Abisoye Oshodi, the Balogun of Eko, has contested the claim made by Oba Ewuare II, the Oba of Benin, regarding the founding of Lagos.
During his visit to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in Lagos State on Sunday, the monarch asserted, ‘’It is in the history books that the Binis founded Lagos. When some people hear it now, they will go haywire, what is the Oba saying there again? But it is true. Go and check the records. Maybe not all over Lagos as we know it now but certain areas in Lagos, maybe the nucleus of Lagos, were founded by my ancestors. The Oba of Lagos will say so.”
In response to the monarch’s statement, Oshodi expressed in a video shared online on Tuesday that the claim made by the monarch was inaccurate.
He said, “With all due respect to the Oba of Benin, Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Ewuare II, Sir may you live long.
“Point of correction Sir, Lagos was never founded by the Binis. I am glad that you said some parts of Lagos, not the entire Lagos. You are right, your ancestors settled on a small Island that was called Eko then, before the creation of Lagos. On this very Island, they never created it.
“The Island had been then before the arrival of your ancestors. Your ancestors only came and forcefully imposed a taxation system on transit with the traders on the land called Idu Ighoran whatever that means in Benin I do not know, but there has been other tribes on the Island before the creation of Lagos. Even before the creation of Eko.’
“We have the Awori’s, we have the Isheri’s, we have the Olofin’s, so many tribes have been on Lagos, or the modern Lagos now before the creation of Lagos State.”
The monarch’s comment has since sparked debate on social media.
