Lagos, ‘A no man’s land’ and its political realities

It is said that “Lagos affairs have been left in the hands of non indigenes for too long and they obviously cannot offer 100℅ allegiance because they have nothing at stake.”

It is further expressed that the cosmopolitan nature of Lagos as a state in the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the open mindedness and liberality of the original owners of the state have probably remained the reasons for which the non indigenes have continued to shortchange themselves especially, in politics and political offices in the state.

History and available records have shown that the ‘Aworis’ are the original ‘owners’ of Lagos, having been the first inhabitants of what is known as Lagos today.

According to the unwritten history, the Aworis have been the inhabitants of the present day Lagos well over a 100 years before the invasion of the Benin Kingdom of the present day Lagos.

The history also had it that the Oba of Benin at a time sent an expedition to engage with the Awori people who were the inhabitants of Lagos as a result of complaints of alleged maltreatment of the monarch’s traders by the Aworis.

The expedition team was led by a Benin Prince named Ado. However, the Aworis known to be peaceful people and not known for war expedition were not prepared to engage and attack the Ado led team, rather, they welcomed them and urged Prince Ado to stay back and become their leader.

Ado however, agreed with their proposal on the condition that they surrender their sovereignty to the Oba of Benin and to this, the Aworis agreed.

The Oba of Benin later gave his permission for the Ado led team to remain in Eko with the Awori. Eko was the name at which Lagos was originally known and called.

The Benin monarch later sent some of his chiefs among whom were; the Eletu Odibo, Obanikoro among others to assist Prince Ado in the running of the affairs of the settlement.

With the proposal of the Aworis to Prince Ado and the consequent approval and blessing of the Oba of Benin, Ado became the first King of today Lagos in 1630 and reigned until 1704.

Lagos was said to serve as a major centre for slave trade which enjoys the support of the Benin monarch, Prince Ado who was the first Oba of Lagos and all his successors until 1841 when Oba Akitoye became the king of Lagos and attempted to stop the slave trade.

This however, became his undoing as the local merchants strongly opposed the move; he was deposed and exiled while his brother, Kosoko was installed as his successor.

While in exile in Europe, Akintoye was said to have signed off Lagos to the British for his throne when he met with the British authorities who have no tolerance for slave trade, having banned slave trading in 1807 and therefore, decided to support Akintoye to regain his throne.

The British intervention however, brought the deposed king back on the throne in 1851.

The British were to later annex Lagos after enjoying a dominant influence and in 1861, Lagos formally become British colony.

With this development, the remnants of the Benin empire was seized by the British in 1887 and when the British finally established the colony and the Protectorate of Nigeria in 1914, Lagos was declared its capital.

Again, Lagos maintained its capital status when Nigeria obtained independence from the British in 1960 and remained the nation’s capital until 1991 when the General Ibrahim Babangida led administration moved the nation’s capital to Abuja.

History also has it that Aworis, the original owners of Lagos migrated to the present day Lagos from Ile-Ife, the cradle of Yorubaland.

Awori, history has it that Ogunfunminire, the founder of Aworis and his followers left the palace of King Oduduwa at Ile-Ife and migrated to the South along a river.

Oduduwa was said to have given Ogunfunminire, (Olofin) a mud plate and instructed him to place it on the water and follow it until it sank to the river.

Several days after leaving Ile-Ife, the plate was said to have suddenly stopped near Olokemeji very close to the present day Abeokuta.

After 17 days again, it began to move again and this time, only to stop at One for another 17 days while at the end of another 17 days the plate began another journey only to stop again at the outskirts of modern day Abeokuta where it again stopped for another 17 days.

At this location, some of Olofin followers led by a man named “Osho Arobi Ologbo Egan” decided to stay back.

However, the plate was said to continued moving again, this time, down river and stopped again at Isheri where history recorded that it stayed much longer a period of time.

Olofin was said to have instructed his followers to begin to set up permanent settlement, but after 289 days which is 17×17 days, the plate began to move again.

Olofin and few of his followers were said to have followed the plate while the rest stayed back. After two days, the plate was said to have stopped briefly at Iddo in Lagos.

It moved again until at Idumota in Central Lagos where it whirled around in the water before it finally sank and when Olofin returned to his people at Iddo and they asked him about the plate, Olofin was said to have answered them that “Awo Ti Ri” which translated to mean the plate has sank. This is how the name Awori was said to have come about.

Several unwritten accounts support the ownership of the present day Lagos by the Aworis as they were the earliest settlers, inhabitants and dominant tribes of the present day Lagos close to a century before the invasion of Benin.

