The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, has revealed how he rejected a ₦5 million cash gift during the military regime of late General Sani Abacha, stressing the importance of integrity, discipline and the fear of God in public service.
The monarch made the revelation on Saturday during a special prayer session held at the Iga Idunganran Palace in Lagos to mark his 23rd coronation anniversary. The event also featured prayers for Nigeria and President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking to journalists after the ceremony, Oba Akiolu recalled that the incident happened when former Lagos State Governor Michael Otedola was detained during the military era and needed assistance to secure the release of his international passport.
According to the monarch, he intervened by appealing to the authorities, arguing that the military government needed broader public acceptance and should release Otedola’s passport. After the request was granted, an emissary reportedly approached him with an offer of ₦5 million as appreciation, but he refused to accept the money.
Akiolu explained that his decision was guided by his principles and belief in serving with honesty and fear of God. Reflecting on his 32 year career in the Nigeria Police Force, the former Assistant Inspector General of Police described policing as a noble profession when carried out with integrity and discipline.
The traditional ruler also urged Nigerians to remain patient and supportive of President Bola Tinubu’s administration, expressing confidence that the ongoing reforms and infrastructure projects would eventually bring lasting benefits to the country.
He praised Tinubu’s long term developmental plans, mentioning projects such as the Lagos Calabar Coastal Highway and the Badagry Sokoto road corridor as examples of visionary leadership.
Oba Akiolu further described his emergence as the Oba of Lagos in 2003 as divine destiny and revealed that Tinubu strongly supported him despite opposition from some quarters at the time.
The monarch also called on Nigerians to remain united and prayerful amid security challenges facing the country, while encouraging journalists and public officials to uphold truth, fairness and service to humanity.
Leave a comment