By Babatunde Kaka.

Reactions have continued to trail the proposed bill to merge Eti-Osa with Epe Division as orchestrated by the leadership of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

Speaking with EKO HOT BLOG after a Press Conference organized by Epe Stakeholders on Saturday, February 27, 2021, Barrister Ogidan Mukadas Olaitan, the Chairman Lekki LCDA, described the merger of Eti-Osa with Epe Division as antithetical to the aspirations of the founding fathers during the creation of the Epe Division. He also made historical references to the distinctive differences between the Lagos Division and Epe Division.

He stressed that in times past, there have been attempts to adulterate Epe Division, but however, noted that it wasn’t for fun that the Division was positioned under Ijebu by the Colonial Masters based on cultural affinities.

“Epe Division has been created since 1953 ever before I was born. That shows a long time of this Division. And there have been efforts from people to adulterated the Division in the past, especially when Ikorodu craved to merge part of Agbowa to make the Division of their own. Hitherto Ikorodu itself used to be under Epe Division in 1953, it was Adeniran Ogunsanya and TOS Benson that fought for the severance of Ikorodu from being part of the Epe Division. They wielded their position in the Western House to make Ikorodu part of the Epe Division which has about one-third of the total landmass in Lagos State, consisting of six administrative districts under the Colonial era, which include Epe, Eredo, Ejinrin, Agbowa, Ibeju and Lekki.

These Colonial Administrations were not just created by the Colonial Masters for fun but was borne out of the geographical contiguity, cultural relativity and of course they have so much by a rail of tradition together under Ijebu Division”, he said.

Speaking further, Barrister Ogidan noted that Eti-Osa does not form part of Ijebu but part of the Lagos Division. He stressed that the Lagos Division has its traditional background in the Benin Kingdom. He substantiated his claim with the fact that the word “Eko” means ‘where the king collects tribute’. In times past, he stated that the place used to be called Lagos de Kuramos. He stated also that the Origin of the Ekos from Eti-Osa to Lagos Island can be found in their eulogies. But as Ijebus, there are evident cultural affinities with the Awujale of Ijebu Land, the King of Iwopin and also that of Lenuwa of Ode-Omi.

The merger of Eti-Osa of Lagos Division with Epe Division, he said, was a political caricature intended to adulterate Epe Division to service their men politically, so that anything accrued to Epe Division would also accrue to the constituent members of the merger.

Barrister Ogidan asserted that in times past, their advances have been observed. He cited the rationale behind naming a large expanse of land in Ibeju land as Eko Akete rather than Ibeju Agbe Land.

Regarding the  message the Stakeholders are sending to the Lagos State House of Assembly, he said:

“The signal is that we are antithetical to the intention as it does not go with the thinking of the traditional rulers and our forefathers when Epe Division was being created.

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