However, the reigning monarch of Lagos, Oba Rildwan Osuolale Akiolu in agreement with the Erelu Kuti of Lagos, Chief Abiola Dosumu is sharply in disagreement with proponents of the ownership of Lagos by the Aworis.

Oba-of-Lagos- Oba Akiolu

According to them, Lagos was an extension of Benin Kingdom. While this issue has remained highly controversial, the slang “Lagos, a no man’s land” has become a common phrase among the generality of the residents of the state.

Kings who reigned after Prince Ado, the first Oba of Lagos who reigned between 1630 and 1669 includes; *King Gabaro (1669 – 1704), King Akinsemoyin (1704 – 1749), King Ologun Kutere (1749 -1775), King Adele Ajosun (1775 – 1780 & 1832 – 1834), King Eshinlokun (1780 – 1819), King Idewu Ojulari (1819 – 1832), King Oluwole (1836 – 1841),

King Akintoye (1841 – 1845 & 1851 – 1853), King Kosoko (1845 – 1851), King Dosumu (Docemo: 1853 – 1885), King Oyekan 1, (1885 – 1900), King Esugbayi (1901 – 1925 & 1932), King Ibikunle Akitoye (1925 – 1928),

King Sanusi Olusi (1928 – 1931), King Falolu Dosumu (1932 – 1949), King Adeniji Adele (1949 – 1964), Oba Adeyinka Oyekan II, (1965 – 2003) and the reigning Oba Rilwan Akiolu who ascended the throne after Oyekan II in 2003.

However, if the version of Oba Akiolu and that of the respected Erelu is to be adopted as the true original ownership of the present day Lagos, the question posted here therefore, was that, does it mean all the ruling houses and the Kings that have reigned in Lagos including the incumbent, Oba Rilwan Akiolu have their roots in Benin Kingdom?

Again, if either of the two accounts is to be adopted, it therefore, means the common phrase “Lagos is no man’s land” is nothing but a reckless expression, since Lagos belongs to the Aworis or an extension of the Benin Kingdom. Therefore, the indigenes of the state should get fair share of what statutorily belongs to them.

A critical look and analysis of politics and governance in the state especially, since the current democratic dispensation began in 1999 have continued to give credence to the growing assumption of Lagos as a no man’s land.

First, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who is alleged to be rooted at Iragbiji, a community in Osun State, South West, Nigeria emerged victorious in a governorship election that involved a notable Lagos born and “son of the soil” from Epe, one of the five areas into which the state was divided, Chief Dapo Sarumi in 1999.

Having been chosen above Chief Funsho William, another notable indigene of the state as the candidate of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

Tinubu ruled the state with three deputies in his eight year rule as the governor of the state. First, Senator Kofo Akerele Bucknor, Otunba Femi Pedro and later Prince Abiodun Ogunleye who was in office for two weeks as deputy governor.

Tinubu, as governor was alleged to have caused Bucknor and Pedro to be removed from office by the State House of Assembly over political disagreements at different times. Although, the three deputies were known to be indigenes of the state but record has it that the state cabinet under Tinubu was populated with over 70℅ non indigenes of the state.

With some of them occupying more ‘juicy’ ministries and held important portfolios. Rauf Aregbesola, Opeyemi Bamideles, Yemi Osinbajo, Ben Akabueze (a non Yoruba), Femi Lanlehin, Dele Alake are among other names of non-indigenes that readily comes to mind.

Tinubu who had already become the political godfather and kingmaker in the state before his eight year rule came to an end was said to have single handedly brought Babatunde Raji Fashola who had served as his Chief of Staff to succeed him.

Fashola whose claim to the state indigeneship remains unconfirmed as some people believe he is not an indigene of the state also governed the state with two deputies in his eight year rule, courtesy of his godfather.

First, it was Adebisi Sarah Sosan and then Adejoke Orelope Adefulire. Although both are indigenes of the state from Awori tribe, but the state executive members under Fashola were again populated with over 60℅ non indigenes of the state. These cabinet members were said to be nominated into the state executive council by Bola Tinubu, the political godfather of the state who himself is believed to be a non indigene.

Same could also be said of the current administration led by Akinwumi Ambode who had just been humiliated by his party in the state.

Tinubu, Ambode’s political godfather was fingered in the political misfortune of the governor. Ambode himself a non indigene, like his party may want residents of the state to believe for political reason. Indigenes of the state are also said not to have had a fair share in the state cabinet.

