Who Founded Lagos? Oba Of Benin’s Claim Sparks New Controversy
The Oba of Benin, Ewuare II Who Truly founded Lagos: Yoruba or Binis? Oba of Benin’s claim Sparks fresh controversy.
In a recent statement by the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, asserting that the Binis founded Lagos State, social media has become a battleground of opinions.
During his visit to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday, the monarch stated, “It is in the history books that the Binis founded Lagos.
When some people will 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, was founded by my ancestors.
The Oba of Lagos will say so.”
This declaration ignited a flurry of reactions from notable personalities and netizens on social media, with diverse views on the matter.
One dissenting voice was that of Lagos Chief, the Balogun of Eko, Abisoye Oshodi, who disagreed with the monarch’s claim, stating, “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 distortion of our history in the South West will never cease to amaze me. What is the sin of South-westerners that make some tribes want to revise our history? Maybe we just have to revisit our liberalism. The same way some Itsekiri warriors settled in Epe was the same way some Benin warriors settled in Isale Eko of Lagos Island.”
Adding to the dialogue, a user named B0lutife criticized the Yorubas, saying, “You ridiculed our traditional leaders before and during the election.
The Ooni of Ife and Oba of Lagos were your regular punching bags but small ‘clearance’ by the Yorubas when your Oba misyarned on Lagos history, you are threatening us with curses.”
Addressing the heated discussions, another user, OgbeniDipo, urged netizens to control their emotions, moderate their language, and disagree in a civil manner.
This caution comes as the age-old controversy surrounding the founders of Lagos State continues to provoke debate among the Yorubas and the Binis.
In 2019, a prominent Lagos Prince, Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi, claimed that the Binis were the first settlers in Lagos, asserting that Lagos was part of the Bini Empire.
This perspective countered claims made by Chief Musiliu Anibaba, who asserted that the Aworis were the first persons to settle in Lagos.
The debate persists, and the historical discourse surrounding the foundation of Lagos remains a hot topic in social conversations.
