Toyin Akingbade
In the ancient days, just like the founding of Ibini (Benin) dynasty itself by the Eweka 1, son of Oranyan (Oranmiyan), who later became the first Alaafin of Oyo kingdom.
During the reign of Oba Orhogbua of Benin the Oba (King) of the Benin Empire – who used to send trade expeditions to Ghana, where spices were traded headed by Ashipa ( Aisikpahienvoborre as it was called in Ibini dialect), who was picked by Oba of Ubini to act as the Lagos leader (not as king)and intermediary between him and people of Lagos for 27years. Later Awori people turned against him (Ashipa) in paying taxes to Benin and Ashipa later went to complained to Oba of Benin about the way he was being treated by the maiden Lagos owners ( Awori) who lived in the area of current day Lagos. The Oba of Benin then sent a trade expedition by sea to engage with the Awori people, who nonetheless declined to engage and attacked the mission sent by Benin.
Upon hearing this as the mission returned to Benin City, the Oba of Benin commanded the assembling of a war expedition, led by Ado, a Benin Prince, which headed to the settlement of the Awori (current-day Lagos; then called Eko by the Benin people) and demanded an explanation.
On getting there, Ado and his army were more than well received – the Awori from Lagos asked Benin Prince Ado to stay there and become their leader. Ado agreed, on the condition that they surrendered their sovereignty to the Oba of Benin, to which the Awori people of Lagos agreed.
Upon hearing this, the Oba of Benin gave his permission for Prince Ado and the expedition to remain in Eko with the Awori. The Oba of Benin later sent some of his chiefs, including the Eletu Odibo, Obanikoro and others, to assist Ado in the running of Eko.
In 1630 Ado took over leadership responsibility of lagos. During his reign, he was elevated to the status of an Oba and crowned by Oba of Benin through a Benin Kingmaker called Chief Eletu Odibo, who alone had the final right to crown the Oba.
Oba Ado became the first Oba of Lagos. He had 3 children (2 males and a female: Gabaro, Akinsemoyin and Erelu Kuti.
Oba Ado ruled for 39years, joined his ancestors in 1669 succeeded by his first son, Gabaro (1669-1704) who moved government to the Island (Isale Eko – present Iga Idunganran). He was the first Oba to erect building in the palace and create institution of chieftaincy and kingmakers.
Oba Gabaro died in 1704 succeeded by his brother: Akinsemoyin (1704-1749) whose reign the Portuguese came to Lagos as slave dealers. It was on record that the palace “Iga Idunganran” was built during this period with the assistance of the Portuguese. Oba Akinsemoyin (had no son, but 6 daughters) reigned for 45 years and died in 1749 succeeded by his nephew: Eletu Kekere (only son of Oba Gabaro) who had no child and died within a year thus ending the lineage of Gabaro resulting in controversy on who succeeds the throne since Oba Akinsemoyin had no son. Also, Akinsemoyin’s sister (Erelu Kuti) could not succeed the throne being a female. The only option was to choose the son of Erelu kuti. Erelu kuti has two son’s Ologun-Kutere and Sokun.
Ologun-Kutere (eldest son) was chosen. He ascended throne in 1749 after demise of his cousin, Eletu Kekere. Ologun Kutere was a strong king who won the respect of neighboring Obas by how he handled a threatening rebellion against tribute dues to Benin. He had 6 children “Eshinlokun, Adele, Akintoye, Olusi, Akinolu and Olukoya”. He joined ancestors in 1775 succeeded by Adele Ajosun (1775-1780 & 1834). Adele’s period was when Oba was concerned with consolidating position of throne as his reign was characterized by intrigues and counter-intrigues between him and his elder brother (Eshinlokun). Oba Adele Ajosun was an indulgent father whose children introduced “Egungun” into the palace of which he was dethroned and banished in 1780, but reinstated in 1852 after his brothers(Eshinlokun, Idewu Ojulari) had reigned. He died in 1834. It is important to emphasize that Oba Eshinlokun (1780-1819) ascended throne in 1780 following dethronement of Oba Adele Ajosun, though his reign was uneventful, he was able to resist attempt by Adele to oust him from throne and managed it till 1819 when he eventually joined his ancestors. He had 2 children(Idewu Ojulari and Kosoko). By the time Oba Idewu Ojulari (1819-1832) took over throne, he was regarded as a popular king who became so obsessed by avarice and was advised to go on exile or commit suicide (traditional way of treating undesirable king), but instead, Ojulari decided to commit suicide. He died without a child in 1832 succeeded by Oba Oluwole (son of Adele Ajosun) in 1834 after the death of his father, but unfortunately for him, he also died childless and his death was due to a terrible explosion of gun powder stored in the palace.
