Oba Eshugbayi Eleko (died 1932), alias ''"Eleko of Eko"'', was the
Oba of Lagos
The Oba of Lagos, also known as the Eleko of Eko, is the traditional ruler ( Oba) of Lagos.
The Oba is a ceremonial Yoruba sovereign with no political power, but is sought as a counsel or sponsor by politicians who seek support from the residen ...
from 1901 to 1925, and from 1931 to 1932. His father was Oba
Dosunmu
Dosunmu (c. 1823 – 1885), referred to in British documents as Docemo, reigned as Oba of Lagos from 1853, when he succeeded his father Oba Akitoye, until his own death in 1885. He was forced to run away to Britain under the threat of force in A ...
. Eleko's struggles and legal victory over the British colonial government symbolized the struggle between indigenous rights and colonial rule in Nigeria. The outcome of the "Eleko Affair" led to the Eleko's deposition as Oba and deportation to Oyo between 1925 and 1931, years that some historians now call the "interregnum years", and that saw the reigns of Oba
Ibikunle Akitoye
Ibikunle Alfred Akitoye (1871–1928) was Oba of Lagos from 1925 to 1928 during what some historians refer to as the "Interregnum" years of the exiled Oba Eshugbayi Eleko. Ibikunle Akitoye was the first western educated and Christian Oba of Lagos ...
(from 1925 to 1928) and Oba Sanusi Olusi (from 1928 to 1931).
Obaship
Oba Eleko succeeded Oba
Oyekan I
Oba Oyekan I (died September 30, 1900) reigned as the Lagos Monarch from March 1885 - September 30, 1900. He ascended the throne about a month after the death of his father Oba Dosunmu.
Prince Oyekan vs. Chief Apena Ajasa incident
In 1883, Oba ...
upon Oyekan's death in 1901 and was officially recognized by the British colonial government in Lagos under the governorship of
William MacGregor
Sir William MacGregor, (20 October 1846 – 3 July 1919)R. B. Joyce,', ''Australian Dictionary of Biography'', Volume 5, Melbourne University Press, 1974, pp 158–160. Retrieved 29 September 2009 was a Lieutenant-Governor of British New Guine ...
. Those who lost out to Eleko for the Obaship in 1901 include Jose Dawodu, Oduntan, and Adamaja.
Eleko's opposition to the British colonial government's water tax
In 1908, the British colonial government (Governor
Walter Egerton
Sir Walter Egerton, (1858 – 22 March 1947) had a long career in the administration of the British Empire, holding senior positions which included the Governorships of Lagos Colony (1904–1906), Southern Nigeria (1906–1912), and British Gui ...
) proposed the introduction of pipe-borne water in Lagos (at a cost of £130,000) to improve sanitary conditions and argued that Lagosians should pay for the water scheme. Oba Eleko opposed the scheme noting that Lagosians could live off well-water and that it was the Europeans in Lagos who needed the pipe-borne water and that Europeans ought to pay for the water project. Despite the Eleko's objections, construction for the Iju Waterworks commenced and as a result, Oba Eleko instigated a protest of about 15,000 Lagosians on the Lagos Government House. Riots followed the protest and European shops in Lagos were looted. The water tax issue split the Lagos elite into the pro-government camp (
Kitoyi Ajasa
Sir Kitoye Ajasa (also spelled Kitoyi; 10 August 1866 – 1937) was a Nigerian lawyer and legislator during the colonial period. He was conservative, and worked closely with the colonial authorities. He thought that progress would only be possi ...
, Dr.
John Randle
John Anthony Randle (born December 12, 1967) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle for the Minnesota Vikings and the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He was a six-time first-tea ...
Henry Carr
Henry Carr (November 27, 1941 – May 29, 2015) was an American track and field athlete who won two gold medals at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.Candido da Rocha, Chief Obanikoro, Chief Alli Balogun) and the anti-government group (
Herbert Macaulay
Olayinka Herbert Samuel Heelas Badmus Macaulay (14 November 1864 – 7 May 1946) was a Nigerian nationalist, politician, surveyor, engineer, architect, journalist, and musician and is considered by many Nigerians as the founder of Niger ...
, J. Began Benjamin, Dr. Adeniyi Jones, Dr. Caulrick). Some such as Dr. Obasa and Randle were initially in the anti-government camp but back pedaled after getting threats of being seditious and engaging in activities inimical to the war effort. This was depicted in the 2019 biopic, ''
The Herbert Macaulay Affair
''The Herbert Macaulay Affair'' is a 2019 Nigerian film based on the life of Herbert Macaulay, a Nigerian nationalist and proponent of Nigerian independence. It was directed by Imoh Umoren and featured William Benson in the lead role alongside S ...
.''
Eleko's clash with the government over Central Mosque appointments
Oba Eleko's other troubles with the colonial government manifested in 1919 when the Oba approved the appointment of 4 Jamat Muslims to the titles of Balogun, Bashorun, Seriki Musillimi and Bey at the Central Mosque. The colonial government felt the Oba overstepped his bounds and that the appointment ought to have been a strictly religious affair with the government's blessing. The government, in what can be seen as retaliating for the riots over the pipe-borne water scheme, withdrew its recognition of the Oba and suspended his stipend. The government's antagonism toward Oba Eleko raised his profile with Lagosians; the colonial government's punitive measure had the unintended consequence of raising the Eleko's profile because the local chiefs and local merchants flooded the Eleko with financial support. Governor
Hugh Clifford
Sir Hugh Charles Clifford, (5 March 1866 – 18 December 1941) was a British colonial administrator.
