Ex-Niger Delta agitator, Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, on Thursday, joined the list of those who have so far faulted the claim that the Benin people founded Lagos.
Dokubo was seen in a video that went viral on Thursday saying that the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, had succeeded in sharing “parasitic history” with his position on the matter.
According to him, the Benin Army just attacked Lagos Island, and not the entire state, which include the spread to the hinterland of the modern Lagos.
An argument over the ownership of Lagos resurfaced after the revered Benin monarch visited Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in Marina on Sunday.
In his address, the traditional ruler said, “It is in the history books that the Benins founded Lagos.”
His statement sparked outrage among Lagosians at home and abroad, including several concerned historians and Nigerians who have faulted the stance of the monarch.
Asari-Dokubo, on his part, said, “The Oba of Benin carried a parasitic history to Lagos. Most of these things did not even happen. People even said there was one said by Oba of Lagos, and they started chewing a narrative. The question I’m asking the Oba of Benin and the people is, did Benin now package the land of Lagos among the Yoruba people and Egun people? It doesn’t make sense!”
He wondered if those who believe that Lagos belongs to the Benin people, do not know the distance between Benin and Lagos.
He insisted that those who hold the belief that Lagos was founded by Benin people do not know history.
He added, “Dahomey attacked Lagos. Dahomey attacked Abeokuta. Dahomey people in the Benin Republic will now say they own Lagos.
“You don’t know history. A Benin Army attacked Ondo. Ijaw people ferried them. They went to attack Lagos Island. Not the whole of Lagos, just the Island.
“Lagos was made of five divisions. Four of these divisions were of the former western region. You don’t know history. Which Lagos belongs to Benin people?”
The ex-Niger Delta militant said while it sounds reasonable that the Benin Army attacked the people of Lagos, it is wrong to say that Lagos was founded by Benin people.
“And it is Lagos Island, that very tiny place that they are talking about. They are not talking of Ikeja, they are not talking of Ikorodu, they are not talking of Badagry, they are not talking of Mushin,” he added.
