Ashugbyi Eleko

After the death of Oyekan I in 1901, elections were held between the candidates - the princes Jose Davudu, Oduntan, Adamajai and Eshugbayi Eleko. The latter won, and his candidacy was later approved by the British colonial government in Lagos under the leadership of William McGregor ^{[2] [3]} .

In 1908, Governor Walter Egerton proposed a water supply of £ 130,000 in the city to improve sanitation , with construction being carried out at the expense of Lagos. Both Eleko opposed this, noting that the townspeople can live off the water from the well , and Europeans need the water supply, so let them pay. Despite objections, construction began in Ijeb , and the king organized an action led by 15,000 citizens at the Government House. The protest movement grew into riots - European shops in Lagos were looted. As a result, the People’s Union party, established by John C. Randle, Orisadipe Obasa and Sir Kitoe Ajasa, managed to suspend the project, which caused the British to be displeased with both the party and the king ^[4] .

Collision with the government

In 1919, Eshugbayi Eleko appointed four Jamat Muslims to the place of preachers in the Central Mosque. The colonial government decided that Both went beyond their powers - the right of such appointments is strictly a religious matter. The government, in light of this, and recalling the king’s actions in the issue of running the water supply, withdrew his recognition of Eleko Oboi and suspended the payment of his pension. Such measures of the colonial government had an unintended consequence - increasing Eleko's reputation in the eyes of the Lagos people, because the Yoruba leaders and local merchants flooded Eleko with offers of financial support ^[2] . Governor Hugh Clifford a little later, in the same year, reinstated Ashugbai Eleko as king ^[4] .

The Eleko Affair

While in London , the head of the Nigerian National Democratic Party, Herbert Macaulay, said that Eshugbay Eleko leads 17 million Nigerians and receives less than the lowest paid European gardener under an agreement signed by his father Dosunmu . Macaulay also noted that although Dosunmu was promised a pension equal to the amount of the colony’s net income, the promise was not fulfilled - as of 1920, Nigeria’s net income was £ 4 million! Macaulay further stated that Eleco's possessions were 3 times the size of Great Britain ^[3] . The colonial government interpreted this statement as an announcement that Eleko ruled the entire colony . As a result, the government asked Eleco to publicly refute Macaulay's statement. The king issued a rebuttal press release , but the government was not satisfied - Eleko was required to declare that he controlled Lagos on behalf of King George V. He refused, and the British again withdrew their recognition of Eshugbayi Eleko Wallpaper and suspended the payment of a pension ^[3] .

Displacement and deportation

Without Oba's cooperation, the colonial government could not effectively manage Lagos. Tensions persisted, and in the end, on August 6, 1925, there was a precept for Eleko to leave Lagos and move to Oyo . Both did not fulfill the order, and on August 8, 1925 he was arrested and exiled to Oyo, and Ibikunle Akitoye was elected king. While Eleko was in exile, his lawyers continued to fight, and even appeared before the Privy Council in the UK , which issued a directive requesting a review of the decision to deport him. In view of the many years of exile, the king’s actions no longer looked so unfavorable, but because the newly appointed governor, Sir Donald Cameron, decided to resolve this issue outside the court - he allowed Both Eshugbai Eleko to return. Consequently, Cameron won the favor of many lagos ^[5] .

Obu Eleko, on his return, was met by a jubilant crowd of Lagosites who carried him to the palace. Eleco, overwhelmed with emotions, fainted , and when he came to, he began to sing a song, praising his patron and protector Herbert Macaulay. King Sanusi Olusi was “asked” to release Iga Idungaran for Ashugbayi Eleko, and the colonial government allocated him a house worth £ 1000 along Broad Street, as well as an annual allowance of £ 400 for “reassurance” ^[6] .

Both Eshugbayi Eleko died on October 24, 1932, was buried in Iga Idunganran , and Falol Dosunmu was enthroned ^[2] .