The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has claimed that Lagos State is not part of Yoruba land.

Akiolu’s statement is coming barely a week after he publicly humiliated the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi at an event.

In a statement from Akiolu’s palace, the monarch traced the historical background of the state and why it should not be regarded as part of Yoruba land.

The statement reads: “Coming from the palace, with what I was told by my late paternal grandmother who is a descendant of Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi and also reading from factual Historical books, let me share this Knowledge with you all on Eko/Lagos.

“Modern day Lagos was founded by Prince Ado, the son of the Oba of Benin, Prince Ado was the first Oba of Lagos, the son of the Bini King, Prince Ado, named the town Eko until the Portuguese explorer Ruy de Segueira changed the Maritime town to Lagos, which at that time from 1942 was Portuguese expedition center down the African Coast.

“It was a major centre 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 1886 when the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria was established in 1914 Lagos was declared its capital due to the struggle of the Bini King.

“Lagos experienced growth prior to the British Colonial rule and even more rapid growth during the Colonial rule throughout the 1960s, 70s, continued through the 80s and 90s till date. Thanks to the Awori’s, Bini’s, Yoruba’s, migrants across the nation and world at large, as no particular group of people can take the glory alone.

“Lagos is made up of Lagoons and creeks. The Lagos lagoon, Lagos Harbour, five cowne creeks, Ebute-Metta creeks, Porto-Novo creeks, New canal, Badagry creeks, Kuramo waters and Light house creeks.

“The Awori’s and Bini’s are known to be the first settlers of the Eko land. The Awori’s are speakers of a distinct dialect close to that of the Yoruba language with a rich Bini mixture. Traditionally, Awori’s were found in Ile-Ife, they were known to be the Bini’s who followed their self-exiled Prince, the first son of the Ogiso (now called Oba) of Benin Kingdom, whose step-mother was after his head.

“The exiled Benin Prince Izoduwa known to the Yorubas 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 the today’s Awori people who settled in Eko now called Lagos.

How Ancient Igbos Co-Founded The Obaship Of Lagos

Bookmark and Share
(15-07-2015)

It is a historical reality that Oba Rilwan Akiolu does not know the history of his lineage and Obaship in Lagos State. It is also a truism that everything about the Obaship of Lagos State is the handiwork of strangers. In other words, his stool originated from strangers; likewise himself, who is number one stranger in Lagos State. As a matter of fact, everything about Lagos State came from strangers including the Igbo natives. It is historically indisputable that the ancestors of Igbo natives living in Lagos State had lived and cohabited in the area many years before the founding of the Obaship of Lagos in 1630. They featured prominently in the governance of the Benin Kingdom and slave trade. Others later featured in commerce and Anglo-Christian missions.

As a matter of historical empiricism, the word “Lagos” is a Portuguese name meaning lakes or a group of lagoons. It was given to the area by first Portuguese settlers in now Lagos State. Before the Portuguese settlement, the area was called “Eko” by famous Benin Empire and made a military outpost of the famous Kingdom of Benin. “Eko” means war camp and was used by the Benin Empire’s military expedition tacticians led by Prince Ado for the purpose of slave trade and military expeditions in now Ghana and Benin Republic. The famous Benin Dynasty was divided into Pre-Imperial Obaship 1180-1440 and Benin Empire 1440-1897. While the former started with Oba Eweka Monarchy 1180-1246, the latter started with Oba Ewuare Monarchy 1440-1473.

In the case of now Lagos State, the first people in the area were called the Awori People. In seventeenth century, they begged then Oba of Benin to protect and put them under his dynasty with one of his princes as their king. They promised unalloyed loyalty to the Oba. The Oba of Benin heeded their call and appointed his fiery prince; Prince Ado in 1630 as the first Oba of Lagos then called “Eko” or war camp. In 1861, King Dosumu the Great of this same Lagos State thump-printed and ceded now Nigeria to the British colonialists in the infamous Treaty of Cession. From the crowning of Ado as its first Oba (1630-1669), Lagos (then called Eko) served as a major center for slave-trade, from which then Oba of Benin and all of his successors for over four centuries benefitted - until 1841, when Oba Akitoye ascended to the throne of Lagos and tried to ban slave-trading.

Local merchants strongly opposed the intended move, and deposed and exiled the king, and installed Akitoye's brother Kosoko as Oba. 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. The palace of the Oba of Lagos is also the handiwork of strangers. The palace was constructed by the Portuguese settlers and commissioned in 1705. The palace’s name “Igun Idunganran” is of the Benin descent meaning “palace built on pepper falm”. Interestingly, long before the founding of Obaship of now Lagos by the famous Kingdom of Benin in 1630, Igbo Nation has existed as far back as 9th century with its first Eze Nri crowned around 1043 AD. Its first king was Eze Nri Ifikuanim of Nri Kingdom. As far back as 14th century, the Igbo expedition warriors had fully integrated into the Benin Kingdom as the ruling class.

