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Tag: Oba of lagos

  • 2019 elections: Victory is yours, Oba of Lagos tells Buhari

    The Oba of Lagos, Oba Riliwanu Akiolu says President Muhammadu Buhari is a man of his words and will be victorious in the forthcoming Presidential election.

    Akiolu spoke when Buhari and his campaign team visited his palace in Lagos Island on Saturday after arriving the state in continuation of the presidential rallies ahead of the Feb. 16 election.

    The traditional leader, who noted that the body of traditional rulers in the state were happy to receive the team, said that they appreciated Buhari’s efforts as a highly respected person in Nigeria.

    He assured Buhari that there would be a repeat of his 2015 electoral victory in the coming election.

    “Give Buhari another chance and you will see how Nigeria will move forward,” Akiolu said.

    The monarch decried the rot that past administrations left behind in the country.

    “We should not go back to the past again. Now that you are here, Isha Allau, on Feb. 16, God will open the way for you. The best will happen to you,” he said.

    Akiolu, the Chairman, Lagos State Traditional Council of Obas and Chiefs, thanked the President for his achievements since assuming office and urged Nigerians to continue to support him.

    He said that had a catalogue of requests, including mass transit and pressing issues on the Apapa ports, and they had all been committed into writing.

    Akiolu presented Buhari with a Quran as he prayed for him.

    In his response, Buhari commended Akiolu appreciating the efforts of his government.

    “I appreciate all you have said and I assure you that I will continue to do my best.

    “The promise we made through our party in 2015, our country needs to be secured and properly managed.

    “If there is no security, we cannot do anything no matter your resources. We thank God our efforts have brought some fruits,” Buhari said.

    He said that his government was working hard to end importation of rice and ensure self-dependence.

    “We can feed ourselves and the money we save, we can put it in infrastructure; we are building the roads, we are building the rails and we are building power.

    “But the failure of former administrations in spite of enormous revenue they got to develop infrastructure is amazing,” Buhari said.

    He commended the Minister of Works, Power and Housing, Mr Babatunde Fashola on his hard work and efficiency for keeping contractors on their toes, saying that he has done creditably well.

    Earlier in his welcome address, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode said that the state was very delighted to receive the President and for all he had done for the state.

    ”It is my pleasure to welcome Mr President and Mr Vice President to the palace of the Oba of Lagos, who is the chairman of the council of Obas and Chiefs in Lagos State.

    ”On behalf of all of them, we welcome you to Lagos State in continuation of your presidential campaign rally.

    “We are very delighted to receive you, we are very appreciative of everything that you have done for us in Lagos State.

    “All our Kabiyesis are also very appreciative,” Ambode said.

    According to him, Lagos has remained very peaceful in the last four years and the security and safety of Lagos cannot be underscored without the cooperation of all our traditional rulers.

    He commended specially the Oba of Lagos and other traditional rulers for keeping the peace for the government.

    According to Ambode, the President, Vice President and other party stalwarts are in the palace to receive royal blessings.

    He added that with the royal blessings, APC will continue to hold strong in the state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Buhari who arrived the palace at exactly 10:59 am departed with his team before noon.

    In the team were the Vice President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Gov. Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, APC Chieftain Bisi Akande, the National Leader of APC, Sen. Bola Tinubu and others.

  • 2019: Oba of Lagos drums support for Buhari, says he is not ‘materialistic’

    The Oba of Lagos, Riliwanu Akiolu I on Friday drummed support for President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term while describing him as not materialistic.

    He stated this while addressing a-3-day Conference of Speakers of the 36 state Houses of Assembly who paid him a courtesy visit in his palace in Lagos as part of activities for the 2018 Conference of Speakers which commenced in Friday in Lagos.
    The speakers were led by the chairman of the conference and speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hons. Ismaila Kamba and Mudashiru Obasa respectively.
    He said, “God loves this country and we are very lucky. My appeal to you, my sons and daughters is that let peace return to this country. Nigeria is not going to break. If all of us will cooperate together, Nigeria will move forward. We are all one and we should regard ourselves as that.
    “If you watch the life of President Buhari, he is not materialistically minded like the other people. Cooperate with the national government. I believe in the corporate existence of Nigeria,” Akiolu urged the speakers on the challenges facing Buhari’s administration.
    Saying that former president Olusegun Obasanjo political party was dead on arrival, AKiolu said Obasanjo is a very intelligent and hard-working man but he is also very wicked.
    The Oba, who noted that politicians were the same, urged Nigerians to watch as 2019 elections approaches.
    Urging the speakers to see the giant strides of the Lagos Assembly and Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode, Akiolu said that number one problem of Lagos was the concession of Apapa Port.
    The Oba, who said that Lagos has some peculiar issues added: “I beg all of you, give Lagos Special Status. You have seen our problem. This is not politics”.
    He urged the politicians to have the welfare of the citizens at heart and ensure security of lives and property.
    The Oba, who advocated funding for security agencies, called for cooperation in the area of intelligence for security agencies to end the ongoing security challenges facing the country.
    He commended Ambode for massive investments in security, saying that he had not hidden the fact that Ambode would serve the second term as governor.

