*Oba Akiolu' an account.
Oba Rilwan Akiolu of Lagos, Image: The Punch Newspapers.
Amid incessant politically motivated verbal and physical attacks on Igbo residents of Lagos state by some individuals and suspected thugs who claim ownership of Lagos, Mr. Emeka Umeagbalasi, a rights activist, researcher, and criminologist gives an insight into the history of Lagos and the relationship of the Igbo ethnic group to the area.
According to Umeagbalasi, " Lagos was founded by Igbo-Bini Priest-Kings over 500 years before the palace of Oba Of Lagos was built by the Portuguese from their Pepper Farmland in 1705 AD
However, he noted that those he called "Retreatist’ Osun state-born “Lagosians” are breeding insurgency in Lagos state, warning that they must be called to order, stopped, and reminded that:
"1. Nobody has a monopoly of violence as over 1000 forms of violence abound,
2. A son does not give birth to a male child before his father,
3. Lagos was founded by Igbo-Bini Priest-Kings over 500 years before the Palace Of Oba Of Lagos was built by the Portuguese from their Pepper Farmland in 1705 AD.
4. The Throne Of Eze-Nri (Pre-Christian Papacy In Nigeria) is 2,885 years older than the stool of Oba Of Lagos and 2,480 years older than the throne of Ooni of Ife."
Retreats Osun state-born “Lagosians” breeding insurgency in Lagos.
Mr. Umeagbalasi further said that the attacks are worsening and may "force the attacked into a violent self-defensive or defensive insurgency. "
"It is correct to say that ‘transformed’ and ‘untransformed’ Retreatist Osun State-born “Lagosians” are dangerously breeding insurgency in Lagos State, Nigeria’s smallest land-massed and most populated sub-national entity.
"The ‘Retreatist’ Osun state-born “Lagosians” presently threatening lives and properties of defenseless nationalities in the State or any part thereof have been found to belong to a generation of those that left their State(s) of birth pauperized and uneducated and headed to Lagos in 1950 and 1960s or earlier or thereafter; assimilated and became part of Lagos street gangs including ‘street children’ and drug addicts (retreatists); commonly called “Alaayes” and “Area Boys”.
"While the ‘transformed retreatants among them became lucky and had access to formal education and wealth and ascended to the positions of authority, the ‘untransformed' others have become their riotous foot-soldiers to date.
"The struggle against the military and return to civilian rule in 1999 shot the transformed ‘Retreatists’ among them into prominence including access to corridors of power in Lagos, Osun, Ekiti, Ondo, and Ogun states.
"Their fanning of the embers of ethnic or inter-tribal discords and sponsorship of political and group violence became well noticed in 2015 and 2019 and continued untamed and widespread in 2023.
"The insurgency-provoked attacks and violence targeted at Lagos indigenized old Eastern Nigerian Christian citizens for participating in the legitimate political process and conscientiously voting candidates of their choice have gotten out of hand and reached a maddening stage; threatening to force the attacked into a violent self-defensive or defensive insurgency, he said.
Umeagbalasi continued: "By modern conflict theories, nobody or group has a monopoly of violence as there are more than 1000 forms of violence capable of being offensively or defensively used or deployed by a person against another or property, especially when pushed to the wall.
"It has shockingly become traditional and election season ritual for the ‘transformed retreats Osun State-born “Lagosians” to congregate, aggregate and arm their foot-soldiers (untransformed retreats) to launch coordinated violent attacks against other defenseless nationalities resident in the State, leading to wanton destruction of lives and properties worth billions of naira.
"In all these, the country’s security agencies have conspiratorially continued to turn blind eyes and pretend as if nothing had happened.
"The ‘Retreatist’ Osun State-born Lagosians” migration to Lagos has arisen because Lagos as a sub-national entity shares common boundaries with ‘Oduduwa or Yoruba States’ of Ogun, Oyo, Ondo, Osun, and Ekiti.
"Lagos had also pre-colonially played host to freed slaves and missionaries from Sierra Leone, Liberia, United Kingdom, United States, the Caribbean, Cuba, Brazil, Portugal, Spain, etc.
