Oba Akiolu makes first public appearance, blames politicians for #EndSARS protests

A popular Nigerian monarch, Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, whose lush palace was vandalised in the wake of a protest that engulfed the nation recently, has made a first public appearance.

Oba Akiolu accused politicians as being the cause of the issues that led to the EndSARS protest.

Recall that Oba Rilwan Akiolu was forced out of his palace by some hoodlums who carted away his staff of office on Wednesday, October 21.

The monarch made a first appearance at a meeting of southwest governors, traditional rulers and a presidential delegation held at the Lagos House on Sunday, November 10 after alleged hoodlums seizing the entire building and looting whatever they could lay hands on.

Newsflash247 reports that the photographs were taken at a meeting of southwest governors, traditional rulers and a presidential delegation held at the Lagos House on Sunday, November 10.

An accompanying statement made at the end of the meeting noted that the participants were calling for increased security of infrastructure in the southwest region.

The statement quoted the chairman of the region’s ‘Governors’ Forum’, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, as saying: “The coordinated violence sparked by the EndSARS protest shook the southwest to its foundation, given the unrestrained manner with which public assets and infrastructure that had sustained the region’s economy were destroyed by hoodlums.”

According to Akeredolu, the style of the attacks, especially in Lagos, is worrisome. He also stressed that peace in the region remained fragile in the aftermath of the violence.

He added: “Before our very eyes, what started as a peaceful demonstration turned to different thing that became a threat to all of us, who are regarded as elite.

“What we witnessed in the violence showed that something needs to be done to address the underlying issues and come out with solutions.

We must be able to sustain the peace in our region at all cost.”

The statement also quoted the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, as giving a nod to the initiative, which he described as ‘right step’.

He, however, upbraided the political class for lack of consultation with traditional institutions in decision making.

While he noted that dialogue would bridge the gap of communication between political leaders and traditional rulers, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, attacked the unitary system being practised, saying the arrangement had led to insecurity and restiveness.

On his part, the Alawe of Ilawe Ekiti, Oba Adebanji Alabi, said security must be fortified in the region to protect its economy.

The monarch also called for the creation of the Southwest Development Agenda to revamp and rebuild the destroyed assets.

When it was his turn to speak, Oba Akiolu accused politicians as being the cause of the issues that led to the EndSARS protest.

He noted that unemployment contributed to the problem.

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