21st of September, 2021 marked the 134 years anniversary of the exile of Africa’s most prominent coastal monarch, King Jaja of Opobo.
That day reminded every Opobian the sacrifice Jaja paid to protect and keep the kingdom, he and other chiefs who exited Bonny in September 1869 strived to build.
It was on the 21st day of September 1887 that King Jaja walked into the British gunboat, HMS Goshawk stationed on Opobo River by Consul Johnston who was apparently doing the bid of the Liverpool merchants, who want to break Jaja’s monopoly on the hinterland markets.
Jaja who was a middle man in the palm oil trade had insisted that various treaties and agreement had given him powers to control markets stretching from Ibuno to Ohambele, now in Abia State.
Johnston had earlier written to Jaja inviting him to a parley on the 18th of September but King Jaja had refused that he would only attend with a white friend but Johnston bent in his scheme to remove the king replied that,” I have summoned you to attend in a friendly spirit. I hereby assure you that, whether you accept or reject my proposal, no restraint whatever will be be put upon you. You will be free to go as soon as you have heard the message.”
It was today Jaja after the assurance of Consul Johnston attended with his followers at Harrison’s factory; and Johnston landed with the officers of HMS Goshawk, which was on the river. Suddenly and immediately Jaja and his group sat down for talk, the gunship turned and faced its artillery on Opobo Town.
Sensing that he has been lured, Jaja was weak and according to accounts urged his army which was also prepared for the worst not to attack the British. His fears were that Opobo would be destroyed and all his hard work and vision will all be swept away. He conceded for the general good and preservation of his people.
After the consul read an ultimatum to the king that he was to leave Opobo at once, and go to Accra to be judged. He was given an hour to decide yes or no, if he said No, he was to be warred upon, declared an outlaw and a reward offered for his capture.
Faced with this alternative Jaja surrendered, and hence was moved to Gold Coast now Ghana tried and later exiled at St Vincent in the West Indies.
Jaja engaged some of the best lawyers at the time and his merchant friends mounted pressure on the British Parliament, and after five years of pressure and protest he was released to return home in 1891. And be died same year on his way home.
Rev M J Elliot, a Methodist Bishop and friend of King Jaja was one of those who saw Jaja shortly before he passed on at Tenerife Island, Spain recalled that, “We were both standing in the hotel facing each other, and on the mention of of the name Consul Hopkins, the king’s eyes glistened, and placing a hand on each of my shoulders looking straight into my eyes he said with pathetic emphasis, “You knew Consul Hopkins? Ah, if Consul Hopkins had lived there would have been none of this palaver.”
The late Lord Salisbury, former Prime Minister of Britain at the time had described Jaja’s exile as “a kidnap.”
Alex Cowan, a merchant friend of Jaja lambasted the British for maltreating Jaja saying, “had he been sparred, his great influence together with his shrewd and sound judgment would have meant much to Nigeria in the years that followed. He was just such a man as Sir Walter Egerton, Sir Frederick Lugard and Hugh Clifford…”
