Igbo's affront and Oba Akiolu of Lagos

Igbo's affront and Oba Akiolu GOD BLESS OBA RILWAN AKIOLU! By Wale Ojo - Lanre 8 April ,2015 ( 8 years ago) I have read a lot of comments and responses to the statements of Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the paramount king of Lagos, a Yoruba land that accommodates all nationalities in Nigeria and from the entire world. Lagos has a rich history of the exploits of its Monarchs defending the territorial integrity inherited from their forefathers whenever there is any strong attempt at appropriating the rich Yoruba territory. This of course always cultivate to them with unpleasant experience, personal losses, curtailing of their fundamental rights, abuses, and scorning. But in the end, Lagos Oba of Lagos always achieved their aim of preserving the territorial integrity of their dear land and forcing the intruder to bow to the norm and customs of the land. Monarchs all over the world are known for their sheer protectionism of their territories and pedigree inheritance. Hence they go miles at ensuring that their influence and territorial majesty are not only tampered with. Thus, I do not see anything wrong in what Oba Akiolu said except for the tone and manner of delivery. Any Oba who allowed his territory to be matched upon or his influence curtailed is not fit on the throne while any kabiyesi who failed to defend the property of his forefathers has no business on the throne. With what is going on in Lagos, I don’t expect less from Oba Akiolu for “a landlord who watches his compound being taken over by tenants will one day be ejected by the tenant” Lagos is a Yoruba land and that is the truth. Everything must be done at protecting the Yoruba value, culture, and property there so as not to be taken over by settlers, visitors, or aliens who have irredentist tendencies. Just like Onitsha is an Igbo land the Obis must do everything possible at preventing any ethnic groups from having the upper hand in that land. A true King of Lagos will not just because Lagos accommodates all Tom, Dick, and Harry but allow the settlers to take over what rightly belongs to the sons of the soil by the settlers particularly when the settlers are going about flaunting that “they are more in population than the indigenes and control commerce of the land “. So, Oba Akiolu’s reaction and response to me is called for, justified and reasonable except for his furious manner of expression and the seeming threat of ‘sweeping to the Lagoon ‘. Oba Akiolu did not ask for much. He has an interest and believes as the paramount King of Lagos, settlers there must be able to support his interest. He must be able to defend Lagos and protect the political interest of the city and its heritage. I strongly believe in one Nigeria but I will not be against any situation that can lead to the development of the State of Biafra or Oduduwa Republic and The Islamic State of Arewa. The USSR of yesterday is many countries today after many years of existence as a nation. Sene-Gambia is two countries now; Timor is out of Indonesia and many others We should not only view Oba Akiolu’s opinion as unnecessary but sieve it through the prism of his duty as a Monarch and the protection of the values of nationalities within a contracted republic. Oba Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos, God bless you