Former Minister of Aviation and chieftain of the All Progressive Congress, Femi Fani-Kayode, has lambasted the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, for claiming that the Binis founded Lagos.
Fani-Kayode, in a statement issued on Thursday, described the monarch’s assertion as “historical revisionism and pure falsehood”. He insisted that Lagos was founded by the Yoruba and not the Binis, and that Lagos is not a “no man’s land” but a Yoruba land.
He accused the Oba of Benin of peddling “self-serving and revisionist poppycock, Gobellian propaganda, historical abracadabra, nonsensical gobbledegook and disingenuous disinformation” about the origins of Lagos, her people and her history.
He warned that such claims could misinform and mislead the younger generation and rob the people of Lagos of their true history and identity.
He also commended the Balogun of Eko, Abisoye Oshodi, for faulting the Oba of Benin’s claim and setting the record straight.
He said, “Those that claim that the Bini founded Lagos are indulging in historical revisionism and pure falsehood.
“The Bini did NOT found Lagos, the Yoruba did.
“Again those that claim that Lagos is a “no man’s land” are intellectually challenged and hopelessly misinformed.
“Lagos is NOT a “no-man’s land”, she is Yoruba.
“All the self-serving and revisionist poppycock, Gobellian propaganda, historical abracadabra, nonsensical gobbledegook and disingenuous disinformation being peddled around by aliens, outsiders and non-indigenes about the origins of Lagos, her people and her history must cease forthwith lest the younger generation are misinformed and misled and the people of Lagos are robbed of their true history and identity.
“I am glad to see that the Balogun of Eko, Abisoye Oshodi, has risen to the occasion and sought to set the record straight. Kudos to him!
“I say it again, Lagos was FOUNDED by the Yoruba and she IS Yoruba!
“Facts are sacred and opinion is cheap!”
Fani-Kayode’s statement came after the Oba of Benin visited Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Sunday and said that Lagos was founded by his ancestor, Prince Ado, the son of the first Oba of Benin. The monarch said that Lagos and Benin share a common heritage and culture, and urged the people to preserve their identity and values.
The Oba of Benin’s comment has since sparked debate on social media, with some people supporting his claim and others opposing it. Some historians have also weighed in on the controversy, citing different sources and evidence to support or refute the claim.
The origin and ownership of Lagos has been a contentious issue for a long time, especially among the Yoruba and the Bini ethnic groups. Lagos is Nigeria’s largest city and commercial hub, with a population of about 15.3 million people and a history of trade, culture and politics.
