Similarities between Benin and Opobo, By Eric Teniola 

Because for several years after the treaty Oba Ovonramwen continued to rule his state in the tradition of his ancestors, refusing to “compromise his independence in order to pander too the needs of British officials and traders”, says Igbafe, adding that “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.

Ovonramwen is renowned for his brave stand against the colonisation of his Kingdom by the British, for which he is generally regarded as the last great king of Southern Nigeria in nineteenth century who attempted to stem the tide of British occupation and conquest.

Three years later the new state was recognised by Britain which in 1884 entered into a “treaty” with Opobo, placing the latter under the protection of the British Crown.