HISTORY OF OSHODI, LAGOS
The history of Lagos cannot be complete without making reference to the exploits of the legendary Chief Balogun Landuji Oshodi Tapa. For those who are not in the know, Oshodi Tapa was a little boy from the North (Nupe descent) who was about to be loaded onto a Portuguese ship as another sold slave. With his parents already murdered, he escaped and sought refuge in Oba of Lagos palace. Oba Eshinlokun (Kosoko’s father) took him in and raised him like one of his own princes under Fagbemi. He was fairly successful in trade and was able to acquire his own slaves. Some years later, one of the Portuguese merchants, a friend of King Eshilokun, asked the king to let two of his children accompany him to Portugal and he promised to bring them back. The King was very wary of this offer and he thought instead of risking the lives of any of his own children, he would offer two people loyal to him. Hence he chose Oshodi and Dada Antonio to go with the Portuguese merchant. While the King thought he wa
