By: Manoah Kikekon
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| Mr. Samuel Ofade, Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa and Dr. Babatunde Mesewaku |
BADAGRY, Lagos – The founder of the Africa Renaissance Foundation (AREFO), Dr. Babatunde Mesewaku, has issued a fiery response to an open letter calling for the cancellation of his organization’s version of the Badagry Diaspora Door of Return Festival, asserting his foundational role in the event and pointing out Abike Dabiri-Erewa brazen attempt to hijack two decades of cultural legacy.
The rebuttal came in response to an open Letter from Mr. Samuel Mawutin Ofade, a notable Badagry indigene, urged local government chairmen to unite behind a rival festival led by Mrs. Abike Dabiri-Erewa, Chairman of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NIDCOM), which is scheduled for October 17-18, 2025, and boasts state and federal backing.
Dr. Mesewaku, in his response, categorically rejected the claims of duplication, positioning the AREFO-led event scheduled for October 9-11, 2025, as the authentic, original festival. He revealed a history of the event dating back to 1999, long before NIDCOM’s involvement. “This is a festival that has been in existence since 1999 and developed to an international festival. Who should fix the date for the festival other than the inventor and the initiator?” Mesewaku questioned.
The heart of the conflict, according to Mesewaku, lies in a broken partnership. He disclosed that Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa was initially invited to collaborate with AREFO in 2017. “How can she now become the owner of the festival that she is fixing the date to organise?” he asked, framing the current situation as a case of a partner overstepping and attempting to usurp the intellectual and cultural property of the Badagry community.
Contrary to Mr. Ofade’s letter which described the AREFO event as an independent initiative risking fragmentation, Mesewaku argued that his festival enjoys widespread local legitimacy. He stated that the October dates were chosen in consultation with “all major stakeholders, market women and men, both the Igbo and Hausa community, and the traditional rulers,” with the consent of the Akran of Badagry Kingdom.
In a direct challenge to the narrative of non-cooperation, Dr. Mesewaku claimed that AREFO has repeatedly reached out to Mrs. Dabiri-Erewa to resolve the impasse. “AREFO has written formal letters, sent messages to Mrs. Abike-Dabiri's email, made phone calls but she never responded to all these olive branches,” he stated, accusing the NIDCOM boss of underestimating and disrespecting the people of Badagry.
Adding a layer of geopolitical significance to the dispute, Mesewaku highlighted a crucial semantic shift that he finds alarming. “Another thing we should be mindful of is that they have removed Badagry from the festival. It's now 'Diaspora Door of Return Festival' not 'Badagry Diaspora Door of Return Festival',” he pointed out, suggesting an attempt to dilute the event’s intrinsic connection to its historical home.
Despite the strong accusations, Dr. Mesewaku left the door open for reconciliation, but on his terms. “AREFO is opened to collaboration. If they are ready to join us, we will accommodate them,” he declared, firmly placing the onus on the government-backed faction to align with the original community-led framework. The ball is now in the court of government officials and community leaders as the 2025 dates draw nearer, with the unity of Badagry’s premier cultural export hanging in the balance.