(YORUBA VERSION)
ASHIPA (1600-1630)
Awori land had earlier been founded by Ọlọfin Ogunfunmilere. The children of Ọlọfin later founded different towns in Lagos State. Ọlọfin Ogunfunmilere last born, Aromirẹ was the owner of all land in Isale – Eko ( Lagos island).
Ashipa (called Esikpa in Benin Language) was military leader of Benin soldiers that invaded and waged war against Awori people living in Lagos State. ( Isale Eko / Lagos Island inclusive).
Ashipa was regarded as the Leader of Benin kingdom dynasty in Lagos.
He was the son of Ọba of Benin. He was acting as the leader of the people of Lagos but not as the king. He serves as the intermediary between the Ọba of Benin and the people of Lagos (Eko), he spent 27 years as the leader of Eko ,and died in 1630 and his son Ado took over his responsibility.
ỌBA ADO (1630-1669)
Ọba Ado, the son of Ashipa took over the leadership role played by his father in 1630 during his own reign, he was elevated to an Ọba and was crown as the king of Lagos by the Ọba of Benin. Ọba Ado became the first Ọba of Lagos. Oba Ado had three children, 2 males and 1 female. They include (Gabaro, Akinsemọyin, and Erelu Kuti) Ọba Ado ruled for 39 years. He joined his ancestors in 1669 and his first son Gabaro succeeded him.
ỌBA GABARO (1669 -1704)
Ọba Gabaro was installed in 1669 after his father death. During his reign, he moved the government to the Island in particular Isalę Eko where the present Iga Idunganran is today. He was the first Ọba to erect a building in the palace, he also created the institution of chieftaincy and kingmakers. He had only one child during his lifetime called Eletu kekere. Ọba Gabaro died in 1904 and his brother Akinsemọyin succeeded him.
ỌBA AKINSEMỌYIN – (1704-1749)
Ọba Akinsemọyin started in own reign in 1704. His close friend and powerful herbalist, Baba Alagba (an Ijęṣa man from Ọṣun State) had earlier disclosed to him that he would become a King of Eko.
Baba Alagba further told Akinsemọyin to mount white flag inside water ( Lagoon) . He revealed further that white man would visit him and support his kingdom whenever they saw the flag.
It was during his reign that the Portuguese came to Lagos as slave dealers. It was in records that the palace “Iga Idunganran” was built during this period with the assistance of the Portuguese . Ọba Akinsemọyin never had a son but he has six female children, he reign for 45 years and died in 1749.
ỌBA ELETU-KEKERE (1749)
Ọba Eletu kekere succeeded Ọba Akinsemọyin (his uncle).Oba Eletu kekere was the only son of Ọba Gabaro, during his reign, he had no child and died within the year he was installed as the Ọba. Therefore, ending the lineage of Ọba Gabaro. After his death, there was controversy on who to succeed the throne, because Ọba Akinsemọyin had no son. Erelu Kuti, the sister of Akinsemọyin is also a female and it is not possible for a female to succeed the throne.
Thereafter, Erelu Kuti married baba Alagba (a herbalist and Ijẹṣa man) .
The only option was to choose the son to succeed the throne.
Erelu kuti born two son’s (Ologun-Kutere and Sokun) for Baba Alagba ( Ijẹṣa).
The eldest son Ologun-Kutere was chosen to succeed the throne.
ỌBA OLOGUN-KUTERE (1749-1775)
Ọba Ologun Kutere ascended the throne in 1749 after the death of his cousin Eletu Kekere. Ọba Ologun Kutere was a strong king, he won the respect of neighbouring Ọba by the way he handled a threatening rebellion against paying tributes. He had 6 children “Ẹshinlokun, Adele, Akitoye, Olusi, Akiolu, and Olukoya”.he joined his ancestors in 1775 and was succeeded by his son ADELE AJOSUN (his son)
ỌBA ADELE AJOSUN I (1775-1780 &1834)
In 1775, when Ọba Adele Ajosun I succeeded his father, Lagos entered a period where the Ọba had to concern themselves with consolidating their position on the throne , his reign was rich with intrigues and counter-intrigues between him and his brother ẸSHILOKUN. Ọba Adele Ajosun was an indulgent father who allowed his children to introduce “EGUNGUN” to the palace.
