The Akran of Badagry, His Royal Majesty De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I, the paramount ruler of the Badagry Kingdom in Lagos State, has passed away at the age of 89 years.
The monarch, widely known simply as Oba Akran, reportedly died on January 12, 2026, during a brief illness.
His reign, which began on April 23, 1977, spanned an impressive 48 years, establishing him as one of the longest-serving traditional rulers in Lagos State and a pillar of stability for the ancient coastal town and its surrounding communities.
Born on September 18, 1936, Oba Menu-Toyi I had a multifaceted career before ascending the throne.
He began as a teacher in various schools across the Badagry Division and later transitioned into journalism, working with notable publications such as the West African Pilot, Daily Sketch, and New Nigeria, where he rose to the position of Acting News Editor (South). His media experience informed his approach to leadership, emphasizing communication, community engagement, and progress.
Upon his coronation in 1977, following approval by the Lagos State Executive Council in 1976, he became the 17th Akran in the lineage of Badagry’s traditional rulers.
As Permanent Vice-Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs, he wielded considerable influence in traditional governance across the State.
He was also honoured with the national title of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) in 1981 and received honorary doctorates, including a Doctor of Laws (LL.D Honoris Causa).
During his reign, Oba Menu-Toyi I was celebrated for fostering peace, unity, and development in Badagry-a town with deep historical significance as a former slave port, early missionary hub, and cradle of Western education and Christianity in Nigeria.
Residents and palace sources describe him as more than a king: a father figure whose wise counsel provided comfort and direction during challenging times.
His leadership encouraged community participation in rural development, cultural preservation, and local initiatives, earning him widespread affection.
The Akran Palace confirmed that medical experts pronounced the monarch dead and that traditional burial rites have begun in accordance with custom.
Obsanjo, Sanwo-Olu mourn
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has expressed sorrow over the death of Oba De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I, describing the late Akran of Badagry as an enduring symbol of unity, peace and inter-ethnic harmony.
In a condolence message issued on Monday through his Special Assistant on Media, Kehinde Akinyemi, Chief Obasanjo said he received news of the monarch’s passing with shock, noting that Oba Menu-Toyi I stood out as one of the most respected and respectable traditional rulers in Lagos State.
He recalled that the late monarch lived an eventful life spanning more than eight decades, with a reign of about five decades over the Badagry Kingdom.
According to him, that period witnessed remarkable peace and stability in a town of immense historical importance to Nigeria’s ancient and modern history.
Obasanjo said Badagry, from pre-colonial times, has remained a rich repository of Nigeria’s cultural and artistic heritage, adding that the late Akran would be remembered as a patriot and a devoted custodian of traditional values who gave his all while on the throne of his forefathers.
He noted that during his years on the throne, Oba Menu-Toyi I used his influence to promote unity, solidarity, peace, understanding and development among the people of Badagry, both at home and in the Diaspora.
He further described the monarch as “an apostle of inter-ethnic understanding and cohesion, inter-religious accommodation and tolerance, and inter-cultural cooperation.”
Extending his condolences to the Lagos State Government, the people of Badagry and the royal family, Obasanjo said he could only imagine the depth of grief caused by the loss, assuring them that their pain was shared by many Nigerians, including himself and his family.
Obasanjo, who is currently in Ethiopia on a continental assignment, urged the bereaved to take solace in the belief that the Creator knows best, even in moments of profound loss.
Similarly, Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has mourned the passing of the Permanent Vice Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
Sanwo-Olu, in a statement on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, described the departure of Oba Akran as a great loss not only to the people of Badagry but also to Lagos and Nigeria at large because of his remarkable impact as a respected monarch in Nigeria.
He said the revered king, who was on the throne for nearly 49 years, is a traditional ruler known for his wisdom, cultural preservation, and advocacy for Badagry’s development, adding that he rendered selfless service to the people and left behind a legacy of unity, tradition, uplifting and modern development.
The governor commiserated with the people of Badagry and the family of the late Oba Akran of Badagry, over the passage of the paramount ruler, saying his departure is a great loss to the traditional institution in the State.
He said: “On behalf of my wife, the government and people of Lagos, 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 and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs, Oba Babatunde Akran, Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I.