Oba Akintoye (1841-1845 & 1851-1853), another son of Ologun Kutere succeeded the throne after his brother & nephews had reigned. When Oba Akitoye ascended to the throne of Lagos and tried to ban slave-trading despite the advice of his chiefs.
Local merchants strongly opposed the intended move, and deposed and exiled the king, and installed Akitoye’s brother Kosoko as Oba. Kosoko was very strong and spiritually powerful became the Oba of Lagos in 1845 after plotting a coup against Oba Akintoye, but his reign was warlike due to his belief that he had suffered injustice for not being appointed the Oba in 1841, then in 1845, he plotted a coup against his uncle (Oba Akintoye) during whose reign the British signed treaty to stop slavery, but Oba Kosoko insisted not to sign treaty, then Lagos was bombarded by the British navel.
At exile in Europe, Akitoye met with British authorities, who had banned slave-trading in 1807, and who therefore decided to support the deposed Oba to regain his throne. With the success of the British intervention, in 1851 Akitoye was reinstalled as Oba of Lagos. In practical terms, however, British influence over the kingdom had become absolute, and ten years later, in 1861, Lagos was formally annexed as a British colony.
Oba Akintoye joined his ancestors in 1853 Oba Akitoye was the first Oba not to be buried in Benin. Prior to this, all the past Kings of Lagos were buried in Benin. They passed on taxes to the Oba of Benin until the British came and explained that there was no need to send taxes to Benin anymore especially as the Benin themselves were paying taxes to Britain. It was during his reign that the direct influence of the Benin on Lagos ended.
Akintoye succeeded by Oba Dosunmu (1853-1885) who made durable contribution to the development of Lagos which gave a clear illustration of lofty ideas of Obaship in consonance with modern civilization.
In August 1861, Oba Dosunmu concluded treaty of cession to British government. Lagos became a freedom land and consequently many traders started to bargain with overseas merchants for lawful and prosperous trade, prompting various constitutional developments which further helped to turn Lagos into a truly peaceful and prosperous Nigerian City. He died in 1885 succeeded by Oba Oyekan1 (1885-1900). During his reign the remainder of the Benin Empire – i.e, modern-day Nigeria – were seized by the British in 1887, though he did not enjoy good health during his reign. He carried on his duties till he joined ancestors in 1900 at aged 50 and was succeeded by Oba Eshugbayi Eleko (1901-1925 & 1932) whose reign started in 1901 and popularly called Eleko. He succeeded his brother Oyekan1, but during his reign, was full of British politics and wrangling due to which he was sent on exile in Oyo Kingdom by then governor (Sir High Clifford) in 1925.
Being Yoruba custom, anyone on exile is expected to be dead, therefore, council of chiefs quickly elected another Oba, but during Esugbayi’s exile, he did not die, but returned to Lagos in 1931 and was reinstalled same year. He died in 1932. Oba Ibikunle Akintoye (1925-1928) succeeded the throne while Oba Esugbayi was on exile, but before Ibikunle Akintoye’s installation, the Priest warned him that he would spend only 3years and not last on the throne, but he insisted that even if he would spend a day, let it be, hence his installation as the custom deserves. He was the first Christian Oba of Lagos. Exactly 3years as predicted, Oba Ibikunle Akintoye joined his ancestors in 1928 succeeded by his cousin, Oba Sanusi Olusi who on record was first Muslim Oba of Lagos just as Ibikunle Akintoye was the first Christian Oba.
During the reign of Sanusi Olusi, he broke the old pagan tradition by attending Muslim praying ground on festival day in 1928, action which created enmity for him from pagan group.
Also, during his reign, he created the relaxation space at the frontage of the palace popularly called Ese-Iga. This formed a meeting/relaxation point for Lagos of the old. Oba Sanusi Olusi was a peace loving Oba because in 1931, when Oba Esugbayi returned from exile, he accepted to leave the throne for him. This humble manner was compensated by the British government as another palace was built for him at Oke Arin, popularly called Iga-Olusi.