This led to his dethronement and he was banished in 1780 but was reinstated in 1834 after his brothers (ẸSHILOKUN, IDEWU OJULARI had reigned. He died in 1834.
ỌBA ẸSHILOKUN (1780-1819)
Ọba Ẹshilokun came to the throne in 1780 following the dethronement of Ọba Adele Ajosun, though his reign was uneventful, he successfully resisted the attempt by Adele to outsted him from the throne . He kept the throne till 1819 when he eventually joined his ancestors. He had 2 children(Idewu Ojulari and Kọsọkọ)
ỌBA IDEWU OJULARI (1819-1832)
By the time Ọba Idewu Ojulari took over the throne, he was regarded as a popular king who became so obsessed by avarice. He was given the advice to go exile or commit suicide, the traditional way of treating undesirable king, but instead Ojulari decided to commit suicide. He died without an issue in 1832 (childless)
ỌBA OLUWỌLE (18341841)
Ọba Oluwọle was the son of Adele Ajosun, his succeeded the throne in 1834 after the death of his father, unfortunately, for Ọba Oluwọle, he died without an issue (childless), his death was as a result of a terrible explosion of gun powder stored in the palace.
ỌBA AKINTOYE (1841-1845 &1851-1853)
Ọba Akintoye is another son of Ologun Kutere, he succeeded the throne after his brother and nephews had reign. Good intention backed by weakness made him to lose his throne to his nephew Kosọkọ. Despite the advices of his chiefs, Ọba Akintoye recalled Kosọkọ so as to bring him back to fold . The result was that he lost the throne and was able to get it back through the help of the British. In 1851 he signed the treaty to stop SLAVERY.
ỌBA KOSỌKỌ (1845-1851)
Ọba Kosọkọ was a very strong man, he was very powerful spiritually. He became the Ọba of Lagos in 1845 after plotting a coup against Ọba Akintoye in 1845, his reign was warlike. He believed he suffered injustice for not been appointed the Ọba an 1841 then in 1845, he plotted a coup against his uncle (Ọba Akintoye).
During his reign, the British urged him to signed a treaty to stop slavery but Ọba Kosọkọ refused signing the treaty, then Lagos was bombarded by the British Navy and Ọba Akintoye was reinstalled as the Ọba in 1851.
ỌBA DOSUNMU (1853-1885)
In 1853, Ọba Dosunmu took over the reign of the throne of his forefathers. He made durable contributions to the development of Lagos and this gave a clear illustration of the lofty ideas of Ọbaship which are in consonance with modern civilization.
In August 1861, Ọba Dosunmu concluded the treaty of cession of Lagos to the British government, Lagos became a freedom land and consequently many traders started to bargain with overseas merchant for lawful and prosperous trade and the various constitutional developments helped further to turn Lagos into truly peaceful and prosperous Nigeria city. He died in 1885.
ỌBA OYEKAN I (1885-1900)
Ọba Oyekan I ascended the throne in 1885 though he did not enjoy good health during his reign but carried on his duties till he joined his ancestors in 1900. He was succeeded by Ọba Eshugbayi Eleko, Ọba Oyekan died at the of 50 years of age.
ỌBA EṢUGBAYI ELEKO (1901-1925 & 1932)
The reign of Ọba Eṣugbayi Eleko started in 1901, he was popularly called as Eleko, he succeeded his brother Oyekan I. But during his reign, it was a time of British politics and wrangling. He was sent on exile to Ọyọ kingdom by the then Governor Sir High Clifford in 1925.
As the custom of the people of Yoruba, anybody on exile is expected to be dead person, therefore the council of chief maker therefore quickly elected another Ọba, but during Ẹṣugbayi exile, he did not die and he returned to Lagos in 1931 and was reinstalled that same year. He died in 1932.
ỌBA IBIKUNLE-AKINTOYE (1925-1928)
Ọba Ibikunle Akintoye succeeded the throne after Ọba Eṣugbayi was sent on exile. But before his installation, he was told by the priest that he will not last long on the throne that he will only spend three years on the throne but ibikunle insisted on his installation that if he is to spend a day on the throne , let it be, then his installation took place normally as the custom deserve. During his reign, he was the first Christian Ọba of Lagos. Exactly three years as predicted, Ọba Ibikunle Akintoye joined his ancestors. He was succeeded by Ọba Sanusi Olusi.