"It is instructive to note that before the founding of the throne of ‘Ooni of Ife’ (oldest throne in Oduduwa or Yoruba States) in present Osun State between the beginning 1200s and middle of 1250 AD, the present Lagos was already founded by the Igbo-Bini Priest-Kingdoms (.i.e. pre Ogiso/Ogiso Bini Dynasty: 650 AD-1150 AD, pre-Imperial Bini Dynasty: 1180 AD-1440 AD, Imperial Bini Dynasty: 1440AD-1897AD and Ominije-Ogele Dynasty in present Agbor: 701 BC-1250-70 AD).
"The ancient throne of ‘Eze-Nri (Pre-Christian Papacy), established around 1230 BC with its Eze-Nri as “Pre-Christian Pontiff” wielded supernatural and political influences over the Dynasties above named including membership of their “Colleges of Cardinals”.
A son does not give birth to a male child before his father.
The rights activist stated that it is "most annoying" for the " Retreatist Osun State-born “Lagosians” to falsely "claim ownership of Lagos and being “sons and daughters of the soil”.
"The most annoying part of the incessancy of systematic and coordinated violent attacks on defenseless and unarmed Easterners in Lagos (Eko) whose forefathers and foremothers originally founded the area as far back as in the 13th Century AD is false claims by the ‘Retreatist Osun State-born “Lagosians” of ownership of Lagos and being “sons and daughters of the soil”.
"They have also resorted to constant violent attacks to cower, intimidate, oppress, and suppress other nationalities in the State. It must be historically noted and pointed out that “Eko” is the Bini language meaning ‘war camp’.
"The area was a spot for trade exchanges and diplomatic border post contacts during Saharan and Atlantic Slave Trades.
"Eko’ originally served as war camps for Pre Colonial and pre-Berlin Conference eras’ inter-empire wars within Nigeria and beyond between Igbo-Bini Imperial armies and empires of Dahomey (Benin Republic), Ashante (Ghana), Togo, Songhai (Senegal, Gambia), Ivory Coast, Upper Volta (Burkina Faso), etc.
"Totality of the above has lent credence to the fact that a son can never marry and beget a male child before his father; if not, who then is his father?"
The throne of Eze Nri-Priest Kingship is 2,885 years older than the throne of Oba of Lagos.
Umeagbalasi said that "The People of Old Eastern Nigeria particularly the Igbo People are the oldest in Nigeria with the oldest Priest-Kingship Dynasties (the thrones of Eze-Nri and Eze-Ora of Aguleri).
"While the former was recently reconstructed and empirically found to have existed since 1230 BC, with Eze-Nri Ifiukwuanyim as the first Eze-Nri, the latter was established in 1087 BC with Eze Anyiamigbo as the first Eze Ora 1 of Aguleri.
"The progenitor of Igbo People, Eri, was noted to have migrated and settled at “Eri-Aka”, now called ‘Agulueri’ in present Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State around 1450 BC from where one of his sons, Nri-Menri, moved to Igbo hinterland where the sacred throne of ‘Eze-Nri’ was established around 1230 BC through one of his sons called “Ifiukwuanyim”.
"The above empirical findings have therefore placed the Igbo Priest-Kingship (Eze-Nri stool) above any other throne in Nigeria.
"In other words, from available historical, forensic, scholarly, and verifiable records, the Igbo Nation (founded around 1450 BC) and its ancient Eze-Nri stool (established around 1230 BC) is about 103 years older than the mainstream Igala Nation (an offshoot of Igbo Nation), 553 years older than the Bini/Agbon (Agbor) Nation, 2,103 years older than the Ijo (Ijaw) Nation, 2,153 years older than the Kanem-Bornu (Kanuri) Nation, 2,253 years older than the Hausa Nation, 2,553 years older than the Yoruba Nation and 3,253 years older than the Fulani Nation.
"The throne of Eze-Nri Priest-Kingship is 2,885 years older than the stool of Oba of Lagos and 2,480 years older than the throne of Ooni of Ife."
From Portuguese Pepper Farmland To Palace Of Oba Of Lagos.