It is very important to state here that the Benin Kingdom’s decision makers that annexed now Lagos and ruled over it included Igbo ruling class of the Benin Kingdom extraction. Also many centuries before the founding of now Lagos, a part of Igbo ruling class in the Kingdom or Empire of Benin opted out and founded “Onicha Mmili” or “AdoN’ Idu” commonly called “Onitsha”. Onitsha was founded by the Chima Dynasty in around 1500s AD. Today, there are Barbadian Igbos, American Igbos, Saint Dominican Igbos, Maryland Igbos, Liberian Igbos and Igbos of Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, Cuba, to mention but a few. One of the famous Igbo anti slave warriors is called “Bussa” of Barbados. There are also Edward Blyden, an Igbo Americo-Liberian educator, writer and politician; Paul Robeson, American actor and writer, with Igbo parenthood.

Contrary to Oba Rilwan Akiolu’s claims and boast, he does not own Lagos and its people including its elected public office holders. Rather, he is owned by the people of Lagos State including the Igbos living in the State. As a matter of fact, Oba Akiolu Rilwan is the number one stranger in Lagos State. This is more so when the legality and legitimacy of his stool which he ascended in 2003 is still a subject of litigation before a Lagos State High Court at Igbosere. The Oba’s intolerance to due process, rule of law and democratic principles clearly manifested in the referenced court case filed since 2003; whereby he reportedly bottled the case and kept frustrating its hearing and determination for the past eleven years. The case was only opened for hearing in 2014 eleven years after it was filed.
We are therefore not surprised at the despicable and shocking royal disposition of Oba Akiolu. He has only said what has been hatched and being executed against the Igbo Natives and Nation by his likes in the Southwest and other hostile parts of the country. As the serving Assistant Inspector General of Police, before his unceremonious retirement in 2002 with referenced beastly Igbo hatred and xenophobia, only God knows how many innocent Igbo citizens that might have been felled by his bullet extra-judicially. It is possible that the voices and spirits of the murdered are on a revenge mission.

We join other well meaning Nigerians in condemning the Yorean conducts of the stranger Oba of Lagos and urge Igbos living in the State and all over the Southwest not to be perturbed and intimidated. The stranger Oba’s curse is thunderously back to sender and spineless. We dare say that the votes of the Igbo natives are priceless and beyond what money or threats or intimidation can buy or procure.

The Igbos votes are their amulets and bullet proof vests against their oppressors and witch-hunters. We dare say and direct that on Saturday, Igbos of Lagos and other Southwest residency should troop out en-masse and vote for the gubernatorial and State legislative candidates of their choice and conscience and nothing will happen.

We wish to roundly and resoundingly commend the citizens who exposed this 21st century cannibalistic and barbarous royal conduct of the stranger Oba. The ball is now in the court of the security agencies in Nigeria as well as the National Human Rights Commission and other local and foreign rights bodies and missions. The conduct of the Oba under reference is big a slap on the faces of the Nigeria Police Force where he served as AIG; the Nigerian Bar Association, where he is a member; the University of Lagos, where he graduated as a lawyer and the Lagos and the Southwest Traditional Rulers Council where he is a leading member. Oba Rilwan Akiolu is a huge disappointment to Nigerian Traditional Rulers institution and a quick reminder of cannibalistic conducts of the Saladin of Egypt who ate human fresh during Christian crusades against Muslims in 12th and 13th centuries. The Oba’s raw partisanship instead of the opposite is also shocking and deafening. It is our call that he should be dethroned and made to surrender his staff and certificate of office. He should be arrested, investigated and tried for hate speech and threatened group violence against innocent citizens living in Lagos State of Nigeria.

Lagos Not Part Of Yorubaland – Oba Akiolu
Oba Rilwan Akiolu
The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has claimed that Lagos State is not part of Yoruba land.

Akiolu’s statement is coming barely a week after he publicly humiliated the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi at an event.

In a statement from Akiolu’s palace, the monarch traced the historical background of the state and why it should not be regarded as part of Yoruba land.

The statement reads: “Coming from the palace, with what I was told by my late paternal grandmother who is a descendant of Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi and also reading from factual Historical books, let me share this Knowledge with you all on Eko/Lagos.

“Modern day Lagos was founded by Prince Ado, the son of the Oba of Benin, Prince Ado was the first Oba of Lagos, the son of the Bini King, Prince Ado, named the town Eko until the Portuguese explorer Ruy de Segueira changed the Maritime town to Lagos, which at that time from 1942 was Portuguese expedition center down the African Coast.

“It was a major centre 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 1886 when the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria was established in 1914 Lagos was declared its capital due to the struggle of the Bini King.

“Lagos experienced growth prior to the British Colonial rule and even more rapid growth during the Colonial rule throughout the 1960s, 70s, continued through the 80s and 90s till date. Thanks to the Awori’s, Bini’s, Yoruba’s, migrants across the nation and world at large, as no particular group of people can take the glory alone.

“Lagos is made up of Lagoons and creeks. The Lagos lagoon, Lagos Harbour, five cowne creeks, Ebute-Metta creeks, Porto-Novo creeks, New canal, Badagry creeks, Kuramo waters and Light house creeks.”

iLoveConductor:

iLoveConductor:

iLoveConductor:

iLoveConductor:

iLoveConductor:

Youngzedd:
I commento ma reservo.

I learnt something today.

