"LAGOS IS NO MAN'S LAND,because the name lagos is a portugese word."
Igbo leader, Campbell Umeh-Nzekwe told PREMIUM TIMES in an
interview..

.........................................................................
I just laugh at all these ill-informed people when they say "LAGOS IS A NO MAN'S LAND". It shows they are ignorant of History.
I will like to educate and enlighten this man and many others who are ignorant of history. The fact that lagos is a portugese word doesn't mean its a no man's land,If we are to go by this standard,that means Nigeria too is a no man's land because the name Nigeria is not Yoruba,Hausa or Igbo. Even Port-Har-Court is now a no man's land! and some even said benins are the owner of lagos,yes they had a contact with lagos but they were not the first occupants.
In fact its time I dispense what am studying, I study lagos history as a compulsory course at Lagos State University lectured by Mr.Sanni(an indigenous lagosian and a scholar of lagos history)Now to all of you shouting lagos is a no man's land, please stay attentive as I educate you how the name lagos,Eko and who first occupied lagos are.


How did we come about the name LAGOS??
Undoubtedly, the word LAGOS is derived from the portugese word, "LAGOS" meaning LAGOONS(and not prison as some people speculate).
The word lagos could be traced to LANCELOT DE FREITAS(a portugese man) who himself was a local lagosian in his native home of lagos in portugal,in the course of the portugese voyage of 1431-1462(14th century), LANCELOT DE FREITAS stopped to get provision around the modern day carter bridge,and looking towards Ebute Metta,he recorded in his log book the word"LAGOS" thus, named after a place surrounded by water(he saw that carter bridge where he bought provision in 1450 was surrounded by water,hence,he gave it the name LAGOS).


THE NAME EKO?
There are two versions to this very one but it will be summarily explained to a plausible version.
According to J.B losi M. book titled "History of Lagos" Lagos was founded and first occupied by a group of hunters led by Olofin Ogunfunminire,a prince from Ile-Ife, who first settled at Isheri-Olofin,a community situated 12miles north of lagos. From Isheri, series of dispersals led to the founding of other yoruba awori settlement such as Iropa,Irepu,Ado-Odo,Ogudu,Ikeja,Ojota etc. South ward movement led to the settlement of Yaba later on Ebute-metta,Oto and Ido which later became the home of the olofin(first leader of lagos). Although JB losi vernacular version of his write up vindicate that prior to the movement of Ogunfunminire;there were early Yoruba Awori settlements such as Olopon,Tomuwe,Omuse,Alase etc who had settled before the coming of the Olofin(Ogunfunminire).These groups were said to have moved from Egun Ibeji an ancient Yoruba Awori settlement that has gone into extinction.
After the settlement of Olofin's(prince ogunfunminire) group,his children who were collectively known as ALADEJO(A Group Of Fishermen/Fishermen Co-Operative)settled at different parts of lagos. The earliest settlements was led by 'AROMIRE' who swam across the lagoon and established a settlement on the LAGOS ISLAND. This further encouraged his brothers to settle in different parts of lagos such that some of them bears the name that correspond with their settlement. E.g Oloto at oto,Ojora at Ijora,Oniru at Iru, Oluwa(Apapa)at Iwa,Elegushi which constitute the modern day Victoria Island.

Where do the Benin come into the history of Lagos?
After critical study,juxtaposition and consolidation.The involvement of Benin in Lagos politics could be traced back to the quarrel of Olofin's children and a female personality named "AINA". Aina was accused of witchcraft,all her goats were killed as a result of this accusation and all effort to seek redress with olofin failed. She therefore complained to the King of Benin(Oba Orhogbua) who sent his warriors to attack and build a war CAMP in lagos under the leadership of one "Aseru". Let me explain one thing at this very point, "EKO" is the name of the benin for WAR CAMP.Aseru who was the commander of the Benin millitary camp undertook millitary expeditions to the towns situated north of Lagos and was killed during one of such operation in the marshes of Isheri. One yoruba personality,"ASHIPA" was said to have led an Isheri party that took the dead body of Aseru to Benin for burial in accordance with Benin tradition. This singular act of returning Aseru body to Benin was rewarded by the Oba of Benin who made Ashipa the first Eleko of Eko or Oloriogun i.e the millitary commander of his troops in Lagos.At his death,Ashipa was succeded by Ado,his son was in turn succeded by Gabaro and Akinsemoyin(in that order).