    The traditional ruler urged media practitioners to be professionally and avoid sensational reports in a bid to build a strong and united country.

    Kamba, the Speaker, Kebbi State House of Assembly, said that apart from deliberations on national issues, the conference would discuss the autonomy for the legislatures.

    Obasa described Akiolu as a mentor, counsellor, father and benefactor, who had dedicated his life to public service.

    Obasa, who noted that the state was hosting the conference of Speakers for the second time, said that the conference aimed at discussing national issues as it affects various states.

    He said that Akiolu had worked to ensure peace and tranquility in the state, noting that the Oba has contributed immensely to the states’ political development.

    He urged other speakers to support the quest for special status for Lagos State.

  • 2019: Obasanjo is a deceiver; Buhari a performer – Oba of Lagos

    The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has said so far the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari out performed that of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    The monarch also asked Nigerians to give President Muhammadu Buhari another four years to finish what he (Buhari) has started.

    Akiolu, who spoke at the opening ceremony of the 17th Lagos Housing Fair, on Monday, stated that a second chance would enable the President to improve the country’s economy.

    The traditional ruler stated that he preferred Buhari’s administration to that of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, adding that President Goodluck Jonathan would also have been a better leader if he was not a victim of circumstances, who allowed some people to use him.

    He said, “Buhari has to do more, I agree, but we all have to assist by giving him another four years and see where he will take Nigeria to. I am supporting what is good for Nigeria.

    “In 2011, Buhari sent Tony Momoh to me that he was coming to meet the leaders of Lagos in my palace by 1pm, he came by 3pm and said he was delayed by bad roads and traffic. I told him he caused it because he cancelled the metro line of Lagos State in 1984. I told him I would not tell Lagos people to vote for him.

    “But in 2015 when he came, it was on a Friday, he came with my son, Bola Tinubu, and I noticed that for 20 minutes it rained. It occurred to me that God is going to favour this man.

    “I prefer Buhari to Obasanjo. Obasanjo keeps deceiving people for what he is after. But if Buhari is given another chance and God gives him good health and he chooses the right people to work with, Nigeria will be a better place.”

    On the current security issues in the country, Akiolu called on the Federal Government to review all national security policies.

    He, however, argued that the call by the National Assembly to sack all the security service chiefs in the country was not the solution to the problem.

    “What the government was supposed to do 20 years ago, they did not do it. Many years ago, I suggested to them to revisit all national security policies. If you sack all the security service chiefs, the same set of people will still come back,” he said.

    The monarch said all Nigerians must work together in the fight against corruption and terrorism in the country.

     

  • Obaship tussle: ‘I am the rightful monarch of Lagos’, Oba Akiolu insists

    The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has insisted before an Ikeja High Court, on Tuesday that he remains the rightfully elected monarch of Lagos.

    This he disclosed at the resumed hearing of a suit challenging his right to the throne as Oba of Lagos.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that on May 22, 2017 the last adjournment day which was a day to the 14-year anniversary of his coronation on May 23, 2003 as the Oba of Lagos, Akiolu, citing historical sources, had told the court that he is the bona fide monarch of the state.

    Akiolu’s title is being challenged by Prince Adedoyin Adebiyi and Prince Rasheed Modile who are both of the Akinsemoyin Ruling House of Lagos.

    TheNewsGuru.com also recalls that Adebiyi and Modile were candidates chosen by the Akinsemoyin Ruling House to contest the Obaship title in 2003 after the demise of Oba Adeyinka Oyekan, the then Oba of Lagos in 2003.

    They lost the race to Akiolu who they alleged had no rightful claim to the throne.

    Joined in the suit as respondents are the state governor and the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Prince Awobade Pearse,

    Others are the representative of the Ologun Kutere Ruling House and Chief J.J Junaid – Eko and the head of the traditional white cap chiefs of Lagos.

    Other respondents include Prince Kola Balogun and Mr Musibau Kelani, who are the respectively the Head and Secretary of the Eshilokun Royal Family.

    While being cross examined by Mr Babatunde Fashanu (SAN), Akiolu reasserted that the age-long traditional customs and traditions were followed in his selection as an oba.

    Responding to claims that he was elected less than 90-days after the demise of Oyekan which is contrary to customs, Akiolu said that such a rule was non– existent.

    “There have been 21 Obas of Lagos before the late Oba Oyekan, in the Lagos State selection of Obas, there is no 90-day rule.

    “By the grace of God, I am a lawyer, I am duty bound to speak the truth, I have a duty to assist the court.