The palace of the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, has reacted to the humiliating treatment meted out to him by the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, at a public function in Lagos on Tuesday.
A video of the incident which went virile on social media showed the Lagos monarch refusing to shake hands with the Ooni, who arrived the venue of the event while guests were already seated.
The Ooni, on entering the hall, went straight to greet traditional rulers, but Oba Akiolu shunned him and with a wave of the hand, gestured his rejection of the Ooni’s greetings.
The Ooni however, took the incident with calm and took his seat on the same roll where the traditional ruler was seated.
Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES on the development, the Head of Palace Directorate of Tourism, Awoyemi Tunde, said the Ooni of Ife was not losing sleep over the issue.
“It is not a slap on the Ooni of Ife but rather a slap on the Oba of Lagos,” he said. “The stool of Oba of Lagos was founded by Olofin Ogunfunminire and the Ooni of Ife is the Oba of Yoruba land.
“The Oba of Lagos has to come to terms with the fact that Ooni is the royal father of Yoruba land, it is necessary that all persons come together to unite Yoruba land but really the issue at the event is very condemnable”.
Mr. Tunde also said that the Oba of Lagos risked the wrath of the ‘Alale'(Ancestors), as a result of his disrespect for the superior monarch.
“God gave Ooni of Ife Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, Ojaja II, the mandate to unite the Yoruba land and nothing will stop him from doing that,” he added.
According to Mr. Tunde, reactions from different Yoruba communities would continue to pour in to denounce the action of the Lagos monarch.
“If we don’t receive an apology especially with the image of Ile-Ife, we will call on the ancestors on the issue,” he said.

madridguy:
Funny OP derailing thread.

iLoveConductor:


http://dailypost.ng/2017/05/03/lagos-not-belong-yorubas-oba-akiolu/
https://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/cover/why-oba-akiolu-of-lagos-greeted-ooni-the-lagos-way/
https://www.naij.com/1102404-oba-akiolu-reportedly-lagos-belong-yorubas.html
http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/231615-ex-minister-identifies-original-lagosians-says-oba-of-lagos-obanikoro-from-bini.html
https://guardian.ng/sunday-magazine/lagos-oba-traces-origin-to-benin/
http://www.edoworld.net/How_Ancient_Igbos_CoFounded_The_Obaship_Of_Lagos.html
https://www.nairaland.com/3775472/explosive-lagos-not-yoruba-land
http://dailypost.ng/2017/05/03/lagos-not-belong-yorubas-oba-akiolu/


Osobo migrants, for the last time, stop calling Lagos a no man's land.

GREAT BENIN ORIGIN OF ONITSHA


BENIN ROOT OF ONITSHA
  Many of our traditional titles are the same with the Edos/Binis: Onicha titles like “Iyasele” is “Iyasere” in Bini; “Ogene Onira” is “Oliha” in Benin; “Odu Osodi” is “Osodin” in Benin; “Omodi Daike” in Onitsha is “Edaiken” in Benin; “Esagba” in Onitsha is “Esogban” in Benin; the “Isama” titles are the same in both towns amongst many others. The “Obi” of modern Onitsha today is the continuation of the ancient Pharonic dynasty of ancient Kemet or Egypt. Onitsha must retrace the history of her monarchs from his imperial Majesty Obi Achebe back to the Ogiso Kings of Igodomigodo in Edo, then to Egypt; to Pharoah Tutankhamon, Pharoah Amenemhet, Pharoah Amenemes, Pharoah Amenkhuti Ra; Pharoah Khafara, and back to the first dynasty in Egypt. Enough of this tracing of our kingship to just Obi Oreze or his father Ohime(corrupted to “Chima”) by his later descendants. Onicha people came from Benin or Edo land, they were also in Igbo land. I suspect that the Priests of Nri were distantly connected, that is why till date an Nri King upon consecration must bring certain sacrifial items to the Obi of Onicha and must sleep over in Onicha before assuming the Nri throne. Why would the very traditional Nri people who were(and still are) known all over the Igbo land as a holy people and the spiritual custodian of all Igbo lands, accord these rights to Onicha Kings? All these indicate that Onicha and many other tribes had had prior interactions and established certain traditional precedence which had been ongoing before the Onicha town was founded just around 700 hundred years ago. No Nri man would just concede to subject his divine King to some unknown immigrants who just crossed over from the Niger River, if that were to be the case.

authoritatively portray the following facts that the Ikelike people from the Bini kingdom were the first to settle in Ogwashi-Uku (see Ben Nwabua, Ogwash-uku Kingdom, 1000 Years of Traditional Democracy and Cultural Life, 950-1914). Both traditional and empirical sources gives credence that Ikelike people were the first set of immigrants to settle in the present Ogwashi-Uku as against the notion that Adaigbo who purportedly came from Nri in present Anambra State today is the founder of Ogwashi-Uku. So far, no counter claim has been made on this. According to Ogwashi-Uku intelligence report by Mr. J.E Hull, the then Assistant District Officer dated on the 9th of April 1936, the Ikelike people from all indications migrated from Benin to settle where they are found themselves today, because of a reign of wanton persecution of subjects by the then Benin Monarch, Oba Eweka 11. The story further goes that at the head was Odigie Ikelike with his younger brother Ado who later founded Adonta, a relatively small village close to Azungwu in Ogwashi-uku today.