Oba Falolu (1932-1949) ascended the throne, but before installation, a crisis ensued on who succeeds the throne as some wanted Sanusi Olusi re-appointed while some opted for a new Oba. This crisis led to the set up of a panel of inquiry comprising 6 traditional chiefs but as 2 chiefs supported Olusi and 4 supported Falolu, Falolu was declared Oba and was installed immediately, but he did not perform Etutu-Ijo (a traditional rite for demise of previous Oba). But when it became an embarrassment, he later complied. Oba Falolu died in 1949 succeeded by Musendiku Adeniji Adele (1949-1964) who was a senior civil servant heading treasury department in Kano. Prior to and during his reign, he had crisis with Dosunmu & Oyekan families who believed the throne was meant for only members of their family, but unfortunately for them, court later ruled that throne is for members of the royal family and not them alone.
Oba Adeniji won in court, but joined his ancestors in 1964 succeeded by Adeyinka Oyekan in 1965. Born in Lagos 30th June 1910, he attended Eko Boys High school, Kings College and school of pharmacy, Yaba (1930-1932) where he obtained diploma in pharmacy. A man imbued with lofty ideas from his youth. During his reign as Oba, he restored lost customs and tradition of the people of Lagos. Oba Adeyinka Oyekan was very honest, kind and very humane. He died @age 93 succeeded by Oba Rilwan Osuolale Aremu Babatunde Akiolu in May 2003. Born October 29, 1943, attended Ansar Ud Deen primary and secondary schools, university of Lagos (studied law) and started his police career as a Cadet Inspector, rose to the position of Assistant Inspector General before he retired in March, 2002 and settled down as a legal practitioner till he was appointed by the gods of the land of Lagos to rule people of EKO ILE (Lagos) in 2003.”
The name “Aisikpahienvoborre” which means “people do not desert their home-land. “This is how Aisikpa, whom the Yoruba now call Ashipa, came into the Lagos (Eko) history. Eko is still there as the traditional Benin name for Lagos; Ashipa has been retained as a senior traditional chieftaincy title while his descendants now retain the modern name of Oba of Lagos.
Until today, the Oba of Lagos is the head of all the Kings in Lagos State and his status is different from other Oba’s most of whom were later given back their crowns and staff of office only within the last 40 years. Those who got their crowns back were the original land owners (Olofin’s children). Modern-day Lagosians have so intermingled that no single tribe or people can claim it even though the predominant language is Yoruba.
The present day Lagos state has a higher percent of this sub-group who allegedly migrated to the area from Isheri along the Ogun river. History has it that the Awori were actually from Ife, the cradle of Yorubaland. The Awori people are a peaceful people initially not taken to warfare. Due to war, those from the hinterlands, ran towards Isheri, which at that time had more than one Olofin (Alafin)who were heads of settlements about 1400AD.
With the fleeing people from the hinterlands most of them scattered again, some to Iro, to Otta, Ado, others to Ebute Metta i.e. three landing places – Oyingbo, Iddo Island and Lagos Island (Eko). The Olofin that brought those who went to Ebute-Metta was Ogunfunminire later known as Agbodere. With the full commencement of the war about 2000 moved to the nearest island of Iddo, others to Otto Awori or Otto Ijanikin towards modern-day Badagry. Those from Ekiti Aramoko came to Ebute-Metta, Iddo and then Ijora.
After the demise of Agbodere, the name Olofin became the name used to remember him while a title of Oloto was given to his successor. With one of his sons becoming the Oloto his other children parted ways to what is known as visible settlements in present-day Lagos.
Until the coming of the Benins, Lagos’s geographic boundary was Lagos Mainland. Lagos Island, the seat of the Oba of Lagos, then consisted of a pepper farm and fishing posts. No one lived there. The name Eko was given to it by its first king, Oba Ado, during its early history; it also saw periods of rule by the Kingdom of Benin.
Eko was the land area now known as Lagos Island where the king’s palace was built. The palace is called Iga Idunganran, meaning “palace built on the pepper farm”. Oba Ado and the warriors from Benin, as well as some of the indigenous people who sought safety, settled down in the southern part of Eko called “Isale Eko”, Isale literally meaning bottom, but must have been used to indicate downtown.