The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has urged the people of Badagry to preserve the legacy of the Akran of Badagry, His Imperial Majesty, De Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi I.
He said the “Akran of Badagry was a constant, an unshakeable figure of unity, whose palace was always open to his people and whose voice was always measured, always just.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke on Saturday during the funeral outing thanksgiving service held in honour of the Akran of Badagry, His Imperial Majesty, De Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi I, at Freeman Memorial Methodist Cathedral, Badagry.
The service was attended by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; the Secretary to the Lagos State Government, Mrs. Bimbola Salu-Hundeyin; members of the State Executive Council; serving and former public office holders; politicians; religious and traditional leaders; deceased family members, security personnels and Badagry sons and daughters.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, after the service, also performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I Cultural Park in Badagry.
The Governor said the revered traditional ruler left this world with a name that will endure, a name synonymous with peace, with dignity, and with the timeless heritage of the Badagry Kingdom.
He said: “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. He gave the world a record of your heritage. He gave God a life of service.
“Do not let grief consume what he built. The best tribute you can offer the Akran of Badagry is to continue the work, to preserve the monuments, uphold the traditions, welcome the world to witness Badagry’s history, and raise your children to know the covenant of this ancient land.
“Throughout my time as Governor of Lagos State, I was privileged to witness firsthand the steady, principled presence of the Akran in our Council of Obas and Chiefs. He was not a man who spoke often, but when he spoke, the room listened. His was the wisdom of long years and long service, patient, generous, and incorruptible.
“To the Royal Family of the Badagry Kingdom, to the sons and daughters, the chiefs, the palace council, and the extended royal household, I bring the condolences of the Lagos State Government and of the entire people of Lagos. We grieve with you. We know that no words can fill the space left by the departure of a father, a patriarch, and a king. But we also know that the surest way to honour a great man is to carry his values forward.”
Speaking about the virtues of the departed monarch, Governor Sanwo-Olu said De Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi I was a truly remarkable man, a man whose life was not merely lived but consecrated to the service of his people, his kingdom, and his God.
He said the monarch championed the preservation of Badagry’s historical sites, promoted its cultural festivals nationally and internationally, and ensured that the town’s heritage was not swallowed by the march of time and modernity.
“We celebrate a life that spanned nearly nine decades of extraordinary witness. We celebrate a reign of forty-eight years, the longest of any traditional ruler in Lagos State’s modern history. And above all, we celebrate a man whose love for his people was the compass by which he charted every decision.
“The people of Badagry often said of him, ‘We have not lost a king; we have lost a father.’ That is the highest compliment that can be paid to any leader, that his people feel not the distance of a crown but the warmth of a parent’s care.”
In his sermon, the Prelate Emeritus of the Methodist Church Nigeria, His Eminence, Dr. Sunday Ola Makinde, said the De Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi I was hospitable and loved his people with passion.
He said the life of the departed monarch taught everyone that life is mortal, adding that the traditional ruler served God till his death.
Bishop Makinde praised the Governor Sanwo-Olu administration’s giant strides in Lagos, particularly the Blue and Red line rail and the Lagos-Badagry Expressway.
He also implored President Bola Tinubu to ignore the critics of the approved Badagry-Sokoto Expressway. He said the project is laudable and it should be encouraged to see the light of the day.
Speaking on “How are you preparing for your eternity?” Bishop Makinde implored people to live a fulfilled life, noting that this life is a journey, and people’s perception will form their legacy.