Umeagbalasi maintained that Lagos, whose original name is Eko was founded
by Igbo-Bini Kings under Eze-Nri and renamed Lagos by the Portuguese in 1472 AD.
"Apart from Lagos (Eko) being renamed in 1472 (300 years after the area was originally founded and named by the Pre-Imperial Igbo-Bini Kings under the spiritual influence of Eze-Nri Priest-Kingship) as “Lago de Curamo” or a group of lakes/lagoons by the Portuguese explorer, Rui de Sequeira, the Palace of the ‘Oba of Lagos’ was also built and opened in 1705 by the Portuguese settlers, fifty-five (55) years after it was established in 1630 AD.
"Another name for the “Palace of Oba of Lagos” is ‘Portuguese Pepper Farmland’. From the above, therefore, the throne of Eze-Nri which existed as the “Pre-Christian Papacy” with its Eze-Nri as “Pre-Christian Pontiff” had a widespread spiritual influence covering the oracular eras of Pre-Ogiso/Ogiso and Pre-Imperial/Imperial Bini Dynasties, Igala Dynasties and so on.
"The spiritual influence of Eze-Nri Priest-King included the issuance of supernatural staff of office (scepter) to Bini and Igala Kings, etc."
Empirical Accounts Of How Eze-Nri (Pre-Christian Pontiff) Made Kings Of Bini, Igala, Etc
Mr. Umeagbalasi also disclosed that ancient Bini Kings were confirmed first and given items of authority by Eze Nri before they could be accepted to ascend the throne and recognized by the people.
"The description of Eze Nri and his Eze Nri-in-Council as “pre Christian Pontiff and Papacy” was how the then Benin Empire and the Portuguese diplomats led by Rui de Sequeira (who named Lagos in 1472 AD) and his companions recorded them as far back as 1498AD during the visit of the Portuguese diplomats to the Oba of Benin (Oba Ozolua: 1480-1504).
"This is contained in the 25th September 2010 article, titled: Medieval Archives: Illuminating the Dark Ages for the Digital World reproduced by the Nigerian Observer Newspaper.
"One of the diplomats that visited, Joao de Barros had in his accounts written as follows of a possible pre-Christian influence in ancient Benin Kingdom:- “Among the many things which the king D. Jodolearnedt from the ambassador of the king of Benin and also from João Afonso de Aveiro of what they had been told by the inhabitants of these regions was that to the east of Benin Kingdom (thick forest/hinterland where pre Christian Nri Sacred Kingdom was located in ancient Igbo Land) lived the most powerful monarch of these parts who was called “Ogane” (Nri King).
"Among the pagan chiefs of the territories of Benin, Ogane was held in as great veneration as is the supreme Pontiff with us.
"By a very ancient custom, the new King of Benin, before ascending the throne, sends ambassadors to Ogane (Eze Nri) with rich gifts to announce that by the decease of his predecessor, he has succeeded to the Kingdom of Benin and request confirmation.
"To signify his assent, Prince Ogane sends the King a staff and a headpiece of shining brass fashioned like a Spanish helmet in place of a crown and scepter.
"He also sends a cross, likewise of brass to be worn around the neck, a holy and religious emblem similar to that worn by the KNIGHTS of the order of Saint John. Without these emblems the people do not recognize the King as lawful ruler, nor can he call himself truly king”.
Emeka Umeagbalasi is a Criminologist, Researcher, Investigator, and Fellow of the United States Department of State’s Int’l Visitors’ Leadership Program (IVLP) and presently Board Chair of the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety).
Oba Akiolu's account.
In 2017, many people criticized the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu for
refusing to shake hands with the Ooni of Ife at a function in Lagos, saying that his action was disrespectful to Yoruba customs and traditions.
Following the incident, The Guardian reported on 14 May 2017,
that the Oba of Lagos issued a statement via the Iga Idugaran, Palace of the Lagos King explaining that Lagos was not a part of Yoruba land.
The Oba said, “I was told by my late paternal grandmother, who was a descendant of Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi, and with facts from historical books, let me share this knowledge with you all on Eko or Lagos, as it is popularly called.