Nevertheless,available evidence seems to be pointing to the fact that the brief control of Lagos by the Benin was acheived by millitary conquest(not by easy settlement) and the fact that the earliest settlers were not the Edo but the Awori Yorubas. The reasons for this position are not far to seek.Viewed from the linguistic angle,it appears that the language more indigenous to Lagos is the Awori dialect of the Yoruba.
The nucleus of this settlement of the Benin was the Enu-Owa area which today still retains the evidence of Benin architecture,culture and customs. Not too long after the Benin conquest of the forces of the Olofin,the Edo who did not occupy the Iddo Island but stayed in the Enu-Owa would appear to have been attracted to the relatively older and comparatively more developed and suitable for human dwelling area of their Awori brethren.During the reign of Eleko Gabaro,the capital and seat of administration was effectively transferred to Idun-Iganran( pepper palace) which has since been the seat of government.

In totality,the period of the Awori's settlement and that of Benin represented two different periods in Lagos history,while the first Yoruba Awori's period represented the period when Lagos emerged as OKO(farmland) following Aromire's establishment of the Island as a farmland.
The second period represented the conquest and the brief occupation of Lagos by the Benin and the encampment of Lagos as Eko.
For the foregoing analysis,the antiquity of the Yoruba Awori settlement in Lagos seem not to be in doubt.


Conclusively, the modern day Lagos is the commercial hub and social vibe of Nigeria(more extensively Africa),Lagos was the federal capital of Nigeria from Amalgamation till 1991 when Former Head of State, Ibrahim Babaginda moved the federal capital from Lagos to Abuja.One of the reasons IBB gave then was that, Lagos serves the purpose of just the Yorubas since its their indigenous state,hence,the need to move the Federal capital to a more central region(That's why we have the FCT in Abuja today).
If Lord Lugard had not amalgamated Nigeria(and made Lagos the FCT due to the development and potentials Lagos had even before oil money) will people be migrating and running to Lagos virtually everyday;only to call it a no man's land neglecting the fact that,some people's ancestors first occupied and developed it thousands of Years ago?

However,am not a Tribalist but a Nigerian and a Yoruba man to the core, despite the fact that I want a united Nigeria where love and tolerance reign. I won't sit back and watch some ill-informed ignorantum igorantatus;ignorants of History to point at Lagos,a state with thousands of years of Traditional leadership as a NO MAN'S LAND! I surely won't take that from anybody, I know of several people whose ancestors were pioneers of Lagos settlement,they don't have any home but Lagos,yet you look at their heritage and say its not for them,this is bad and inhuman!
Let's learn to LIVE in harmony and tolerance but don't rape or ridicule the traditional heritage of others.Come to LASU, you will see indigenes bearing ALAUSA(the power base of modern Lagos), ask them how the name came about,they will tell you the name, which is a carryover from their ancestors; has been existing for hundreds of years.

The Likes of Umeh Nzekwe and his cohorts should know that despite the fact that the indigenes and first settlers of Lagos are cool and accommodating,their hospitality doesn't mean they don't know their History or where they are coming from;and they won't let anybody(whoever they are or how fond of us they are) take what doesn't belong to them or try to share what even Lord Lugard that amalgamated us met on ground.
We love everybody,we want us to be united than this but it will be unfair and unwise to look at another man's heritage and call it a NOBODY'S HERITAGE, we pray to live in love and peace but desist from calling Lagos a no man's land, its the only heritage some people are left with.
#Thanks.

Written by Pelumi Ambode who is a student of Lagos State University(LASU),Ojo;where he studies History and International Relations.

Thumb up jare my paddy. And they will be singing mentioning afonjas

Guy no matter what u have earned my respect. Brilliant piece.

Thanks, very informative

Make I fin trouble small...Lagos is still a no man's land

And also the ijebus control another section of lagos
Ikorodu and epe side

If calling lagos no man's land makes some people to sleep at night, then they can continue to call it by that name. .

dumb... Lagos indigenes are yorubas . if you don't like it jump off a cliff.
I wonder why flat heads have not recreated the level of development they gave Lagos in all their five states.

fairytales

From all feelers and thorough research done by me I can now declare that in the face of disintegration of this contraption, Nigeria, going by the agitations and protests from different quarters it is obvious Lagos will be declared a "no man's land"!

