HISTORY OF EKO (LAGOS) NIGERIA

"Ambode is from ondo state,Tinubu from Osun state, The Aworis are from Ife so why should they be claiming what's not their own? From history it was the Benin that first came to Lagos. The Oba of Benin has overriding power and influence on Eko, the present day Lagos. It is absurd to read some yorubas claiming ownership. Lagos is Not owned by Yorubas. Most yorubas relocated from Ogun,Oyo,Ibadan,Ondo, The Aborigins of lagos are the Edos.

 "

The Origin of Eko (Lagos)

There is a lot of traditional history at both Benin and Lagos ends relating to the origin of what is now Lagos, its ruler and it's connection with Benin. But perhaps to avoid inadequacies and controversy which the academics claim surrounds traditional history, we may like to hear what some modern historians have to say on this subject. Robert S. Smith, in his book of some principal Yoruba owns, especially in and around Oyo, and the westward expansion in the 13th century of Benin Kingdom with it's number of subject towns on or near to the coast, which included Lagos in the 15th century, went on to say this about Lagos in particular:

"It's name reflect it's past to the Edo word Eko, meaning war camp  of the earliest Benin settlers, We say Eko is a Benin word that means camp"

After describing the activities of the armies of Benin under Oba Orhogbua, culminating in his arrival at what is now Lagos, Smith went on to add:

"Sometime later the Oba appointed a ruler for Lagos to represent the interest of Benin and to forward tribute there. The man chosen is named in both Lagos and Benin Tradition as Ashipa"

Smith says that by Lagos account this Ashipa was an Isheri Chief, while the Benin account says Ashipa was a grandson of the Oba of Benin. We shall come to this later. Smith was, however, satisfied that Benin had established it's ascendency in Lagos and had founded a dynasty there at some period before 1555.The dyansty's dependence on Benin, Another Chief, the Eletu Odibo was a Benin cheif, who alone had the right to crown the Oba of Eko and who in early times probably maintained close connection with Benin,.(Olotu Odibo was corrupted by Yoruba as Eletu Odibo )

"G.T. Stride and C. Ifeka, in their book titled Peoples and empires pf West Africa have this to say on the same subject:

Oba Orhogbua was clearly a strong warrior for he enforced tribute payments from all parts of the empire and in the middle 1550s conquered all the coastal lands up to Lagos where he left a permanent garrison. Tradition in Lagos says that their first Oba, the Olotu (Eletu) Odibo of Eko, was a son of the Oba Orhogbua of Benin"

It will be seen, therefore, that even if we were to disregard traditional history there is enough material from modern historians to confirm the fact that what is now Lagos was founded by an Oba of Benin who also gave it it's first ruler.  In Benin tradition, and we believe the same of Yoruba and other ethnic groups in this country, one way to establish that an event in traditional history did occur is by the type of anecdote or adage that evolves from that event . Thus, for instance, Edo people say that "Orhogbua gb'Olague,ona y'ukpe abekpen z'umwen rie Edo, meaning that Oba Orhogbua defeated Olague and used sword to bring his salt to Benin.In Eko, Orhogbua discovered the common rock salt and brought it to Benin. After the Oba Orhogbua returned to Benin from Eko, he appointed a commander or an administrator, who was called Aisikpa to look after the skeleton troop left in the camp(Eko) until he returned again from Benin. He could no longer return having seen the situation at home. 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. 

 LAGOS IN THE 60S