“Modern-day Lagos was founded by Prince Ado, the son of the Oba of Benin. Prince Ado was the first Oba of Lagos, and he it was, that named the town Eko, until the Portuguese explorer, Ruy de Sequeira, changed the maritime town to Lagos, which at that time from 1942 was the Portuguese expedition center down the African Coast.
“It was a major center of the slave trade, until 1851. Lagos was annexed by Britain via the Lagos treaty of cession in 1861, ending the consular period and starting the British colonial period.
"The remainder of modern-day Nigeria was seized in 188 when the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria were established in 1914, Lagos was declared its capital, due to the struggle of the Bini King.
“The Aworis and Binis are known to be the first settlers of the Eko land. The Aworis are speakers of a distinct dialect close to that of the Yoruba language with a rich Bini mixture.
"Traditionally, Aworis were found in Ile-Ife; they were known to be the Binis, who followed their self-exiled prince, the first son of the Ogiso (now called Oba) of the Benin Kingdom, whose stepmother was after his head.
“The exiled Benin Prince Izoduwa, known to Yoruba as Ooduwa (Oduduwa), was made ruler of the Ife people due to his powers and followers from the great Benin Kingdom.
“Izoduwa (Ooduwa) was made the first king of Ile-Ife in 1230 AD. His followers from his father’s Kingdom in Benin are today’s Awori people, who settled in Eko now called Lagos.
“In the 1300s, the King of Benin Empire heard from one of his traders, who were settlers in Eko, of how the Binis were treated by the Aworis who lived in their areas. Upon hearing this, the King of Benin commanded the assembly of a war expedition, led by his son, Prince Ado, which headed (for) the settlement of the Aworis and demanded an explanation.
“On arriving Eko, Prince Ado, and his army were more than welcomed. The Aworis asked the Bini Prince to stay and become their leader. Ado agreed on the condition that they surrender their sovereignty to the Oba of Benin, to which the people agreed. On hearing
“On arriving at Eko, Prince Ado, and his army were more than welcomed. The Aworis asked the Bini Prince to stay and become their leader. Ado agreed on the condition that they surrender their sovereignty to the Oba of Benin, to which the people agreed. On hearing this, the King of Benin gave his permission for Prince Ado and the expedition to remain in Eko.
“The Oba of Benin sent some of his chiefs, including the Eletu, Odibo, Obanikoro, and others to assist his son, Oba Ado in the running of Eko.
“From the crowning of Prince Ado, as the first Oba of Lagos, (then called Eko), Lagos served as a major center for the slave trade. The Aworis, the Oba of Benin and his son, the Oba of Lagos, and all the children/descendants, who took over as his successors for over four centuries supported the trade.
“The Oba of Benin was the head of the Benin Empire, which are presently the modern-day western, southern, and eastern Nigeria. The king never forced anyone to speak the Bini language, as he believed everyone was entitled to their own choice of language.
“The name Eko was given to it first, by the king of Lagos, Oba Ado, the young and vibrant prince from Benin. Eko was the land now known as Lagos Island, where the king’s palace was built.
“The palace is called Idugaran, which means “palace built on pepper farm.” Oba Ado and the warriors from Benin, together with the early Bini settlers in Eko and the Awori people settled in the southern part of Eko, called “Isale Eko.” “Isale means downtown (as in downtown Lagos).
“Until the coming in of Benin in 1300 AD, Lagos’ geographical boundary was Lagos mainland. Lagos Island, the seat of the Oba of Lagos, then consisted of a pepper farm and fishing post. No one was living there.
“About 1450 AD, some Yorubas, who hailed from Isheri in Ogun State and Ekiti were allowed by the King to settle in Eko during a war. They came in very large numbers, thereby surpassing the numbers of the Aworis and Binis. Hence the Yorubas claim to own Eko, due to their numbers.
“Oba Ado fell in love with a beautiful woman, whose father was Awori and the mother, a daughter to one of the chiefs. They had two sons and a daughter, Erelu Kuti, who begot Ologun Kutere, who later became king," Oba Akiolu declared.
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