How Benin and Opobo Share a History of Resistance

The history of Opobo is quite similar to that of the Benin Empire. Both had leaders who fought against British rule many years ago.

Ovonramwen, the Oba of Benin, was the independent king of the Edo Kingdom of Benin. He is well-known for his courageous stance against the British takeover of his kingdom. He is seen as the last significant king of Southern Nigeria in the 19th century, who tried to resist British invasion and control.

During his nine-year reign from 1888 to 1897, Ovonramwen aimed to protect the Edo empire's independence and its economic interests. Sadly, this led to the British armed invasion of Benin in 1897. The Oba lost the fight and was removed from power, sent into exile for life. His kingdom was then merged into a larger political unit under British rule. By 1912, this unit, the Protectorate of Southern Nigeria, combined with the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria to create Nigeria.

"Ovonramwen fell for the same reasons as other great African rulers of the late nineteenth century who represented an age that was fast fading away under the determined thrust of the white man resolved to take over the political and economic control of the African coast and the interior, Pepple of Bonny in 1854, Jaja of Opobo in 1887, Nana the Itsekiri in 1894, King Prempeh of Ashanti in January 1896," wrote Professor Philip A. Igbafe in his book, Benin Under British Administration.

In the late 1880s, during Ovonramwen’s father Adolo’s reign, Britain had already claimed Benin as its area of influence. This was clear when Captain H.L. Gallway, the British Commissioner and Vice-Consul of the Benin District, visited Benin in 1892, just four years after Ovonramwen became Oba.

During that visit, the British officer signed a treaty with Ovonramwen to establish commercial ties between Benin and Britain. Among other things, the 1892 treaty asked the Oba to work with Britain for “order, good government and the general progress of civilization.”

The full meaning of this was not explained to the Oba of Benin. For years after the treaty, Oba Ovonramwen continued to rule in line with his ancestors' traditions. He refused to “compromise his independence to cater to the needs of British officials and traders,” says Igbafe. He adds that “the relationship between Benin and the traders on the coast as well as with the British officials during those last two decades of the nineteenth century was particularly productive of friction from the British standpoint. This stage was thus being set for the overthrow of Benin.”

Against this backdrop, Vice-Consul James R. Philips went to assess the strength of the Benin Army on 18 January 1897, despite warnings about causing trouble. Phillips and many of his men were ambushed outside the city. This led the British to launch a punitive expedition in February 1897. Benin fell in that battle, and its Oba was dethroned and sent to Calabar, where he died seventeen years later in 1914.

Oba Ovonramwen ruled at a tough time in Benin's history. He took over an empire that was in decline. “Probably because of attacks by other indigenous powers on the peripheral peoples of his Empire, which led invariably to a shrinkage of his dominions and possibly too of his throne.” As Idugbowa, Oba Ovonramwen had to battle opposition to his rise to the throne in 1888. Even after he became king, he could only strengthen his rule through purges and executions.

Still, Oba Ovonramwen was committed to making his reign meaningful. He maintained court customs from his ancestors, which he wanted to keep alive. The human sacrifices that the British protested were part of tradition that the Oba could not abandon. He lost his throne and power trying to defend that tradition against foreign invasion. One effect of this invasion was the stealing of many of Benin’s beautiful artworks, which are now found all over the world.

In 1914, the monarchy returned with Oba Ovonramwen’s eldest son, Eweka II, who was succeeded in 1933 by Akenzua II.

Now, let’s talk about Jaja, the King of Opobo. He was known for fighting against colonial rule. He was a slave sold to Anna Pepple of Bonny and later became the leader of his master’s house. Jaja established himself as a key figure in Delta state politics when he became King of the new Kingdom of Opobo. Leadership in an Ijaw trading house was not by birth but by proving one could take care of its members. Jaja became head of the Anna Pepple house around 1869, which caused jealousy among others. This led to a civil war, and Jaja came out on top.

After the Bonny civil war, Jaja moved to the Opobo river and founded the Kingdom of Opobo. His business skills thrived here. He set up plantations and built a port, creating trading posts on the creeks. This allowed him to control the palm oil supply to European merchants, making Opobo one of the wealthiest Delta states.

With wealth came political power and military strength. Jaja's army was so strong that during the Ashanti war, he sent some of his soldiers to help the British, earning him a sword of honour from Queen Victoria in 1875.

In 1870, after settling in Opobo, he declared it an independent state with 14 of the 18 houses of Bonny. Three years later, Britain recognized the new state and entered into a treaty with Opobo in 1884, putting it under British Crown protection. However, the 1885 proclamation of a British Protectorate over the Oil Rivers marked the end of independence for coastal city-states and created conflict between Jaja and the British.

Jaja was the only ruler in the Delta who challenged the new political system. He asked the British for a clear definition of “protectorate.” The British replied vaguely, saying that Her Majesty’s Government would extend her “gracious favour and protection.” He accepted this, thinking it would not impact Opobo's independence. He kept monopolizing the oil trade, stopping others from trading with European merchants while he continued direct exports to Britain. Thus, Jaja viewed the British push for “free” trade as interference and a breach of the 1884 treaty.

The British Consul in Oil Rivers, Harry Johnston, opposed Jaja’s independence. In 1887, Johnston removed his power to impose customs duties on oil exports. Jaja protested to the Secretary of State for the Colonies by sending a delegation to London. Meanwhile, Johnston sought permission from the British Government to remove Jaja, who had been resisting British demands. The King was “invited” on board a British gunboat, HMS Goshawk, to meet Consul Johnston. Jaja was assured by Johnston that “whatever you accept or reject my proposals tomorrow, no restraint whatever will be put on you, you will be free to go as soon as you have heard the message of the government.”

But when he got on board, Jaja was asked to choose between being tried for breaking the treaty or letting the British Navy bomb Opobo. He chose trial, which took place in Accra, Ghana. He was found guilty and exiled in 1887 to the West Indies with a pension of 800 pounds a year. This opened the door for British control over the area, collecting nearly 90,000 from import duties in the first year alone.

King Jaja’s banishment upset many in the Oil Rivers states. After many appeals to the British Government, the Colonial Secretary set up a commission to investigate the situation. In 1891, the commission, led by Major Claude MacDonald, recommended that, due to popular demand in Opobo, King Jaja should return and be reinstated. That same year, King Jaja was allowed to come back, but he died on the way home on 7 July 1891. His body was taken to Opobo for burial.

Nigeria is fortunate that we did not engage in military conflict before gaining our independence. Our independence was achieved through negotiation. But places like Benin, Bonny, and Opobo faced harsh British colonization. The current Oba of Benin, Oba Eheneden Erediauwa, Ewuare II, the great-grandson of Oba Ovonramwen, was crowned on 20 October 2016. King Charles Douglas MacPepple Jaja, Jeki VI of Opobo, has just started his expected long reign. We hope their reigns are peaceful and prosperous.