    “The 90-day rule does not exist in the selection of Obas,”he said.

    Akiolu disputed the claims of Adebiyi and Modile that he was not a descendant of Oba Ologun Kutere, a former Oba of Lagos who reigned from the late 1700s to the early 1800s.

    “Oba Ologun Kutere had five children, one of which was Akiolu, Akintoye was the last child and Akiolu and Olusi were the older children.

    “Akintoye was three months old when Oba Ologun Kutere died, I don’t know how old Akiolu was when his father died.

    “By the grace of God, I am a direct descendant of Akiolu Ologun Kutere.”

    When asked by Fashanu to state in order of seniority, the children of Oba Ologun Kutere, Akiolu retorted “I don’t know, I don’t work at the births and deaths registry.

    “What is important is that Akiolu is the child of Ologun Kutere.

    “There have been three members of the Akiolu family who ran for the Oba of Lagos including an Akiolu family member known as Baba Ita-Ado, I can’t remember when he ran and I cannot tell lies.

    “All Lagos princes who have no curse placed on them are entitled to run for the kingship, it is however the prerogative of the king makers to choose who will be king.

    “Many are called, few are chosen,” he said.

    Akiolu noted that his being capped as Oba during his coronation ceremony by a representative of the Eleboro family was not illegal despite the fact that it was not presided over by Chief Eleboro, who personally caps Obas of Lagos.

    “Contrary to claims that in the history of Lagos, no Oba has been capped by any person other than Chief Eleboro, Oba Adeniji Adele was capped by Chief Gafir.

    “The Eleboro family capped me,”he said.

    Akiolu denied holding grudges against individuals who he allegedly disliked by preventing them from succeeding him as the monarch in future.

    “The claimants had wanted to meet with me somewhere to sign a document regarding the succession but I refused.

    “It is not an individual position; it belongs to the past, present and future.

    “All human beings should not hate each other, we are equal in the eyes of God but not equal in our love for God,”Akiolu said.

    Justice Adebowale Candide-Johnson adjourned the case until July 5, 6 and 11 for continuation of trial.

     

     

    NAN

  • Obaship tussle: I remain bona fide Oba of Lagos, Akiolu tells court

    About 14 years after his installation, the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, on Monday appeared in an Ikeja High Court in a suit challenging his emergence as the paramount ruler of Lagos, saying he is the bona fide monarch.

    “I am here to justify my appointment, you cannot build something on nothing, it will be broken.

    “By native law and customs and by law, I am the bona fide Oba of Lagos,” said Akiolu, who was accompanied to the court by 10 white cap chiefs.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Akiolu’s installation as the Oba of Lagos is being challenged by Prince Adedoyin Adebiyi and Prince Rasheed Modile, two members of the Lagos royal family.

    Joined as respondents in the suit are the state governor, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Prince Babatunde Akitoye and Chief Junaid Eko.

    Both Adebiyi and Modile are claiming that Akiolu is not entitled to the throne because he is not a member of a ruling royal family by not being a direct descendant of Oba Ado, the first Oba of Lagos.

    According to the claimants, only members of the Ologun Kutere and Akinsemoyin ruling houses are entitled to the throne.

    They also alleged that proper customary rules and procedures were not followed when he was appointed as Oba in May 2003.

    While being led in evidence by his lawyer, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, Akiolu told the court the procedure he followed before being installed.

    “After I made my intention known to my family that I wanted to be Oba of Lagos, I applied for the throne.

    “In May 2003, the head of the kingmakers and the then Sole Administrator of Lagos Island Council called at my residence.

    “At that time I was preparing to go to the mosque and I was told that I received a letter from the state government and the State Executive Council.

    “The letter accepted my nomination that I have been approved to be a worthy successor of the late Oba of Lagos.

    “It will be exactly 14 years tomorrow (May 23, 2003) that the my appointment was approved.

    “By the grace of Almighty Allah, there is nothing like rotation in the succession to the throne of Oba of Lagos,” Akiolu said.

    Before cross-examining Akiolu, lawyer to the claimants, Mr Babatunde Fashanu (SAN), told the court that for the purpose of the trial, Akiolu should be addressed as the defendant and not as the Oba of Lagos while in court.

    “I apply that all referrals to the defendant as the Oba of Lagos should be expunged from the records of this honourable court.

    “Within the walls of this courtroom, he is a defendant and when we step out of the courtroom, I will lie down and greet him as ‘kabiyesi’ because I am like a son to him,” he said.

    Akiolu also told the court that he had a prior relationship with Fashanu’s father when he was working as a lawyer during his early years of legal practice 32 years ago.

    “I know your father, I used to carry files for him when we were working together.”

    Fashanu’s request to expunge referrals of Akiolu as Oba of Lagos was, however, not granted by the court.

