The Paramount traditional ruler in Lagos State, Oba Rilwan Babatunde Osuolale Aremu Akiolu has dismissed impressions that he harbors anti-Igbo sentiments as he discredited misinformation making the rounds that he turned down the planned visit of Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party.
The revered monarch and former top cop cleared the air on the issue when the former Lagos Commissioner of Police, CP, Abiodun Alabi paid him a fraternal/Royal courtesy visit in his palace on Thursday.
Kabiyesi Akiolu, while declaring that he has a cordial relationship with the Igbos in Lagos, added that the late President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief George Obiozor, was his close friend.
According to Akiolu, “Nobody has written to me that any presidential candidate is coming to visit me.
“If anybody writes to me, I cannot deny them but as far as Peter Obi is concerned, whom I see as a complete gentleman, he has not approached me.
“I was always with the late Ohanaeze President, Obiazor, every weekend when he was alive and anytime I travelled to New York, he would always come to pick me up at the airport.
“So, I have no grudge against any Igbo man. I respect people and I don’t fear anybody,” Akiolu said.
He showered encomium on the former Lagos CP, Alabi for his performances during his tenure and urged the new CP Idowu Owohunwa to take the welfare of the police under him seriously and be nice to the people.
“Try to hold your religion. If you are a Christian or Muslim, practice your religion and look after the welfare of the people under you.
“I don’t take nonsense but I don’t have reservoirs of knowledge. From what I know about you, you will do well.
“Anything you do, do it with honesty. What you don’t want the citizens to do to you, don’t do it to them. I am giving you the assurance that we will cooperate with you,” Akiolu told the new Lagos state police henchman.
Earlier, Alabi had told Akiolu who is a retired AIG of Police that he was at his palace to seek his royal blessings and professional advice.
According to him, “I have come for the professional aspect. You retired from the police service at one of the highest levels.
“The rich knowledge we can get from you is vital for my performance and I want to appeal to you to consider me as your son both from the traditional perspective and professional perspective and accept me with open hands.
“Whenever, I come, whenever I have challenges in the course of my duty, I should have a father to turn to. I will work to secure stable security for Lagos State, ” he said.
