The controversial Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu has claimed that Lagos state is not a part of Yoruba land.
Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu
The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has claimed that Lagos State is not part of Yoruba land, according to a report by Daily Post.
Daily
Post reported that the Oba made the statement from his palace while
tracing the historical background of the state and why it should not be
regarded as part of Yoruba land.
This comes after heated debate on social media following the release of a video showing the Oba disgracing the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi at an event.
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.”