Early life
Clifford was born in Roehampton, London, the sixth of the eight children of Major-General Sir Henry Hugh Clifford and his wife Jos ...
would later in the year reinstate Oba Eshugbayi Eleko.
The "Eleko Affair"
The "Eleko Affair" centered on The Eleko's Staff of Office, the Oluwa Land Case, and the Eleko's refusal to deny and dissociate himself from Herbert Macaulay's statement in London about the colonial government in Lagos. Before Herbert Macaulay's visit to London on behalf of Chief Amodu Tijani (Oluwa of Lagos) over the landmark Oluwa Land Case, the colonial government received intelligence that Macaulay planned to take the Oba's Staff of Office with him but the Staff was nowhere to be found. This was because it was hidden in the grave of one Adamaja (a one time pretender to the Obaship of Lagos) on orders by
Christopher Sapara Williams
Chief Christopher Alexander Sapara Williams (14 July 1855 – 15 March 1915) was the first indigenous Nigerian lawyer, called to the English bar on 17 November 1879. In addition to his legal practice, he came to play an influential role in the ...
who supported Adamaja's candidature in 1900. Macaulay is said to have raided Adamaja's grave at night with his bricklayer (one Lawani Kafo), resealed the grave and hid the Staff of Office in his wall at Kristen Hall (Macaulay's residence) until 1919 when he gave it to a lawyer Awoona Renner, who rendezvoused with Macaulay and Chief Amodu Tijani (Oluwa of Lagos) in Accra on their way to London. With the Accra rendezvous, Macaulay prevented the colonial government from getting in the way of his possession of the Oba's Staff of Office. When Macaulay was in London, he embarrassed the colonial government in Lagos by issuing a statement that Eleko Eshugbayi was the head of 17 million Nigerian and that the Eleko, whose grand father (Oba
Dosunmu
Dosunmu (c. 1823 – 1885), referred to in British documents as Docemo, reigned as Oba of Lagos from 1853, when he succeeded his father Oba Akitoye, until his own death in 1885. He was forced to run away to Britain under the threat of force in A ...
) ceded Lagos to the British via the
Lagos Treaty of Cession
The Treaty of Cession, 6 August 1861 or the Lagos Treaty of Cession was a treaty between the British Empire and Oba Dosunmu of Lagos (spelt 'Docemo' in English documents) wherein Dosunmu, under the threat of military bombardment, ceded Lagos Isl ...
in 1861, received less pay than the lowest paid European gardener. Macaulay also noted that while Dosunmu was promised a pension equal to that of the net revenue of the colony, the promise was not kept and that as of 1920, the net revenue of Nigeria was £4 million! Macaulay want further stating that the Eleko was “The chief negro" in possession of 3 times the size of Great Britain. The colonial government was embarrassed and interpreted the representation as Eleko being King of all Nigeria. As a result, the government asked Eleko to publicly rebut Macaulay's statement. Eleko, in turn, issued a press release denying Macaulay's statement but the government was not satisfied. It wanted Eleko's bell ringers to produce a denial produced by
Henry Carr
Henry Carr (November 27, 1941 – May 29, 2015) was an American track and field athlete who won two gold medals at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, Japan.Ibikunle Akitoye
Ibikunle Alfred Akitoye (1871–1928) was Oba of Lagos from 1925 to 1928 during what some historians refer to as the "Interregnum" years of the exiled Oba Eshugbayi Eleko. Ibikunle Akitoye was the first western educated and Christian Oba of Lagos ...
ruled from 1925 to 1928 and Oba Sanusi Olusi ruled from 1928 to 1931. While Oba Eleko was exiled, his lawyers continued to fight his deportation and went before the Privy Council in Britain who issued a directive requesting a review of the Oba's deportation. With things looking favorable to the Oba after many years in exile, the incoming Governor of Lagos, Sir
Donald Cameron Donald Cameron may refer to:
Scottish Clan Cameron
* Donald Cameron of Lochiel (c. 1695 or 1700–1748), 19th Chief, and his descendants:
** Donald Cameron, 22nd Lochiel (1769–1832), 22nd Chief
** Donald Cameron of Lochiel (1835–1905), Scott ...
, in what was viewed as a political masterstroke, decided to settle the issue out of court and allowed Oba Eshugbayi Eleko to return. Consequently, Cameron won the praise of many Lagosians.
Eleko's triumphant return from exile
Oba Eleko returned to a jubilant Lagos crowd who cheered him and carried him to his palace. Overwhelmed with emotion, the Eleko fainted and had to be revived. The Eleko also burst out in song praising Herbert Macaulay, who had been a strong advocate. Oba Sanusi Olusi vacated Iga Idungaran for Oba Eleko and was compensated with a £1,000 house along Broad Street by the British colonial government plus an annual allowance of £400.
Death
Oba Eshugbayi Eleko died on October 24, 1932, was buried at
Iga Idunganran
Iga Idunganran is the Official Residence of the Oba of Lagos, situated on Lagos Island. It is also a tourist attraction.
History
Dating back to the 15th century, the Lagos Island was originally owned by the island's first inhabitant Chief Aro ...