Oba Babatunde Akran of Badagry dies at 89

Babatunde Akran, the Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I, the Oba of Badagry, is dead.

The monarch died on Monday at the age of 89 after more than four decades on the throne.

Until his death, Akran was the permanent vice-chairman of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs.

Akran worked as a journalist before ascending the throne in the late 1970s.

Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos, described the monarch’s passing as a great loss to Badagry and the entirety of Lagos and Nigeria.

In a statement issued by Gboyega Akosike, his media aide, Sanwo-Olu lauded the late monarch for his “decades of service and impact as a respected traditional ruler”.

The governor said Akran was widely known for his wisdom, commitment to cultural preservation and advocacy for the development of Badagry.

He added that the late monarch served his people selflessly and left behind a legacy of unity, tradition and progress.

He described the late Oba Akran as a respected journalist and a first-class traditional ruler who made meaningful contributions to the growth and development of his community, the state and the country at large.

According to the governor, Akran served as the custodian of Badagry’s traditions, customs and cultural heritage, while also acting as a stabilising force who united diverse interests within the kingdom.

Sanwo-Olu added that Akran promoted Badagry’s historical sites and cultural festivals both nationally and internationally, helping to boost tourism and cultural exchange, and used his position to attract development to the ancient town.

The governor commiserated with the people of Badagry and the royal family, noting that the monarch’s death is a significant loss to the traditional institution in Lagos.

“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,” Sanwo-Olu said.

He urged the monarch’s family, subjects and associates to work towards immortalising his legacy, while praying for God to grant the people of Badagry and Lagos the strength to bear the loss.