His administration is said to parade more non indigenes in the state cabinet than his two predecessors. Apart from the deputy governor, Idiat Adebule an Awori lady, Gbolahan Lawal, Oluwatoyin Suarau, Babajide Idris, Babatunde Durosinmi Etti, Adeniji Kazeem, Bank Olemoh, Babatunde Hunpe, Anofiu Elegushi, Muslim Folami and the newly appointed Head of Service, Hakeem Muri Okunola who are said to be indigenes, non-indigenes are said to be holding the other notable portfolios in the 42 member state cabinet.

Again, the spread of public office in the state controlled by the All Progressive Congress (APC) in firm grip of Bola Tinubu, the non indigenes of the state unlike any other state in the South West and entire country, have dominated the political offices constitutionally accrued to the state.

For instance, of the three Senatorial seat in the state, Senator Bariyu Ashafa an indigene of the state is currently occupying one, the Lagos East while the wife of Tinubu, Oluremi and Solomon Adeola Olamilekan both non indigenes occupy the seats of Lagos Central and West respectively.

Ironically, Ashafa, the only indigene among the three Senators representing Lagos State at the upper House of the National Assembly has just been eased out of the race paving way for another non indigene, Hon. Bayo Sikiru Osinowo from Ijebuland, Ogun State to emerge as the Senator thereby, ceding the three Senatorial seats in the state to non indigenes.

The three Senatorial candidates of the ruling APC in the state are the incumbent Senator and wife of the political godfather in the state, Bola Tinubu, Oluremi representing Lagos Central who who was only last weekend re-elected and will be serving her third consecutive terms in office.

Olamilekan Adeola Solomon aka Yayi, the Yewa, Ogun State born politician will be serving his second term in office as Senator representing Lagos West after his two terms and a single term of four years in office as member of the Lagos State House of Assembly and the House of representatives respectively,

while Bayo Sikiru Osinowo who has been a member of the Lagos State House of Assembly in the last 16 years having won election into the House for four consecutive terms representing Kosofe constituency 1 has just been elected, thus displacing Ashafa, the only indigene among the three.

Also a look at the current representation of the State at both House of Representatives and the State House of Assembly reveals that the seats are currently occupied by over 60℅ non indigenes of the state.

For instance, the State House of Assembly is led by Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, a non indigene from Itori, a community in Ewekoro, in Ogun State, South West region of the country as the Speaker with over 25 other non Lagos indigenes as member including two non Yorubas in the 40 member State House of Assembly.

Same could also be noted of members of the lower House of the National Assembly where only nine can be said to be indigenes of the state among 24 members currently representing the state at the House of Representatives in Abuja.

APC, the ruling party in the state also presented not more than nine indigenes of the state which amounts to just about 38% to contest the 24 House of Representatives seats meant for the state.

A good look at the lists of APC flag bearers for the February and March elections in the state shows the non indigenes of the state have taken over 80% contestable seats in the state and the consequence is that if the APC emerges victorious which is most likely, going by the record of electoral victories in the state in the recent past,

the first three top offices in the state would therefore, be occupied by non indigenes of the state, since the party’s governorship candidate, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Babafemi Kadri Hamzat are rooted in Ogun State. While Sanwo-Olu is said to be rooted in Ijebu Mushin, Hamzat is a known Prince of Afowowa, a community very close to Abeokuta, Ogun State where his father is the sitting monarch.

The state number three seat is currently occupied by Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa who is rooted in Itori, another community within Ewekoro Local government in Ogun State same as that of the deputy governorship candidate, Femi Hamzat.

Obasa has again secured the APC ticket to return to the Assembly for the fifth consecutive term and with the ambition to ‘Speak again’ and continue to give his best as the Speaker of the House in the next Assembly.

If all these political mapping and permutations turn out as staked, the states number 1,2 and 3 positions would be occupied by indigenes of neighbouring Ogun State, thereby fourth rated the indigenes, who by the way do not even have the opportunity of occupying any of the three senatorial seats in the state,

thus giving credence to the claim of ‘Lagos, a no man’s land’ since no such political arrangements and realities could be made to manifest in any other state and indigenous communities in the country.

The national leader of the ruling APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has remained the state’s political godfather and the ‘Oracle of Lagos’ (IFA EKO) which translates to mean,

the former governor an alleged non indigene has remained the one giving direction in every aspect of life engagements in the state, from political to business, while his influence is also said to be loudly rooted in the traditional institutions in the state.

However, if Lagos is truly a ‘no man’s land’ going by the emerging realities in both political and other life engagements in the state, time as well as further occurrences will surely tell.

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If either of the two accounts is to be adopted, it therefore, means the common phrase “Lagos is no man’s land” is nothing but a reckless expression, since Lagos belongs to the Aworis or an extension of the Benin Kingdom. Therefore, the indigenes of the state should get fair share of what statutorily belongs to them.