Eminent citizens fault historical claims on 1861 Lagos annexation

BY CHARLES KUMOLU
LAGOS— EMINENT Nigerians yesterday unanimously faulted historical claims that the role played by Late Oba Dosumu on the 1861 annexation of Lagos was against the interest of the city, saying that the monarch was heroic in his dealings with Britain.

They also described the annexation as a commercial adventure, adding that it was not driven by human interest as being claimed by the United Kingdom.

From left: Erelu Abiola Dosumu, Amb. Dapo Fafowora, Chairman and Prof Tekena Tamuno during the 11th brainstorming session on the 1861 annexation of Lagos as a British Crown Colony organised by the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, in Lagos, yesterday. Pix: Joe Akintola, Photo Editor.

This was disclosed at a forum convened by the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, NIIA, entitled: 11th Brainstorming Session On The 1861 Annexation of Lagos As A British Crown Colony: Matters Arising.

Dignitaries at the event, which attracted notable people from the academia, diplomatic corps, legislature and traditional institution include former Head of Interim National Government, Chief Ernest Shonekan, Senator Olorunimbe Momora, Ambassador George Obiozor, Erelu Abiola Dosumu, Mr. Sam Amuka, Publisher/Chairman, Vanguard Newspapers, Dr. Walter Ofonagoro, and Ambassador Robert Clark.

Others were Prof Rafiu Akindele, Prof Tekena Tamuno, Prof Margaret Vogts, Prof Bola Akinterinwa, Ambassador Dapo Fafowora and Prof Alaba Ogunsanwo among others.

In her remarks Erelu Dosumu regretted that Oba Dosumu’s role in the annexation of Lagos as a British colony had been wrongly placed on the wrong side of history.

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According to her, “while it is tempting to want to join the argument on the different and sometimes distorted accounts on the role of Oba Dosumu in signing the treaty ceding Lagos to the United Kingdom, I simply would like to use this opportunity to welcome you to the celebration which started a year ago, where experts, historians, actors and actresses are putting the records straight through intellectual discourses, workshops and a host of other interesting activities.

“If there is any other message I have today, it is the fact that the treaty of Lagos was about trade, it established a relationship with Her Majesty, Queen Victoria’s government and Lagos, which later expanded to Nigeria as a whole. The treaty of Lagos was about promotion of trade and investment and economic cooperation in general and not territorial takeovers, which my extensive research revealed.”

In addition, Dosumu said, “today August 6, 2012 makes it exactly 151 years down the line, the fact that Nigeria is proud more than ever to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the United Kingdom in a special relationship which the government and people of our two countries are keen to promote, speaks volume about the efficacy of the treaty of Lagos and the role of Oba Dosumu over a century ago.”

Historical background of annexation

Similarly, Mr. Alex Ekeanyanwu, in his lecture entitled: British Pre-Colonial Engagement With Nigerian Chiefs: Oba Dosumu In The Annexation of Lagos stated that accusing Dosunmu of  weakness in his engagement with Britain was misplaced.

He said: “Accusing Dosumu of docility or weakness in his engagement with the British is completely misplaced. If anything, Oba Dosumu should be seen as a strategic thinker, who foresaw the consequences of opposing Britain with respect to the take over of Lagos as has been seen in the cases of King Pepple of Bonny, Jaja of Opobo, Nana of Itsekiri and Ovonramen of Benin.”

Ekeanyanwu further said, “even though the British in identifying the annexation said the measure had become indispensable to the complete suppression of slave traders and kidnappers, who oppressed them, the fact indeed was that Britain was determined to exercise political control over Lagos and appropriate all economic benefits from the strategic location of Lagos.”

Continuing, he said, “the political environment was conducive for British intervention. The crises of succession which dated back from the death of Oba Olugun Kutere in 1881 had become a destabilising factor. The misunderstanding between two rival branches of the ruling house in Lagos represented by Akitoye and Kosoko provided an enabling environment for Consul Beecroft to strike.”