The Ikelike migrants were said to be politically averse and could not, therefore evolve an orderly method of governance even though there were small in number. Jull`s report further went on to point out that because of such indisposition towards an effective means of governing themselves, it cost them the political leadership they were first to settle in. Rather, Adaigbo, the prince from Nri later came, controlled the situation and imposed leadership based on Igbo customs and tradition on them and what later became Ogwshi-Uku kingdom. Adaigbo’s imposed of republican system, however, later gave way to the hereditary system of the Benins . BENIN EMIGRATION OR EXODUS: The migration of Onicha people from Benin happened in phases over many years and did not happen once. The Ohime/Obi Ezechima’s exodus was one of the last ones that occurred but it should be noted that not all Onicha people left with Obi Eze Chima or Ohime. Some stayed back and are still in Benin today. Some took a different migrationary route towards Ile Ife and Ado Ekiti. Some went to establish Ondo. Some made a northern migrational journey towards the north to establish the Igala Kingdom.The Attah of Igala and a substantial part of the Igala kingdom were Onicha people who immigrated into Igala from Benin. The first Attah of Igala was a Prince of the Edo/Benin Kingdom. Now it can be understood why the Onicha people were ferried across the Niger and greatly assisted by their Igala kinsmen when they reached the banks of the Niger river. It can also be understood why Onicha people easily incorporated many Igala rituals and traditions into their own concepts. They were of the same roots but different branches. Onicha people left Benin to establish Igala; that was the secret behind the easy adoption of and exchange of different tenets amongst Onicha and Igala people. Some Onicha people, before Eze Chima’s exodus, had left Benin to establish other towns like Issele Ukwu, Ebu, Kwale, Ezzi, Onicha-Ukwu, Okpanam, Asaba(originally called “Araba”) and some other towns of Benin orientation that had been established before the Ezechima’s exodus from Benin.. It was these settlements that habored Obi Ohime/Ezechima when he and his family fled from Benin. The migration from Benin to Onicha Mmili took many years, towns of Onicha-Olona and Onicha-Ugbo were established by Onicha people who felt reluctant to continue and follow Obi Ohime to Onicha-mmili. ESTABLISHMENT OF ONICHA-MMILI AND HER RULING DYNASTY: Obi Ohime or Eze Chima, having been told that he could not enter Onicha, stayed for a long time in Obio with his family and relatives before he died. After he died, his relatives decided to continue with their migration to establish Onicha. The qualification for whom shall be crowned king was conditioned upon who shall sound ancient rhythms on a wooden Ufie. Traditionally, Ufie cannot be owned or be sounded/beaten by a person whose father is still alive. The contestants to the throne having just lost their father, had no ufie, however, Oreze Obi, had carved one which he hid under the boat and sounded first upon getting to Onicha whilst his siblings were busy looking for the appropriate wood to cut for the Ufie.

Markfemi2:
Onitsha is also no mans land founded by Benin

GREAT BENIN ORIGIN OF ONITSHA


BENIN ROOT OF ONITSHA
  Many of our traditional titles are the same with the Edos/Binis: Onicha titles like “Iyasele” is “Iyasere” in Bini; “Ogene Onira” is “Oliha” in Benin; “Odu Osodi” is “Osodin” in Benin; “Omodi Daike” in Onitsha is “Edaiken” in Benin; “Esagba” in Onitsha is “Esogban” in Benin; the “Isama” titles are the same in both towns amongst many others. The “Obi” of modern Onitsha today is the continuation of the ancient Pharonic dynasty of ancient Kemet or Egypt. Onitsha must retrace the history of her monarchs from his imperial Majesty Obi Achebe back to the Ogiso Kings of Igodomigodo in Edo, then to Egypt; to Pharoah Tutankhamon, Pharoah Amenemhet, Pharoah Amenemes, Pharoah Amenkhuti Ra; Pharoah Khafara, and back to the first dynasty in Egypt. Enough of this tracing of our kingship to just Obi Oreze or his father Ohime(corrupted to “Chima”) by his later descendants. Onicha people came from Benin or Edo land, they were also in Igbo land. I suspect that the Priests of Nri were distantly connected, that is why till date an Nri King upon consecration must bring certain sacrifial items to the Obi of Onicha and must sleep over in Onicha before assuming the Nri throne. Why would the very traditional Nri people who were(and still are) known all over the Igbo land as a holy people and the spiritual custodian of all Igbo lands, accord these rights to Onicha Kings? All these indicate that Onicha and many other tribes had had prior interactions and established certain traditional precedence which had been ongoing before the Onicha town was founded just around 700 hundred years ago. No Nri man would just concede to subject his divine King to some unknown immigrants who just crossed over from the Niger River, if that were to be the case.

authoritatively portray the following facts that the Ikelike people from the Bini kingdom were the first to settle in Ogwashi-Uku (see Ben Nwabua, Ogwash-uku Kingdom, 1000 Years of Traditional Democracy and Cultural Life, 950-1914). Both traditional and empirical sources gives credence that Ikelike people were the first set of immigrants to settle in the present Ogwashi-Uku as against the notion that Adaigbo who purportedly came from Nri in present Anambra State today is the founder of Ogwashi-Uku. So far, no counter claim has been made on this. According to Ogwashi-Uku intelligence report by Mr. J.E Hull, the then Assistant District Officer dated on the 9th of April 1936, the Ikelike people from all indications migrated from Benin to settle where they are found themselves today, because of a reign of wanton persecution of subjects by the then Benin Monarch, Oba Eweka 11. The story further goes that at the head was Odigie Ikelike with his younger brother Ado who later founded Adonta, a relatively small village close to Azungwu in Ogwashi-uku today.

