Badagry Monarch, Oba Babatunde Akran, dies at 89

The Akran of Badagry, Oba Babatunde Akran, also known as De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I, has passed away at the age of 89, bringing to an end more than four decades of traditional leadership in the ancient coastal town.

The revered monarch died on Monday after a brief illness. Until his death, he served as the permanent vice-chairman of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs, a position that underscored his influence within the state’s traditional institution.

Before ascending the throne in the late 1970s, Oba Akran worked as a journalist, a background that many associates say shaped his open-minded leadership style and engagement with both government and the public during his reign.

Reacting to the development, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described the monarch’s death as a huge loss to Badagry, Lagos State and the nation at large.

In a statement issued by his media aide, Gboyega Akosile, the governor praised the late Akran for his decades of dedicated service and his impact as a respected traditional ruler.

Sanwo-Olu said the monarch was widely admired for his wisdom, commitment to preserving Badagry’s rich cultural heritage and his consistent advocacy for the development of the ancient town.

According to the governor, Oba Akran served his people with selflessness and left behind a legacy of unity, tradition and progress, noting that he played a key role in promoting Badagry’s historical sites and cultural festivals within and outside Nigeria.

He added that the monarch acted as a stabilising force in the kingdom, uniting diverse interests and using his influence to attract development and boost tourism in the area.

The governor commiserated with the people of Badagry and the royal family, describing the monarch’s passing as a significant loss to the traditional institution in Lagos State.

“On behalf of my wife, the government and people of Lagos State, I commiserate with the people of Badagry, the royal family, friends, associates and traditional institutions on the transition of the paramount ruler of Badagry Kingdom,” Sanwo-Olu said.

He urged the family and subjects of the late monarch to work towards preserving and immortalising his legacy, while praying for strength for the people of Badagry and Lagos State to bear the loss.

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