De Renaissance Patriots Foundation mourns Akran of Badagry, says he will be greatly missed
By KEMI KASUMU
De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I died after spending 48 years on the throne, making him one of the longest-serving traditional rulers in Lagos State.
The Akran of Badagry and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Lagos State Council of Obas and Chiefs, His Royal Majesty De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I (OFR, LLD, DLitt, JP), has passed away. He reportedly died on Monday, January 12, 2026, at the age of 89.
Reacting to the monarch’s death, De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, a socio-cultural organisation of Lagos State indigenes, described the development as a “rude shock.”
In a swift condolence message signed by its Trustee, Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (Rtd), President, Mr. Miftah Bolaji Are, and addressed to the royal family, the traditional council, and the entire people of Badagry Kingdom, the Foundation said the passing of the revered traditional ruler was a great loss, noting that the late monarch was a journalist before ascending the throne.
“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, members, and associates of De Renaissance Patriots Foundation, we convey our profound condolences on the passing of His Royal Majesty, De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toye I, the Oba Akran of Badagry.
“The transition of His Royal Majesty marks the loss of a revered royal father, a patriot, and a principled custodian of Badagry’s heritage. Quiet, conservative, and deeply dignified in disposition, Oba Menu-Toye I was a ruler of conviction who stood firmly for the rights, identity, and dignity of the original indigenes for whom our dear state was created. He believed strongly in this cause and gave his support not for personal gain, but out of conscience and loyalty to his people.
“His Royal Majesty also believed in the vision and struggle of De Renaissance Patriots Foundation. We were privileged to visit him on several occasions to seek his counsel, guidance, and direction, which he offered generously and with wisdom. Throughout his reign, he preserved the culture and traditions of Badagry with rare discipline, ensuring that its heritage remained firm and undiluted.
“We have lost a trusted and loyal royal father whose legacy of integrity, restraint, and courage will endure. As you mourn this irreparable loss, we pray that the Almighty grants the Royal Family, the Traditional Council, and the entire Badagry Kingdom the strength and comfort to bear this moment. May the gentle soul of His Royal Majesty rest in perfect peace.
“Please accept the assurances of our highest esteem and heartfelt sympathies,” De Renaissance Patriots Foundation said in the letter.
De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I died after spending 48 years on the throne, making him one of the longest-serving traditional rulers in Lagos State.
Born on September 18, 1936, he was the fifth child of His Majesty De Wheno Aholu Ajiyon-Kanho, the 17th Akran of Badagry. He received his early education at Salvation Army Primary School, Lagos; Methodist School, Badagry; and Methodist Teachers’ College, Ifaki, Ekiti, between 1956 and 1957.
Before his coronation, the late monarch worked as a teacher in various schools across Badagry Division and later transitioned into journalism. His media career began in 1961 at the West African Pilot, where he served as a diplomatic correspondent and chief reporter for the Post Group of Newspapers.
He later joined the Daily Sketch as a senior sub-editor and subsequently moved to New Nigerian Newspapers, where he rose to the position of Acting News Editor (South).
His professional excellence earned him a grant from the International Press Institute to study at the University of East Africa, where he obtained a diploma with distinction. He also shared a prize on the Law of the Press with a Ugandan journalist. Throughout his life, he remained a strong advocate for the development of journalism in Nigeria and Africa.
His appointment as the Akran of Badagry was approved by the Lagos State Executive Council on October 7, 1976, and he was formally crowned on April 23, 1977, assuming the royal title of De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi I.
A prominent traditional ruler, he served as a member of the Lagos State Judicial Service Commission between 1979 and 1983. He also held leadership roles as patron, grand patron, and president of several social, charitable, and professional organisations.
Until his death, he was 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 by members of the council to represent them at the enlarged National Council of States in Abuja.
The late monarch was conferred with the national honour of Officer of the Order of the Federal Republic (OFR) on March 7, 1981.