The Ikelike migrants were said to be politically averse and could not, therefore evolve an orderly method of governance even though there were small in number. Jull`s report further went on to point out that because of such indisposition towards an effective means of governing themselves, it cost them the political leadership they were first to settle in. Rather, Adaigbo, the prince from Nri later came, controlled the situation and imposed leadership based on Igbo customs and tradition on them and what later became Ogwshi-Uku kingdom. Adaigbo’s imposed of republican system, however, later gave way to the hereditary system of the Benins . BENIN EMIGRATION OR EXODUS: The migration of Onicha people from Benin happened in phases over many years and did not happen once. The Ohime/Obi Ezechima’s exodus was one of the last ones that occurred but it should be noted that not all Onicha people left with Obi Eze Chima or Ohime. Some stayed back and are still in Benin today. Some took a different migrationary route towards Ile Ife and Ado Ekiti. Some went to establish Ondo. Some made a northern migrational journey towards the north to establish the Igala Kingdom.The Attah of Igala and a substantial part of the Igala kingdom were Onicha people who immigrated into Igala from Benin. The first Attah of Igala was a Prince of the Edo/Benin Kingdom. Now it can be understood why the Onicha people were ferried across the Niger and greatly assisted by their Igala kinsmen when they reached the banks of the Niger river. It can also be understood why Onicha people easily incorporated many Igala rituals and traditions into their own concepts. They were of the same roots but different branches. Onicha people left Benin to establish Igala; that was the secret behind the easy adoption of and exchange of different tenets amongst Onicha and Igala people. Some Onicha people, before Eze Chima’s exodus, had left Benin to establish other towns like Issele Ukwu, Ebu, Kwale, Ezzi, Onicha-Ukwu, Okpanam, Asaba(originally called “Araba”) and some other towns of Benin orientation that had been established before the Ezechima’s exodus from Benin.. It was these settlements that habored Obi Ohime/Ezechima when he and his family fled from Benin. The migration from Benin to Onicha Mmili took many years, towns of Onicha-Olona and Onicha-Ugbo were established by Onicha people who felt reluctant to continue and follow Obi Ohime to Onicha-mmili. ESTABLISHMENT OF ONICHA-MMILI AND HER RULING DYNASTY: Obi Ohime or Eze Chima, having been told that he could not enter Onicha, stayed for a long time in Obio with his family and relatives before he died. After he died, his relatives decided to continue with their migration to establish Onicha. The qualification for whom shall be crowned king was conditioned upon who shall sound ancient rhythms on a wooden Ufie. Traditionally, Ufie cannot be owned or be sounded/beaten by a person whose father is still alive. The contestants to the throne having just lost their father, had no ufie, however, Oreze Obi, had carved one which he hid under the boat and sounded first upon getting to Onicha whilst his siblings were busy looking for the appropriate wood to cut for the Ufie.

https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2017/04/28/why-oba-of-lagos-snubbing-ooni-of-ife-shocked-nigeria/
Why Oba of Lagos ‘Snubbing’ Ooni of Ife Shocked Nigeria
April 28, 201717325 24

Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu
12
Deep respect for leaders is a pillar of the culture of the Yoruba people, one of Nigeria’s biggest ethnic groups.

But at a recent public event, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, 74, refused to properly greet the Ooni of Ife, Adeyeye Ogunwusi, 42.

As the Ooni leaned over to greet the Oba by shaking his hand, what he got instead was a dismissive wave and what looked like a scowl of disdain.

It’s quite unheard of for traditional leaders to rebuff each other in public. And for a lesser leader, like the Oba of Lagos, to rebuff the Ooni of Ife, the spiritual head of all Yoruba people, is an even graver offence.

Though there are various interpretations by historians and scholars on the origins of Yoruba people, the Ooni of Ife is widely acknowledged as the overall leader and is known as the “king of kings”.

The Oba – of which there are up to 50 in Lagos alone – is seen to be a lesser traditional ruler, even though he is older.

It is not clear yet what upset the Oba of Lagos. But there is speculation it could relate to a spat that goes back over a century.

A long rivalry existed between the two thrones even before the colonial era.

The ancestors of the Oba of Lagos were loyal to the powerful Benin kingdom, an area south-east of Lagos rather than the Ooni to the north-east.

But on independence, the country was divided into different political zones. Lagos fell into roughly the same zone as the Ooni of Ife.

In Nigeria, greetings are all-important – from the roadside to the boardroom, how you say hello says a lot about you.

So when the video of the disdainful greeting emerged, Nigerian social media were stunned.

But as many people have pointed out, the traditional rites of Nigeria’s ancient cultures are complicated. And with relatively little history preserved in writing, the lines can be blurred.

Others reacted by pointing out that such an incident could have had far more serious consequences in the past.

The general feeling on social media seems to be that the Oba of Lagos showed disrespect not only for the Ooni of Ife but to Yoruba culture as a whole. Most people are watching to see what happens next.

The Oba is not a stranger to controversy.

In the run-up to the 2015 national election, a video surfaced on the internet in which he threatened ethnic Igbos living in Lagos that if they didn’t vote for his candidate, they would be thrown “into the lagoon”.

