcases their tourism potential, with historical sites like Isheri, Ota, and Badagry drawing visitors. The Olota of Ota, crowned in 1621, symbolizes their enduring traditional governance. 

“Our culture is our pride. Only an Awori State can preserve it,” Adeyemi emphasized.

The Aworis have been a major force to reckon with during Lagos State elections, especially in Alimosho, Ikeja, and Ado-Odo/Ota constituencies. Leaders like Alhaji Olufemi Okunnu and Senator Habib Fasinro have consistently championed the strength of the Awori people’s part in the evolution of modern Lagos, countering claims of Lagos as “no man’s land.”  Hence AWAN is demanding the creation of more LGAs to enhance local governance, not a Lagoon State that sidelines them in the scheme of things and ultimately, silences their voice.

The proposed Lagoon State, encompassing Awori communities like Apapa, Iganmu, Somolu, Bariga, and Eti-Osa, has sparked outrage. AWAN argues it fragments Aworiland without consultation, risking their political and cultural marginalization. “The Lagoon State does not reflect our aspirations. We reject it in favor of an Awori State that unites our people from Ifo to Alimosho,” Adeyemi declared.

According to the delineation boundary for the proposed Awori State would include Awori-speaking communities across Lagos State and Ogun state names are Alimosho, Ikeja, Mushin, Ifako-Ijaiye, Eti-Osa, Apapa, Ojo, Ebute Metta, Iddo, Somolu, Bariga, Akoka, Oworonsoki, Ketu, Ibeshe, Majidun, and parts of Badagry. Ogun State: Ado-Odo/Ota (Ota, Agbara, Igbesa, Sango), Ifo, Oto-Awori, Araromi-Ale, Esepe Iworo, Ilobi, Tigbo, and parts of Yewa North/South. This contiguous region, linked by highways like the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and waterways like the Ogun River, forms a viable state with a robust economic base and cultural cohesion.

Adeyemi, the Awori campaigner, emphasized that all they seek is to be recognized as a distinct tribe in Nigeria, citing their unique dialect, historical role as Lagos’s founders coupled with tangible contributions to Nigeria’s economy and rich cultural ensemble. Their migration from Ile-Ife, led by Olofin Ogunfunminire, and settlements like Isheri and Eko predate external influences.

“We are Awori, not just Yoruba. Our identity deserves national recognition.  An Awori State is our birthright. We will not be sidelined”, Adeyemi asserted.

Towards achieving the objective, The AWAN has continued to mobilize their communities, leaders and Diaspora to rally for an Awori State, while lobbying the National Assembly to prioritize their demand over the Lagoon State. They seek support from Lagos and Ogun State governments, which have backed some of their community awareness initiatives like the Awori Day Cultural Festival.