By -TheKayodeBadmus
Just as everyone continues to raise concerns about the drama going on in Ijebu and its quest for a new Awujale, the announcement of a new Oloja of Lagos greeted us days ago. The Kosoko family announced legendary actor, Jide Kosoko as the Oloja-elect, a decision which threw observers in a frenzied mood.
For starters, the Oloja of Lagos which was historically known as Oloja Ereko is the traditional Minister of Commerce in Lagos. The Oloja handles markets, trade and other economic activities occurring in Eko. The title dates back to the days of Oba Kosoko who reigned as Oba of Lagos from 1845 to 1851 when he was deposed by the British for refusing to sign an agreement putting an end to slave trading. What followed was an outright war with British forces invading Eko with war boats in what is known as Bombardment of Lagos or Reduction of Lagos. Yoruba people called it Ogun Ahoyaya (boiling cannons) or Ogun Agidingbi. Kosoko after the falling of his empire then fled to a part Ijebu with his followers. The place is known as Epe this day. He was replaced with Oba Akitoye whom Kosoko had coincidentally deposed himself to emerge king…(story for another day).
Years later, following several diplomatic agreements, Kosoko was allowed to return to Lagos but not as Oba. He was granted the honour to hold an economic office titled Oloja of Ereko.
Now back to the present day…the last Oloja of Lagos was Chief Adebola Ige who passed on in December 2017. Following his death, several disagreements arose within the Kokoko family which made the family set up a peace and reconciliation committee. This committee was headed by actor Jide Kosoko. After various processes, including a well-reported peaceful electoral process, Prince Abiola Kosoko; grandson of Olojo Kosoko, who was the first son of Oba Kosoko unanimously emerged as candidate for the vacant stool. He was subsequently introduced to the public by the head of the family, Alhaji Mutiat Alli-Balogun on December 31, 2020.
Then the waiting period began.
For five years, the Kosoko family continually beseeched the Oba of Lagos and the Lagos State Government to ratify and confirm the Oloja-elect, Abiola Kosoko as the substantive Oloja of Lagos. This was consistently ignored over time.
Abiola Kosoko, a Lagos State Polytechnic graduate and tourism expert is the founder of Origin Zoo and Gardens, Nigeria’s first privately owned animal park. Over the last five years, the Oloja-elect and the Kosoko family have tried to get an installation but they kept hitting a brick wall.
Somebody in the know hinted me that the Oloja-elect didn’t have the support of the Iga Iduganran palace because the Oba doesn’t have a particular liking for him. This cannot be independently verified though, but Abiola Kosoko who doubles as the Alashe of Ebute-Iga in Ikorodu kept waiting with hopes that his installation would happen soon.
However, while he waited, he ensured the resuscitation of the Kosoko heritage. Abiola Kosoko led the refurbishment of the Kosoko Palace and established it into the Kosoko Memorial Museum which was commissioned on April 4, 2024 by the then Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John. Artefacts and war relics used by Oba Kosoko who owned a personal army were adopted into this new museum which is now one of Lagos’s top tourism centres. Afrobeats superstar and one of the descendants of Oba Kosoko, Adekunle Gold is a frequent advocator of this museum where he also shot a video for one of his hit tracks, ‘Don Corleone’ last year.
Furthermore, Abiola Kosoko has over the years partnered with different local and international bodies to promote the Kosoko legacy, Lagos as a cultural hub and indeed Nigeria’s tourism economy. In August 2025, the museum hosted a delegation of the United States of America mission in Nigeria headed by the Consul General, Mr Rick Swart while advocating for partnerships between the Kosokos and the US mission. He also parlied different parastatals of the Lagos State government who as well recognised him as the Oloja-elect.
What begs the question however remains, who did Abiola Kosoko offend? Who has continued to prevent his installation as Oloja of Lagos?
In a shocking twist, Lagosians woke up to news days ago that veteran thespian and prominent member of the Kosoko dynasty, Prince Jide Kosoko has been selected as the next Oloja. While nobody saw this coming, it is surprising because the filmmaker was a part of the process that led to the emergence of Prince Abiola. Even more surprising is the fact that the head of the family who raised Prince Abiola’s hand as the family’s choice on December 31, 2020, 95-year-old Madam Mutiat Alli Balogun is the same person who has now endorsed Prince Jide’s emergence.
It now appears the selection of Prince Jide Kosoko has Iga Idugaran backing as insiders say his installation would be concluded very soon. But again, nobody has offered explanation as to what happened to the former Oloja-Elect, Prince Abiola Kosoko or what his offences were.
-TheKayodeBadmus