Of course, the slight could be the result of a personal gripe.

Others have suggested the age difference between the lesser yet older traditional ruler may have played a hand.

Nevertheless, it holds a deeper significance.

iLoveConductor:
Please please please, Obomoso migrants, stop calling Lagos a no man's land. Once that Obomoso bus carries you past Ogun State and you see that "welcome to Lagos," kindly respect the Royal Oba of Lagos. Respect your Benin benefactor and your Igbo landlords. Thanks.

iLoveConductor:
[s][/s]
We've heard. The whole Southeast is founded by Cameroon but please stop calling Lagos a no man's land.

Respect the Oba of Benin sorry Lagos. Respect your Benin hosts and your Igbo landlord.

Now, shut up and get out.

madridguy:
Oba Rilwan Akiolu a.k.a Lil Wayne too don discover Ipork miscreants MUMU BUTTON

iLoveConductor:
[s][/s]
We've heard. The whole Southeast is founded by Cameroon but please stop calling Lagos a no man's land.

Respect the Oba of Benin sorry Lagos. Respect your Benin hosts and your Igbo landlord.

Now, shut up and get out.

vanbonattel:


I nearly choked on my Hennessey

YORUBA CORRUPT HISTORY OF LAGOS
Posted by Otedo News Update on May 4, 2017 at 5:55pm in Useful infoView Discussions
OBA OF LAGOS: AN OLU, NOT AN OBA – A YORUBA STATE; A BINI COLONY LATER AN ISEKIRI COLONY: REPLY TO MONOYO EDON. Refer to www.globalpeacearithmetic..com for more
Introduction
We are all Yoruba: Ife, Isekiri, Awori. The Bini are not Yoruba, but are highly indebted to Yoruba culture. Twice has the Oba of Lagos goofed in a period of one week .First, he snubbed the Oonirisa, who was standing for Oodua – the father of Yoruba monarchical system – now he is saying Lagos is not Yoruba territory.
IN THE BEGINNING
Some time far forgotten in human memory, the founder of Lagos, Ogunfuminire left Ife-Oodaye to settle by the Coast. The place he settled is today called Lagos or Eko. Eko was a pure Yoruba territory (Johnson history of the Yoruba; Ife cradle of the Yoruba Race; the Ifa Oracle System and many other historians and traditionalists know about this story. Wande Abimbola, Obayemi Ade and a host of Yoruba historians know about this.
ABUSE OF THE WORD OBA IN PRESENT YORUBA SOCIOLOGY AND THE ARROGANCE OF ‘OBA” OF LAGOS
Oba of Lagos is not an Oba and he knows it. He is an Olu. What is the difference? Obas are the first generation kings who are direct descendants of Oduduwa. They are only sixteen who can claim to be Obas – the Oonirisa – the Alaiyeluwa, who alone is the soul of Oodua Oramfe; the Alafin of Oyo, the Olu Iwo of Iwo etc. Oba of Lagos is an Olu. Who is an Olu? The Olus are the second generation kingdoms in Yoruba land. The first sixteen Obas gave birth to the Olus. For example, the Oba of Lagos dynasty was birthed by the Oba of Benin who was a first generation Yoruba king, although he is ruling over non-Yoruba Edo people. Oba of Lagos came into being in 1601 during the reign of Oba Orogbua of Benin (Egharevba 1948), before then, the descendants of Ogunfuminire were ruling. Olu of Warri is an Olu; his dynasty was birthed in 1480AD during the reign of Oba Olua of Benin, before then the Okotumu people were ruling(Pessu 2013). Of the sixteen children, these are the most senior – Olowu of Owu, Alaketu of Ketu, the king of Orangun,Onisabe of Sabe, Onipopo of Popo, Alaafin of Oyo, Oba of Benin. These kings occupy a territory from Nigeria. Benin, and Togo, Some kings who are not Yoruba at all qualify to be called Olu. Some of these are – Obi of Onitsha, son of Oba of Benin, Obi of Aboh, son of Oba of Benin, the king of Accra who came from Isekiri (www.globalpeacearithmetic..com). Since these kings are descended from Oba of Benin they are technically Olus, just like the Oba of Lagos.

HISTORY LESSON:

THE GREAT EDO NATION
EDO, is what you can describe as the “generic name given to a group of people who have a common ancestor and have a common language, with some different variants, depending on the distance between the group and the “tap root,” resident in and around the present day Benin City. In short, the land, the political state, the people, tribe, language and the principal city – Benin City is called EDO.

At a point in the history of these people, another name called BENIN came into use. These Edo-speaking people are divided into the following clans today:

a) “BINI” derived from the word Benin for people living in and around Benin City, in Edo State. People living in and around Benin City, are gradually accepting the word BINI, as descriptive of their clan. Otherwise, they prefer to be simply called EDO.

b) ESAN/Ishan-for the immediate neighbor to the north are people living in around Irrua, Orhodua, Uromi, Ubiaja, Ewu, Ewatto, Igueben and the almighty Evbohimwin (Ewohimi))” the city by the big river” or “the city of Ikhimwin trees” etc.

c) The Afemais known as IVBIOSAKON by those living in and around Benin City to the north of Ishan/Esan clan.

d) Akoko-Edos based in Igarra, Ibillo and its environs to the north of Afemais.

