Mr. “Lecqi” was one of the figures of the European enslavement of Africans. Once a salt trader, he quickly switched over to the more profitable business of slave trading. He essentially tore families apart and destroyed the lives of many Africans.

To have a landmark commemorating the man that destroyed a countless amount of lives and exploited innocent people is not only disgusting, but offensive and insulting. Lecqi as a symbol of the European enslavement of Africans is significantly offensive to both Africans at home and people with African descent. There is not a justifiable reason to keep the tomb in its present location and if one uses the false resentful justification of it “being a part of history” for the tomb to remain, it would be subsequently acknowledging that one revels in support of the enslavement and murder of millions of innocent people at any point in history.

Being historical does not equal good. He represents the worst in humanity. A figure of oppression, greed, and wickedness that has been celebrated in Lekki Nigeria for far too long. I encourage people to look into the history of Lecqi and realize what it means to glorify and celebrate a slave trader. Lecqi’s tomb should be replaced with a different monument that is beneficial to the people.

The preservation of history is integrally important. We ought to carefully consider what history to celebrate and what not. This tomb is egregious. Let us commemorate someone more worthy of celebration.