Who Founded Lagos? Nigerian Lecturer Tackles Oba of Benin

• Dr. Paul Akanmidu said Oba of Benin, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, is distorting history
• The lecturer of History at the Adekunle Ajasin University said Lagos was founded by the Aworis from Abeokuta
• Akanmidu said the claim that the Binis founded Lagos is a slap on the history of the Awori people who have been there for several years

Legit.ng journalist Adekunle Dada has over 5-year-experience covering metro and government policy

A lecturer of History at the Adekunle Ajasin University, Akungba-Akoko, Dr Paul Akanmidu, has tackled the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, for claiming his ancestor's founder Lagos.

Akanmidu said Lagos was founded by the Aworis from Abeokuta in present-day Ogun state.

In an interview with The Punch, the university lecturer said it is not true and it’s a historical distortion for the Oba of Benin to claim that they founded Lagos.

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“What we know in history is that Lagos was founded by the Aworis from Abeokuta. Look at the historical proximity of their place to that place; they were fishermen who were there at that time doing their fishing. I’m not disputing the fact that the Benin people must have come there because the Ilaje people also came, but people were coming from different places to tap into the benefits of that particular location.

“For the Oba now to claim such, it is a slap on the history of the Awori people who have been known to have been there several years before those people (Binis) came. They (the Binis) may come later and contribute to other aspects of Lagos, but to say that Lagos was founded by them is a historical distortion.”

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“Binis are not the owners of Lagos”: Oba of Lagos declares

Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, made some clarifications on the owners of Lagos Island.

Oba Akiolu said Binis are not the owner of Lagos even though the first Oba of Lagos is a male descendant of the Oba of Benin.

In a 2016 interview, the Lagos monarch said the first Oba of Lagos was sent on a mission to Lagos by the then Oba of Benin.

“Lagos does not belong to Benins”: Balogun Eko counters Oba of Benin

LegiThe t.ng also reported that the Balogun of Eko Abisoye Oyeyemi Oshodi responded to the Oba of Benin, Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo, Uku Akpolokpolo, Ewuare II, and educated him about the real history of Lagos.

The first-class monarch revealed that Lagos State was founded by his ancestor, Prince Ado, the son of the first Oba of Benin. The Oba of Benin said that according to history, Prince Ado left the Benin Kingdom in the 15th century and established a settlement on the island of Lagos, which later became the capital of the state.

Source: Legit.ng