Rilwan akiolu biography books

A passing remark by the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, that Lagos was founded by the Binis, a position that was earlier canvassed by the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has again sparked unnecessary reactions. Ejiofor  Alike  writes that for a country like Nigeria that is plagued by insecurity and serious economic crisis, efforts should be channelled towards rescuing the nation instead of dissipating energy on unhelpful debates

It is only in a country where issues of national importance are relegated to the background, and ethnic supremacy, sectional interest and religious bigotry are promoted that a passing comment by the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, that the Binis founded Lagos State, would spark a serious debate.

During a visit to the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, last Sunday, the monarch said, “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.”

The Benin monarch was not the first to make this claim.

Apart from history books, the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, had also corroborated this claim when he once declared that “modern-day Lagos was founded by Prince Ado, the son of the Oba of Benin.”

In a statement issued in 2017 from Iga Idugaran, Palace of the Lagos King, Oba Akiolu had reportedly said: “I was told by my late paternal grandmother, who was a descendant of Oba Ovonranwen Nogbaisi, and with facts from historical books, let me share this knowledge with you all on Eko or Lagos, as it is popularly called.

“Modern-day Lagos was founded by Prince Ado, the son of the Oba of Benin. Prince Ado was the first Oba of Lagos, and it was he that named the town Eko, until the Por

On Behalf of Whom Is Akiolu Speaking? For His Edo and Ekaladerhan/Oduduwa Ancestry of Course, Otunba Akinfolarin

By

Ewaen Edoghimioya

ewaenfedo@yahoo.co.uk

Otunba Morakinyo Akinfolarin’s article would not have been dignified with my rejoinder, but  for the necessity of improving human society through enlightenment of  the ignorant who are likely to be misled by  his article and the lies he peddled around about the Omo n’Oba’s book. Reading  the article,  you are first struck by the fact that this so called Otunba have  not read the book in question , how much more understanding the argument and the issues. I suspect that he collected his information in a state of drunken stupor from an owambe in London or he was too disoriented by the statement of His Royal Highness Oba Rilwan Akiolu, Oba  of Lagos supporting the Omo n’Oba. Otherwise, he would not have exposed such crass ignorance in his article and resort to uncouth language.  

Firstly he wrote that the Omo n’ Oba  claimed  “that the Yoruba migrated from Ile-Ibinu(Ibini)”. I do not know whether it is the season of lies for some  elders and intellectuals as already exposed in the case of Emeritus Prof J.F.Ade-Ajayi and now an elderly Otunba. There is no where in  Omo n’Oba’s book where he  claimed  that the yoruba’s migrated from Benin. All the Omo n’ Oba  did was to trace his genealogy from the Ogiso kings through the  banished Benin Prince Ekaladerhan whom Edo oral tradition claim to have migrated to Uhe(Ile-Ife) and founded a new dynasty with the name-  Oduduwa.

Tracing his genealogy, explaining  and describing some aspects of his coronation rituals of the Obaship in Benin and its relation and connection with Uhe or Ife are all legitimate in an autobiography or memoirs.  Is there a world standard or limitation on what must be included or not included in one’s autobiography

Following the debates sparked by the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, recently on who founded Lagos, SAMUEL BOLAJI writes on oldest history books attributing the founding of Lagos to the Yoruba and not Benin.

The debate over who founded Lagos has been around for some time, with different commentators giving varying views on the founder of the fast-developing coastal state.

A recent debate was stirred by a comment made by the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, during his visit to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the Lagos House, Marina, in November.

The Benin monarch had said that his ancestors founded Lagos – “maybe the nucleus of Lagos” – a comment which has since sparked reactions from several Nigerians.

“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, were founded by my ancestors,” Oba Ewuare II said, adding, “The Oba of Lagos will say so.”

Indeed, sometime in May 2017, the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, said Benin founded Lagos.

Following the criticism of Oba Akiolu’s refusal to shake hands with the Ooni of Ife at a function by several commentators, the Iga Idugaran, Palace of the King of Lagos, had released a statement quoting Oba Akiolu that the “Modern day Lagos was founded by Prince Ado, a son of the Oba of Benin.”

“I was told by my late paternal grandmother, who was a descendant of Oba Ovonranwen Nogbaisi, and with facts from historical books, let me share this knowledge with you all on Eko or Lagos, as it is popularly called.

“Modern-day Lagos was founded by Prince Ado, the son of the Oba of Benin. Prince Ado was the first Oba of Lagos, and he was the one who named the town Eko, until the Portuguese explorer, Ruy de Segueira, changed the maritime tow