Babatunde Akran, the Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I, Oba of Badagry, has died at the age of 89, after more than four decades on the throne.
Gatekeepers News reports that until his passing on Monday, Akran served as the permanent vice-chairman of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs. Before ascending the throne in the late 1970s, he worked as a journalist.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu described the monarch’s death as a great loss to Badagry, Lagos State, and Nigeria at large. In a statement issued through his media aide, Gboyega Akosike, the governor praised Oba Akran for his “decades of service and impact as a respected traditional ruler.”
“Oba Akran was widely known for his wisdom, commitment to cultural preservation, and advocacy for the development of Badagry,” Sanwo-Olu said. “He served his people selflessly and left behind a legacy of unity, tradition, and progress.”
The governor highlighted Akran’s role as a custodian of Badagry’s traditions and cultural heritage, noting that the monarch acted as a stabilising force who united diverse interests within the kingdom. Sanwo-Olu also commended him for promoting Badagry’s historical sites and cultural festivals nationally and internationally, boosting tourism and attracting development to the ancient town.
“On behalf of my wife, the government, and people of Lagos State, I commiserate with the people of Badagry, the deceased’s family, friends, associates, and traditional institutions on the transition of the paramount ruler of Badagry Kingdom,” the governor added.
He urged the monarch’s family, subjects, and associates to work towards immortalising Oba Akran’s legacy, while praying for strength for the people of Badagry and Lagos to bear the loss.
