The 5th festival colloquium for Lagos at 50 which centred on Lagos 1861: Matters Arising and delivered by an astute historian and Dr. Patrick Dele Cole, brought to limelight the role of Lagos in the emergence of the Nigerian nation, writes Edozie Udeze.
Events marking the 50th anniversary of the creation of Lagos State keep gathering different steams every month. With the infusion of varieties of cultural programmes and displays, the organisers have succeeded in making it less boring for participants and stakeholders. Last weekend in Lagos, the 50th edition of the series of lectures earmarked as part of the activities to usher in the anniversary was held at the National Theatre, Lagos.
With the title of the lecture as Lagos 1861: Matters Arising and handled by Dr. Dele Patrick Cole, a seasoned technocrat and diplomat, it was obvious that the chequered history of Lagos State from inception has prepared it to be the first among equals. But beyond the genesis of the 1861 episode that underscored the steady evolution of the state to what it is today, the National Troupe of Nigeria led by its director, Mr. Akinsola Adejuwon, performed to put guests in the right frame of mind to welcome the lecture.
The dancers anchored their dances on the history of the state. Through their dances, they reminded the public about those important personalities whose roles in public and private lives have continued to put the state on the road to progress and prosperity. They sang and danced in honour of Oba Akiolu of Lagos, and how he and his ancestors and progenitors have kept the faith. Lagos would not have been the melting pot of the Nigerian nation if the Obas, both present and past have not played their roles well.
They also poured encomiums on Eleru Abiola and such other socialites in the state whose places in history are never in contention. Incidentally, the Eleru was there present and her presence added unalloyed value to the songs. As the drums beat to their maddening frenzy, the dancers did more justice to the songs. They did not only praise these important people, they harped on the need for people to continually ensure that the state is made conducive day-in-day-out. Lagos State is home to all. It is very accommodating. It is conducive for business; a place where people come and refuse to go once they tasted the norms of the environment; its allure and aura. The dance steps and patterns were dynamic and effectual in different forms to demonstrate the opportunities that abound in the state. The costumes, interspersed with red beads and anklets did justice to the show. The local costumes of buba and iro worn by the three male and three female dancers showed Lagos as a state of freedom where there should be the epitome of existence, love and prosperity.
This was why in his opening remark, Adejuwon thanked the organisers for keeping faith with the National Theatre as the venue of the lecture. He said, “We all are here today because this is your home, it is a venue built to have shows like this one we are having today. It was the property of Lagos State before it became the property of the federal government. It is situated in this centre of excellence for our use. This is why it is the National Theatre, meant for all of us. Its occupants are Lagosians, and so let us make maximum use of it to promote theatre, to keep it afloat for us all”.
With this, the lecture proper took off on a sensitive note. Cole, a historian and scholar of repute dwelt on the historical excursion of the state from 1861. 1861 was the year when the peace of the state was first shattered and disorganised by the British invaders and overloads. He began thus; “the history of Lagos is the history of Nigeria. The history of Lagos cannot be divorced from the history of Nigeria. It was in 1861 when suddenly sounds of gun and the booming of explosives were heard everywhere in the city. Indeed the Oba woke up completely disoriented. He thought it was the god of thunder angry with the people and he felt it was time to appease it”.
Yet that was not what it was. Cole, a Lagosian himself, totally versed in the history and evolution of his society, said, “oh, it was an invasion; the coming of the Europeans to Lagos. At that point the bombing intensified as fire settled on top of houses. Many homes were burnt down as communities and settlements got more confused. The Oba then sent out his soldiers to find out what was amiss. When the soldiers got to the seashore, they saw the British with the huge canons and guns stationed to bombard the whole town. It was terrible and unbearable.
Thereafter, the white men began to move to the palace of the Oba to set their eyes on him. There, they said it was one Queen Victoria who told them to take over the city. They accused the Oba of still maintaining and engaging in Slave Trade, which the Queen and others in Europe had already banned. He was however told to remain in office but at the beck and call of the Queen. This baffled everyone. But the city was thus taken over by the invaders who instructed the Oba and his people to henceforth engage in trade in oil from the interior to the hinterland with the British in close supervision.
Cole, a former ambassador to Brazil and presidential aspirant, said further, “Lagos now became a colony. This was strange to the people. The British also warned them not to trade on the sea anymore. They were dumbfounded. The order came from the Queen. Then the consul brought a book and asked the Oba to sign. He signed, thus ceding Lagos to the whiteman. Then the whiteman said this is the treaty of concession and now the land belonged to the Queen of England. It is now a crown colony of Lagos to be run and administered by Her Imperial Majesty”.
From that moment to date, the state has played prominent roles for the emergency of Nigeria. In 1914 when the amalgamation took place, Lagos assumed a new role in the formation of Nigeria. It later became a protectorate and the capital of Nigeria. In 1967, it became the headquarters of Lagos State and that is why we are here today”, Cole reminisced, saying, “this celebration is important to all of us not only as Nigerians, but as Lagosians, for Lagos has now become one of the fastest emerging cities and economies in the world”.
But for Lagos to become what it is today, people from different corners of the world made it possible. Cole said, “So in 1877 Brazil released their slaves. Some came back to Lagos. Here they had their Brazilian quarters. Then the Oba of Lagos had an affair with a Benin woman to beget Oba Ado. Today, we cannot forget our connection with Benin people. Then the Aworis who came through the action of the Olofin of ife. So the history has continued to unfold and spread.”
Present at the occasion were J. P. Clark, Francesca Emmanuel, Eleru Abiola, Olawale Cole, Wale Adeniran, Teju Kareem and more.
In all, Cole called for special status for Lagos State, owing to its role in Nigeria. Lagos to him, should receive special status and grants to run its affairs.