Senator Shuaib Salisu, representing Ogun Central Senatorial District, has firmly rejected Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke's claims regarding the origin of Adire, stating that "you cannot rewrite history."

The controversy erupted after Governor Adeleke reportedly claimed that the indigenous Yoruba textile originated from Osun State rather than Ogun State, as widely acknowledged. The governor allegedly referred to the Egba people as "thieves," saying in Yoruba, "Ole ni won, won ji ni" (They're thieves, they stole it).

Speaking on Tuesday while disbursing N100,000 each to 250 Egba market traders, Senator Salisu maintained there is no ambiguity about Adire's origins.

"There's no controversy as to where Adire comes from," Salisu stated. "When people try to rewrite history, they should remember... it's like someone creating a controversy about where the birthplace of journalism in Nigeria is. It's like someone trying to argue about where the first educational institution is, or who the first woman to drive a car was."

The senator emphasized the cultural connection between the textile and Ogun State, saying, "Adire is synonymous with Egba; Egba is synonymous with Adire. We recognize that sometimes, when something is good, others want to associate with it. So we feel gratified that we have something good and others are trying to claim it. You may be part of it, but you are not the origin of it."

The lawmaker's comments came during an empowerment program designed to transition market women from the informal to the formal economy by providing capital and integrating them into the financial system.

"Women are the nucleus of the family; they are the economic backbone. If you empower a woman, you've empowered a family," Salisu added.

This dispute highlights ongoing tensions over cultural heritage and identity between the two southwestern Nigerian states, with Adire textile being a significant cultural and economic asset for the communities involved.