e) The Owans-ORAS occupying Eme, Sabogida-Ora, Afuze, etc. Uhobe (SOBE) and Ifon in Ondo State.

f) Ekas-to East of Benin. A sizeable chunk of the Edo speaking people flow across River Niger and ending at ONITSHA.

g) Isoko, Urhobo, Itsekiris and about 70% percent of western Izon (Ijaws) in Ndegeni and its environs

h) A sizeable chunk of the Edos is found in River States and Balyesa States e.g. Ogba land and Diobu, Port Harcourt.

i) A sizeable chunk has been” Yorubanised in Ondo, Ekiti, Lagos and Ogun States. The descendants of Edo soldiers stationed in Akure are referred to today as ADO-AKURE (Edo ne kue) There are many Edos in Ekiti land, Idoani, Idanre etc going through life in Nigeria with Yoruba names. Acculturation has taken place. You are either a Yoruba man or you go nowhere.

j) The ILAJE community at OKITIPUPA and its environs.

k) The Edos who conquered and settled far way land like Dahomey, Togo and Ghana.

The Edo language is part of the Kwa-Niger group of languages according to Linguist. These people have lived were they are now for ” Thousands of years.” The monarchy centered in Benin City is about 6000 years old, including pre-ogiso and Ogiso era of history. All the clans had various functions, which they perform at the palace. For example, the Ishans/Esans were principally the medicine men and warriors of the ancient empire. They were the medical practitioners. The chieftancy groups responsible for the Oba’s well being are dominated by Ishan/Esan descendants. The Ivbiosakon (Afemais) were the dental surgeon of the palace. That is the origin of the name IVBIOSAKON. Oba Esigie assigned that function to them in the c1500’s.

The Owan/Ora people were the propitiators of the physical earth for the Oba of Benin. It was their responsibility to prevent things like earthquake, hurricanes, tornadoes, volcanoes and anything associated with geological disturbance to occur in Benin. In short, they were the geologists and weathermen of their day, forecasting and preventing physical calamities. Those we call BINIS today, were the traditional bureaucratic administrators and military generals.

The Izons (Ijaws) were the ” OZIGUE” -SAILORS The Ekas were farmers. They were in charge of the royal farms.

The Ibos across the Niger call the Edos, IDU, the name of the progenitor of Edo race, the Yorubas call us ADO, which is a corruption of the word EDO. However, the Itsekiris, another sub group in the Edo clans call us UBINI. Tradition asserts that it is derived from ILE-IBINU, which is descriptive of the exasperation and frustration encountered in Benin City, by Prince Oranmiyan of ILE-IFE. A further research may prove that, it was the Itsekiris who gave that name, to the people living in and around Benin City. The Itsekiris told the white man of the powerful overlord living in Igodomigodo. It was the Itsekiris who told the Whiteman that the name of the tribe of this powerful king was UBINI- a term which Whiteman corruptly wrote down as Benin. For example, the name of the eldest daughter of Oba Osewende, the mother of the OSULAS and the AIWERIOGHENES is today known as AGHAYUBINI. A closer examination of that name would reveal that the name is an Itsekhiri phrase-” The Ubini Lady or woman ” i.e. the woman from Benin.

Aghayubini was a very wealthy trader among the Itsekiris, from whence she got the money she used, is getting the throne for her brother, who became Oba ADOLO. An Itsekhiri descriptive phrase has simply over powered her original Edo name, to the extent that nobody knows anything about it now.

The ancient Edo/Benin Empire covered the whole of Bendel, parts of Bayelsa State and I repeat Balyesa State. The second son of the Enogie of Brass, popularly known as IYASE NE OHENMWEN became the Iyase of Benin under Oba Osewende. Iyase Ohenmwen is the ancestor of the OTOKITIS, THE OKEAYA-INNEH AND THE AIWERIOGHENES of Benin today. It also covers the IGBO-speaking areas of Delta State stretching to Onitsha. People hardly know that the actual title of the Obi of Onitsha is AIGBOGHIDI. The historical Chief Agho Obaseki of Oba Ovoranmwen era and later the Iyase of Benin under Oba Eweka II, was a descendant of the second son of Enogie of NSUKWA now in Delta State. It extended to the whole of Ondo State, parts of Ekiti and Ogun State and the whole of Lagos State including BADAGRY. It stretched to southern Dahomey (Republic of Benin) and on to the coast of Togo and Ghana.
THE OWANS /ORAS:

Oba Ozolua is traditionally regarded as the ancestor of the Owans/Ora. He was known as Prince Okpame before he became known as Oba Ozolua. He had sought refuge in Uwokha in Ivbiosakon areas in c1473. From Uwokha, Oba Ozolua founded Ora and other villages. Oba Ozolua was a warlord. He beat the people of Uzea near Uromi to a pulp when there was a revolt. He extended his carnage to Uromi when the Enogie was reported to have been rude to his messengers. He went up through Akoko land, wandering into Nupe lands where he acquired a lot of sophisticated weaponry then. He attacked the Igallas and Igbirras in the present Kogi and Kwarra states. After spending the greater part of his life in ORA, he left behind his son UGUAN and returned to Benin City.

