Oba De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I, the revered Akran of Badagry Kingdom in Lagos State, has passed away at the age of 89. His demise on Monday marked the end of a remarkable reign that spanned over four decades, during which he served as a beacon of peace, unity, and cultural preservation for his people and Lagos State at large. The news of his passing was met with profound grief from prominent figures across Nigeria, including former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and 2027 Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship aspirant Olajide Adediran, also known as Jandor.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo expressed shock at the news, describing the late monarch as one of the most respected traditional rulers in Lagos State. In a statement by his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo highlighted Oba Menu-Toyi I's "most eventful life which traversed eight decades and his reign of fifty years over Badagry Kingdom," noting that this period "witnessed notable peace and stability." He remembered the Akran as a patriot and a custodian of cultural and traditional values, who brought "salutary influence to foster unity, solidarity, peace, understanding, faith and development in our common heritage among all the sons and daughters of Badagry and the entire Badagry Kingdom, both at home and in the diaspora." Obasanjo further praised the late Akran as "an apostle of inter-ethnic understanding and cohesion; inter-religious accommodation and tolerance and inter-cultural co-operation."

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, mourned Oba Babatunde Akran, the Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I, describing his departure as a great loss not only to Badagry but also to Lagos and Nigeria. Sanwo-Olu acknowledged the monarch's wisdom, commitment to cultural preservation, and advocacy for Badagry’s development. He stated that Oba Akran rendered selfless service to his people, leaving behind a legacy of unity, tradition, uplifting, and modern development. The governor, on behalf of his wife, the government, and the people of Lagos, extended condolences to the Badagry community and the royal family, urging them to work towards immortalizing his legacy.

Similarly, governorship aspirant Olajide Adediran (Jandor) expressed grief, stating that the monarch's reign contributed significantly to peace and cultural continuity. Jandor extended condolences and described the death as the end of an era and a loss to traditional institutions, wishing that His Majesty's legacy of service, peace, and cultural pride continues to inspire future generations.

Born on September 18, 1936, De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I was the fifth child of De Wheno Aholu Ajiyon-Kanho, the 17th Akran of Badagry. His early education included Salvation Army Primary School, Lagos, and Methodist School, Badagry, followed by Methodist Teachers’ College, Ifaki, Ekiti, between 1956 and 1957. Before his royal ascent, he pursued a distinguished career in teaching and later in journalism. He taught at various schools in Badagry Division before venturing into the media.

His journalism career commenced in 1961 at the West African Pilot, where he served as a diplomatic correspondent and chief reporter for the Post Group of Newspapers. He then moved to the Daily Sketch as a senior sub-editor and subsequently joined The New Nigeria newspapers, rising to the position of senior journalist and Acting News Editor (South). His outstanding performance in journalism earned him a grant from the International Press Institute to study at the University of East Africa, where he obtained a diploma with distinction and shared a prize on the Law of the Press with another journalist from Uganda. He remained a staunch supporter of journalism growth in Nigeria and across Africa throughout his life.

Oba De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I’s appointment as the Akran of Badagry was duly approved by the Executive Council of the Lagos State Government on October 7, 1976. He formally ascended the throne during his coronation ceremony on April 23, 1977, assuming the royal title of De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I, the Akran of Badagry Kingdom, in accordance with tradition. During his impactful reign, which lasted 48 years, he was a prominent figure in the traditional institution. He served as a member of the Lagos State Judicial Service Commission from 1979 to 1983 and held the esteemed position of Permanent Vice-Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs. Additionally, he chaired the Chieftaincy Committee in Badagry Local Government and was elected in October 1990 to represent the Council at the enlarged National Council of States in Abuja.

The late monarch's dedication to public service and his community earned him national recognition. He was honored with the national award of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) on March 7, 1981, and also received honorary doctorates, including a Doctor of Laws (LL.D Honoris Causa). He was celebrated as a stabilising force, known for uniting diverse interests within his kingdom and for promoting Badagry’s historical sites and cultural festivals nationally and internationally, thereby fostering tourism and cultural exchange. His profound wisdom, counsel, and unwavering commitment to the progress of Badagry Kingdom will be deeply missed, but his legacy of peace, unity, and cultural pride will continue to inspire generations.