ỌBA SANUSI OLUSI (1928-1931)
In 1928, after the death of Ọba Ibikunle Akintoye, his cousin Sanusi Olusi was chosen to succeed him. It was on record that Ọba Sanusi Olusi was the first Muslim Ọba of Lagos just as Ibikunle was the first Christian Ọba. During the reign of Sanusi Olusi he broke the old Yoruba tradition by attending the Muslim praying ground on the festival day in 1928, This action created enemies for him from the Yoruba traditional group.
During his reign, he created the relaxation space at the frontage of the palace, which Lagosian popularly called ESE-IGA.
This formed a meeting/relaxation point for the Lagos of old. Ọba Sanusi Olusi was a peace loving Ọba because in 1931, when Ọba Eṣugbayi returned from exile, he accepted to leave the throne for Ẹṣugbayi to reigned. This humble manner, was compensated by the British government and another palace was built for him at OKE ARIN. This palace is popularly called IGA-OLUSI.
ỌBA FALOLU (1932-1949)
Ọba Falolu ascended the throne in 1932, but before his installation, there was crisis on who to ascend the throne, some were in support of Sanusi Olusi while some were in support of re-appointing new Ọba.
This crisis led to the setting of a panel of inquiry that comprised of 6 traditional chiefs, 2 chiefs out of 6 supported Sanusi Olusi while 4 supported Falolu.
Ọba Falolu was declared the ọba and was installed immediately. Ọba Fololu did not perform the traditional rites known as ETUTU-IJỌ (a traditional rites after the death of a previous Ọba. But when it became an embarrassment, he later complied with the tradition. Oba Falolu died in 1949 and was succeeded by Ọba Adeniji Adele II.
ỌBA ADENIJI ADELE II (1949-1964)
The reign of Ọba Musẹndiku Adeniji Adele II started in 1949 following the death of Ọba Falolu. Before he became the king he was a senior civil servant, headed the treasury department in kano. During his reign he had crisis with the Dosunmu/Oyekan family.
He contested the case in court that the throne of Oba of Lagos was not only meant for members of their family and he won. The court declared that the throne is meant for members of all royal family but not only Dosunmu/Oyekan family.
Ọba Adeniji Adele reign was during the time all the Nigerian Nationalists were fighting the British for Nigeria independence. A very flamboyant king, stylish and exciting. He was a staunch member of the Action Group party before he became the king. He was loved by the elites and his subjects. He witnessed the attainment of Nigeria Independence in 1960.
In 1964, he joined his ancestors. He was succeeded by Ọba Adeyinka Oyekan II in 1965.
ỌBA ADEYINKA OYEKAN II
Ọba Adeyinka Oyekan II was installed in 1965. He was born in Lagos on 30th June 1910. He received his early secondary education at the Eko Boy’s High School, Mushin, Lagos. He later gained admission to Kings College Lagos to continue his higher school certificate. He was a man imbued with lofty ideas from his youth.
He attended the School of Pharmacy Yaba, Lagos in 1930-1932 where he obtained a diploma in Pharmacy.
During his reign as the Ọba of Lagos, he restored lost customs and traditions of the people of Lagos.
Ọba Adeyinka Oyekan was very honest, kind and had the love of all and sundry. He was so loved by his subjects. He died at the age of 93 and was succeeded by Ọba Rilwan Akiolu.
ỌBA RILWAN AKIOLU (2003 -TO date)
Ọba Rilwanu Oṣuolale Arẹmu Babatunde Akiolu was installed as the Ọba of Lagos in May 2003.
He was born on 29 October, 1943. He attended Ansar Ud Deen primary school and secondary school. Then university of Lagos Akoka where he studied law. He started his police career as a cadet inspector and rose to the position of Assistant Inspector General of Police before his retirement in March, 2002.
He later settled down as a legal practitioner till he was choosen by the gods of the land of Lagos to rule the people of EKO ILE.(Lagos) in 2003.. He is the permanent Chairman Council of Ọba of Lagos State.
Eko Akete!
Ilu Ọgbọn!
Eko ilu ọlọla!
Eko ilu olokiki!
Eko Ariomi ni lẹ!
Salẹ Gbẹẹ!
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