Sanwo-Olu mourns Akran’s demise, urges Badagry residents to uphold legacy

By Adeola Ogunrinde

The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Saturday urged the people of Badagry to preserve the legacy of their king, His Imperial Majesty, De Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi I.

The governor made this known during the funeral thanksgiving service held in honour of the late Akran at Freeman Memorial Methodist Cathedral.

The event drew a large gathering of dignitaries and well-wishers, including the Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat; the Secretary to the State Government, Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin; members of the State Executive Council; serving and former public office holders; politicians; religious and traditional leaders; as well as family members.

Following the service, Governor Sanwo-Olu performed the groundbreaking ceremony, where he noted that the revered monarch departed with a legacy that would endure.

Addressing the people, the governor urged them to honour the late monarch by sustaining his vision and values, emphasising that the greatest tribute to the monarch would be to preserve the kingdom’s monuments, uphold its traditions, and promote its rich history to the wider world.

“To the good people of Badagry, I say this: your Kabiyesi lived a life worthy of celebration. He was a teacher, a journalist, a king, a statesman, a father, and a guardian of one of the most storied kingdoms in Nigeria’s history. He gave you forty-eight years of peace and a record of your heritage. Do not let grief consume what he built,” he said.

The governor further reflected on the monarch’s role in governance, noting his calm and principled presence in the Council of Obas and Chiefs, describing him as “a constant, an unshakeable figure of unity.”

Meanwhile, in his sermon, the Prelate Emeritus of the Methodist Church Nigeria, Sunday Ola Makinde, described the late monarch as hospitable and deeply devoted to his people, indicating that the monarch’s life underscored the transient nature of human existence and highlighted his unwavering service to God until his passing.