Chairman of Badagry Local Government Area of Lagos State Babatunde Hunpe has declared seven days of mourning for the Akran of Badagry Kingdom, De Wheno Menu-Toyi I, who died on Monday at the age of 89.
Mr Hunpe announced the mourning period in Badagry through his chief press secretary, Austin Kriko, while formally confirming the monarch’s death.
“With the approval of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, I officially announce the passing of His Royal Majesty, De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I, the Akran of Badagry Kingdom,” the statement said.
The chairman said the monarch died on Monday, January 12 and urged residents of Badagry to observe the mourning period in reflection on his reign and service to the community.
Hunpe extended condolences to the royal family, the Council of Obas and Chiefs in Badagry Local Government and Lagos State and residents of the area.
Governor Sanwo-Olu had earlier expressed condolences over the monarch’s death in a statement issued through his special adviser on media and publicity, Gboyega Akosile, describing the death as a loss to Badagry, Lagos State and the country.
De Wheno Menu-Toyi I ascended the throne on April 23, 1977, following the approval of the Lagos State Executive Council in October 1976, and reigned for 48 years.
Born on September 18, 1936, he was the fifth child of De Wheno Ajiyon-Kanho, the 17th Akran of Badagry.
He attended Salvation Army Primary School, Lagos; Methodist School, Badagry and Methodist Teachers’ College, Ifaki, Ekiti.
Before becoming a traditional ruler, he worked as a teacher and later as a journalist.
He began his journalism career in 1961 at the West African Pilot as a diplomatic correspondent and later served as chief reporter for the Post Group of Newspapers.
He also worked at the Daily Sketch as a senior sub-editor and later at New Nigeria Newspapers, where he served as a senior journalist and acting News Editor (South).
During his journalism career, he studied at the University of East Africa under a grant from the International Press Institute and obtained a diploma.
He also shared a prize on the Law of the Press with a journalist from Uganda.
During his reign, he served as a member of the Lagos State Judicial Service Commission between 1979 and 1983.
He was also chairman of the Chieftaincy Committee in Badagry Local Government and Permanent Vice-Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs.
In October 1990, he was elected to represent the council at the enlarged National Council of States in Abuja.
He received the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) on March 7, 1981.
