Controversy Over Ownership Of Lagos: Yoruba Group Canvasses For Change Of Name From Lagos To Isheri

By Ayodele Oni

As controversy over the ownership of Lagos rages, Apapo O’odua Koya, (AOKOYA), a Yoruba group, has advised the Lagos State House of Assembly, (LSHA) to change the name of Lagos to Isheri State.

The controversy re-echoed last week during the visit of Oba of Benin to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo -Olu and asserted that the Binis founded Lagos.

In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, Apapo O’odua Koya, AOKOYA, a coalition of several Yoruba, Itsekiri self determination groups, said the change of name was necessary to protect, defend and uphold the heritage of Oduduwa.

The group pointed out that Lagos was a name given by Portuguese, some 500 years after it had existed and thrived in commerce, art, philosophy and trade.

AOKOYA emphasized that it was time to do away with the colonial mindset to ensure the territories reclaim its ancient value and norms.

The group was of the view that the change will also put a stop to the arrogant claims by some anti Yoruba people on the civilisation of Lagos as a foremost Yoruba city.

It urged the Lagos State House of Assembly to sponsor a bill to change Lagos State to either Oduduwa or Isheri State in line with the history and tradition of the true owners of the land.

AOKOYA, in a statement signed by Captain  Kunle Odeyemi stated that the Oba of Bini should spend his time improving the lot of his people and build Bini to the status of Lagos instead of seeking empires that never and will never belong to him.

Speaking on the recent visit to Lagos by the Oba of Benin, the group commended the Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu for his maturity and diplomacy in handling the rascalism of the Oba of Bini and his arrogant, uncouth, uncivilised behavior.

AOKOYA stated that there should be a limit to tolerance adding that “Distortion of history of a people is an eye blink from violent conquest. If the Oba of Bini had his way, he would invade Lagos with force of arms.

“There has been a very conscious attempt to rewrite Yoruba history by some anti-history people who are driven by three elements: envy, greed and desire for conquest.

“The Yoruba people all over the world must rise up to put an end to  this dangerous  trend and display of brigandage.

“The Bini Kingdom was established by the son of Oduduwa but this never gets to the head of Yoruba people. We relate with Bini with respect and decorum in line with Yoruba civilisation. We do not expect less from Bini, an extension of Oduduwa heritage.”

“That claim that Oduduwa came from Bini was an embarrassment to his own ancestors, the preceeding Obas of Bini who were all, until recently buried in Ile Ife on their own request knowing they all came from Ile Ife.

“Your territory can never make progress and attain peace when you build the foundation on cheap lies and dirty, childish and filthy propaganda. This only confirms the fact that some traditional institutions are being hijacked by people of low vultures who have no sense of history.”

“All history books over time asserted the fact that the first known settler in today’s Lagos came from Ile Ife. Lagos is essentially an Awori ancestral territory.

“They settled in Lagos some 500 years and thrived before Ado came from Bini. It should be understood that Ado was actually the son of Ashipa, a Yoruba man who married an Edo woman who gave birth to Ado who then became the first Oba of Lagos. But before this time, there were traditional rulers in the 50 Kingdoms that had existed in Lagos State.

“When a mango is ripe and beautiful, everyone wants it. When the mango is unripe and rotten everyone runs away. We wonder why the Oba of Bini is not talking about other Kingdoms established by his forefathers but focusing on Lagos.”