Ex-Niger Delta militant leader Asari Dokubo has refuted the assertion made by the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, regarding the ownership of Lagos. Asari argues that while the Bini army, with the assistance of the Ijaw army, once attacked Lagos Island, they did not lay claim to any part of the state.
The controversy arose when Oba Ewuare II, during a courtesy visit to Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, claimed that historical records indicate Lagos was founded by the Binis. He stated, “It is in the history books that the Binis founded Lagos,” sparking intense debates on social media.
Asari Dokubo has dismissed the Oba’s assertion as nonsense, emphasizing the lack of basis for the claim that Binis have rights to the ownership of Lagos.
“Look at how unintelligent and stupid you are to say that the Bini people founded Lagos. It’s a useless argument. Daume also attacked Lagos and attacked Abeokuta and Daume is in Benin Republic. So Daume people will say they owe this place because they came to fight there?” Asari said in a video on X.
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“Borogu, which of them is the Benin Republic, will now say that because they had their army all over the place in those days, Igbo-Ora and the whole Okedun belong to them?
“You don’t know history. The Bini army attacked Lagos Island. The Ijaw army ferried them to attack not the whole of Lagos, just Lagos Island.
“Lagos was five divisions, four of these divisions were in the former Western Region. You don’t know history. But they keep Talking about ‘Lagos belongs to Benin’ which Oba of Benin can Lagos belong to?
“Something is wrong with you people. If you say that the Bini army attacked Lagos, it’s okay. That sounds reasonable. But it’s Lagos Island which they attacked by the sea. Ijaw people ferried them according to history.”