Opposition leader Ralph Gonsalves cited King Jaja of Opobo as a significant historical example of a leader who was abducted under the guise of diplomacy and faced questionable legal proceedings.
Gonsalves used this history to draw a parallel to the current situation with Nicolás Maduro, arguing that for over 200 years, leaders have been kidnapped or faced “trumped up” charges that were later revealed to be political operations rather than genuine law enforcement.
He emphasized that King Jaja’s story is a reminder of how the “multilateral system” can be undermined by powerful nations through unilateral actions
King Jaja ruled an independent kingdom in what is now Nigeria and refused to allow Europeans to control the palm oil business.
Gonsalves said the British invited him to a “dialogue,” but instead of a conversation, they “snatched” him and took him to the Gold Coast.
He was tried for what Gonsalves described as “specious offenses” and sentenced to exile in St. Vincent.
After several years in St. Vincent, the British decided he was no longer a problem and allowed him to return home. However, he died of natural causes in Tenerife, Spain, while on his way back to Nigeria.