    In responding to Fashanu’s question whether proper customary procedure was followed when he became Oba, Akiolu said he was installed according to the customs of Lagos as Oba by kingmakers.

    “Akiolu is a direct descendant of Oba Ologun Kutere, there is no registered declaration for the throne.

    “It is the old customs and the recommendations of the Price Commission which is over 100 years ago that is still valid till today.”

    Akiolu also debunked claims that Akiolu royal family was not one of the ruling houses because it was non-existent.

    He said: “Despite the letter from Lagos State Government confirming my appointment as Oba and stating that I am from the Akiolu royal family, I want to make it clear that a royal family and ruling house means the same thing.

    “My appointment as the king is the first time in history that kingmakers will be unanimous in selecting an Oba of Lagos.”

    Justice A. Candide-Johnson adjourned the case until June 19 for continuation of trial.

     

     

    NAN

  • Watch Akiolu’s dance steps at Lagos Eyo Festival

    Watch Akiolu’s dance steps at Lagos Eyo Festival

    See how Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu danced on Saturday in commemoration of ‘Adamu Orisa’ popularly called Eyo festival.

    The festival is part of the activities to celebrate Lagos @50 marking 50 years after Lagos State was created from the old Western Region on May 27, 1967 by the then Military head of state, general Yakubu Gowon.

     

     

  • Fire Accident: Lagos officials inspect Oba of Lagos’ palace

    Fire Accident: Lagos officials inspect Oba of Lagos’ palace

    Some officials from the Lagos State Government (LASG) on Wednesday inspected the burnt portion of Iga Iduganran, the palace of the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, on Lagos Island.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the visit followed a fire that gutted a section of the palace on Tuesday.

    A reliable source within the palace disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria correspondent, who visited the palace.

    The source, who pleaded anonymity, said the officials visited the palace to assess the extent of damage but did not make any comment after the inspection.

    The source said that the fire affected a section of the new palace building and not the old one where traditional artifacts and relics are kept.

    “A little portion of the new palace was affected by the fire outbreak but the ancient relics are still intact as they are kept at the former (old) palace.

    “The Lagos State Government officials visited the palace this morning and had seen the burnt portion.

    “I think it is the responsibility of the Lagos State Government to fix whatever was destroyed by the fire,’’ the source said.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that normal activities have resumed around the palace with traders and buyers going about their businesses.

    The fire was put out by men of the Lagos State Fire Service.

     

     

    NAN

  • Oba of Lagos v Ooni of Ife – Adegboruwa

    I’ve watched an online video wherein the Oba of Lagos SEEMED to decline the overtures of the Ooni of Ife, in a public gathering.
    I do not intend to dwell on the status of both Obas and I think elders should appreciate and reciprocate courtesies from their juniors. Respect is reciprocal.
    That said, I believe that the Ooni needs to ponder on a number of things. In this time of recession, the usually large entourage of the respected king should be trimmed down appropriately. In this particular video, it is clear that the Oni came to the event late, if not very late, as the Obi of Onitsha and the Oba of Lagos were already seated. To that extent it behaves the Ooni to temper his protocol. I saw his retinue of aids falling over themselves to clean his chair and to cover him from public glare whilst sitting down.
    I’ve watched the Queen of England on a number of occasions and even the immediate past Oni, and I cannot reconcile the flamboyant lifestyle of the present Oni with royalty. It even gets bigger when the Ooni travels abroad.
    I know the Ooni personally. I’ve had cause to interact with him on some business and legal transactions, before his enthronement. He is a very hardworking and humble individual. And I know he has many estates scattered all over Lagos. So I do hope and believe that state resources are not involved in sustaining his opulent lifestyle.
    My concern is that the Ooni should learn some lesson from the current travails of the Emir of Kano. Obas should not live larger than life and their public outings should always reflect the mood of the nation and their immediate constituencies. That is not the case with the Ooni presently.
    I do not by any means support the action of the Oba of Lagos on this occasion but I believe that the Ooni should endeavour to arrive early at public gatherings and if and when he arrives late, he should temper his protocols to avoid disruptions and distractions, especially if his elders are already seated.
    The Ooni still has al long way to go, so he should take things easy. I wish him well in all his endeavors.
    Ebun-olu Adegboruwa, Esq

  • Nigerians blast Oba of Lagos for disregarding Ooni [Watch video]

    The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Aremu Akiolu, recently, humiliated the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi at a public function.

    In the 25 seconds video which has gone viral, the Ooni of Ife is seen arriving the venue of the event which had the Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu II, sitting beside an unidentified oba.

    The Ooni walked over to greet the obas, but as soon as he offered the Oba of Lagos his hands, Oba Akiolu looked away and dismissed him with a wave of the hand.

    The embarrassed monarch quietly returned to his seat.

    The incident, however, sparked outrage on the social media as many commentators condemned Oba Akiolu, describing his action as unbecoming of a Yoruba monarch.