Oba Eshugbayi Eleko (died 1932), alias "Eleko of Eko", was the Oba of Lagos from 1901 to 1925, and from 1931 to 1932. His father was Oba Dosunmu. Eleko's struggles and legal victory over the British colonial government symbolized the struggle between indigenous rights and colonial rule in Nigeria. The outcome of the "Eleko Affair" led to the Eleko's deposition as Oba and deportation to Oyo between 1925 and 1931, years that some historians now call the "interregnum years", and that saw the reigns of Oba Ibikunle Akitoye (from 1925 to 1928) and Oba Sanusi Olusi (from 1928 to 1931).
Obaship
Oba Eleko succeeded Oba Oyekan I upon Oyekan's death in 1901 and was officially recognized by the British colonial government in Lagos under the governorship of William MacGregor. Those who lost out to Eleko for the Obaship in 1901 include Jose Dawodu, Oduntan, and Adamaja.
Eleko's opposition to the British colonial government's water tax
In 1908, the British colonial government (Governor Walter Egerton) proposed the introduction of pipe-borne water in Lagos (at a cost of £130,000) to improve sanitary conditions and argued that Lagosians should pay for the water scheme. Oba Eleko opposed the scheme noting that Lagosians could live off well-water and that it was the Europeans in Lagos who needed the pipe-borne water and that Europeans ought to pay for the water project. Despite the Eleko's objections, construction for the Iju Waterworks commenced and as a result, Oba Eleko instigated a protest of about 15,000 Lagosians on the Lagos Government House. Riots followed the protest and European shops in Lagos were looted. The water tax issue split the Lagos elite into the pro-government camp (Kitoyi Ajasa, Dr. John Randle, Dr. Obasa, Henry Carr, Candido da Rocha, Chief Obanikoro, Chief Alli Balogun) and the anti-government group (Herbert Macaulay, J. Began Benjamin, Dr. Adeniyi Jones, Dr. Caulrick). Some such as Dr. Obasa and Randle were initially in the anti-government camp but back pedaled after getting threats of being seditious and engaging in activities inimical to the war effort. This was depicted in the 2019 biopic, The Herbert Macaulay Affair.
Eleko's clash with the government over Central Mosque appointments
Oba Eleko's other troubles with the colonial government manifested in 1919 when the Oba approved the appointment of 4 Jamat Muslims to the titles of Balogun, Bashorun, Seriki Musillimi and Bey at the Central Mosque. The colonial government felt the Oba overstepped his bounds and that the appointment ought to have been a strictly religious affair with the government's blessing. The government, in what can be seen as retaliating for the riots over the pipe-borne water scheme, withdrew its recognition of the Oba and suspended his stipend. The government's antagonism toward Oba Eleko raised his profile with Lagosians; the colonial government's punitive measure had the unintended consequence of raising the Eleko's profile because the local chiefs and local merchants flooded the Eleko with financial support. Governor Hugh Clifford would later in the year reinstate Oba Eshugbayi Eleko.