Ratello:
From all feelers and thorough research done by me I can now declare that in the face of disintegration of this contraption, Nigeria, going by the agitations and protests from different quarters it is obvious Lagos will be declared a "no man's land"!

 

OGBAKHA EDO
CHIEF SAM IGBE,
IYASE OF EDO KINGDOM
BENIN CITY
NIGERIA
TEL: 803 687 0037


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 17th century of Benin Kingdom with it's number of subject towns on or near to the coast, which included Lagos, went on to say this about Lagos in particular:

"It's name reflect it's past to the Yoruba it's Eko, deriving probably from the farm (Oko) of the earliest settlers, though alternatively-or additionally-it may be the Benin word (Eko) for a war-camp...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 1700.The dyansty's dependence on Benin, Smith found, was emphasized by the appointment of another Chief, the Eletu Odibo, who alone had the right to crown the Oba and who in early times probably maintained close connection with Benin,.(Eletu Odibo is a corruption of the Edo equivalent Olotu 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 Eleko 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. But we really cannot disregard traditional history. 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, We 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, This is in allusion of to the exploits of Oba Orhogbua while in his camp (Eko) from where he over-ran the place known as Mahin with it's ruler whom the Benin People nicknamed Olague. There Orhogbua discovered the common rock salt and brought it to Benin who thereby tasted it for the first time.

Now the name "Ashipa has featured quite prominently (and rightly too) in the history of Lagos. 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. The interaction of Edo people with others in distant lands must have inevitably resulted in cultural exchanges.


Excerpts From a Lecture on the Evolution of Traditional
rulership in Nigeria given under the auspices of the University of
Ibadan, Institute of African studies on 11th September,1984 by Omo
N'Oba N'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Erediauwa.



https://ihuanedo.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-origin-of-eko-lagos

Lagos is no man's Land....

In fact we are all migrants from somewhere... Including your parents.

An igbo man that does not know his root is writting about another mans root…… Today he is Jew, tomorrow, he is a Bantu Immigrant, next he is from Nupe...no, he is a Northern igbo…lie, they are from Cameroon .!
If you want to know the truth where they are from…. Go here

https://www.nairaland.com/3858834/igbos-really-come-nigeria-old

I hope Afonjas are not trying to rewrite the history of Lagos with this undergraduate review from a learner

The Oba of Lagos have already made it clear, that Lagos is not Afonja land, Op does this picture ring a bell?

Ratello:



 

OGBAKHA EDO
CHIEF SAM IGBE,
IYASE OF EDO KINGDOM
BENIN CITY
NIGERIA
TEL: 803 687 0037


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 17th century of Benin Kingdom with it's number of subject towns on or near to the coast, which included Lagos, went on to say this about Lagos in particular:

"It's name reflect it's past to the Yoruba it's Eko, deriving probably from the farm (Oko) of the earliest settlers, though alternatively-or additionally-it may be the Benin word (Eko) for a war-camp...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 1700.The dyansty's dependence on Benin, Smith found, was emphasized by the appointment of another Chief, the Eletu Odibo, who alone had the right to crown the Oba and who in early times probably maintained close connection with Benin,.(Eletu Odibo is a corruption of the Edo equivalent Olotu 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 Eleko 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. But we really cannot disregard traditional history. 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, We 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, This is in allusion of to the exploits of Oba Orhogbua while in his camp (Eko) from where he over-ran the place known as Mahin with it's ruler whom the Benin People nicknamed Olague. There Orhogbua discovered the common rock salt and brought it to Benin who thereby tasted it for the first time.

Now the name "Ashipa has featured quite prominently (and rightly too) in the history of Lagos. 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. The interaction of Edo people with others in distant lands must have inevitably resulted in cultural exchanges.


Excerpts From a Lecture on the Evolution of Traditional
rulership in Nigeria given under the auspices of the University of
Ibadan, Institute of African studies on 11th September,1984 by Omo
N'Oba N'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo Oba Erediauwa.



https://ihuanedo.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-origin-of-eko-lagos

I think in this submission you were confused on the difference between a throne and a native land.