But before he left, he proclaimed everybody free men and free women, entitled to enjoy the privileges of Edo princes and Princesses, for all the services they had rendered in his military campaigns. That is why the Oras call themselves today, the CHILDREN OF OZOLUA. Besides being in charge of propitiating the physical earth, they are responsible for ritually exorcising any harm that might come upon the EDO NATION-the land due to
violation of sexual or other taboos. Their GUILD, quartered at EVBORHAN quarter in OGBELAKA in Benin City by Oba Esigie, demands steep fines from the culprits for their services.

A few years ago, the Oba of Benin created an Ogie-Duke-traditional rulership for the Oras because of popular demand.
Iyi Eweka.

NGR News blog is for every happenings from Nigeria and interesting facts around the world. For your news alerts,

Coming from the palace, with what I was told by my late paternal grandmother who is a descendant of Oba Ovonramwen Nogbaisi. Also reading from factual Historical books.

Let me share this Knowledge with you all on Eko/Lagos.

Modern-day Lagos was founded by Prince Ado, the son of the Oba of Benin, Prince Ado was the First Oba of Lagos, the son of the Bini King, Prince Ado, named the town Eko until the Portuguese explorer Ruy de Sequeira changed the Maritime town to Lagos, which at that time from 1942 was Portuguese expedition center down the African Coast.

It was a major centre 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 1886 when the Colony and Protectorate of Nigeria were established in 1914 Lagos was declared its Capital due to the struggle of the Bini King.

Lagos experienced growth pro to the British Colonial rule and even more rapid growth during the Colonial rule throughout the 1960s, 70s, continued through the 80s and 90s till date. Thanks to the Awori’s, Bini’s, Yoruba’s, migrants across the Nation and the world at large, as no particular group of people can take the Glory alone.

Lagos is made up of Lagoons and creeks. The Lagos lagoon, Lagos Harbour, five known creeks. Ebute-Metta creeks, Porto-Novo creeks, New canal, Badagry creeks, Kuramo waters and Lighthouse creeks.

The Awori’s and Bini’s are known to be the first settlers of the Eko Land. The Awori’s are speakers of a distinct dialect close to that of the Yoruba Language with a rich Bini mixture. Traditionally, Awori’s were found in Ile-Ife, they were known to be the Bini’s who followed their self-exiled Prince, the first son of the Ogiso (now called Oba) of the Benin Kingdom, whose Step-Mother was after his head.
The Exiled Benin Prince Izoduwa known to the Yoruba’s as Ooduwa (Oduduwa) was made the 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 the today’s Awori people who settled in Eko now called Lagos.

In 1300, the King of Benin-Empire heard from one of his traders who was a settler in Eko on how the Bini’s were treated by the Awori’s who lived in their area. Upon hearing this the King of Benin commanded the assembling of a War expedition, lead by his Son Prince Ado, which headed the settlement of the Awori’s and demanded and explanation.

On arriving Eko, Prince Ado and his Army were more than received. The Awori’s 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.
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 slave trade from which the Awori’s, 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 head of the Benin-Empire which are present day Western, Southern and Eastern modern- day Nigeria.
The King never obliged 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 by the First King of Lagos Oba Ado, the young and vibrant Prince from Benin. Eko was the Land now known as Lagos Island, where the king Palace was built. The palace is called IDUNGARAN meaning “palace built on pepper farm” Oba Ado and the Warriors from Benin together with the early Bini’s settlers in Eko and the Awori people settled in the Southern part of Eko called “Isale Eko”. “Isale literally means bottom “. Must have been used to indicate downtown (as in downtown Lagos)

Until the coming in of the Benin’s 1300AD, 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 Yoruba’s 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 Awori’s and Bini’s. (Hence Yorubas claim to own Eko due to their numbers).

Oba Ado fell in love with a beautiful woman whose father was Awori and mother a daughter to one of the chiefs, they had two sons and also a daughter Erelu Kuti, who begat Ologun Kutere who later became King.

Oba Akintoye descendant of Prince Ado whose mother was the First Queen from Awori ascended the throne as Oba of Lagos in 1841, he attempted to ban slave trade with the help of the British, but the local merchant, the Aworis, Binis and a few Yorubas who was already integrated and married to Aworis and Binis strongly opposed the intended move and deposed and exiled the King and installed Akintoye’s brother Kosoko as Oba. In exile in Europe, Akintoye met with British authorities who had earlier banned slavery in 1807 and the British decided to support the deposed Oba to regain his throne.
With the success of the British intervention in 1851, Akintoye was reinstalled as Oba of Lagos. In practical terms, however, the British influence over the Benin Empire had become absolute, then years later in 1861 Lagos was formally annexed as a British colony. This led to the fight of the British and the Bini King, the leader of the Benin empire for years, which finally led to the fall of the empire and the capturing of Oba Ovonramwen.
Oba Akintoye of Lagos was the first Oba not to be buried in Benin. Prior to this all the kings of Lagos were buried in Benin. They passed on taxes to the Oba of Benin until the British settled in Lagos.
Until today, the Oba of Lagos is the head of all the Obas in Lagos because the Binis believe that whatever they or their offsprings are they are senior.The status of the Oba of Lagos is different from other Obas most of whom were given back their crowns and staff of office only within 40 years ago.
Those who got their lands back was the original land owners, and they were mostly descendants of Prince Ado and other children of Olofin.
http://www.twitter.com/RNNetwork1