The Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, has said there is no vacancy in the Presidential Villa for the next four or five years, indicating his support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s second term campaign in power. Political science
The Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, said this during a courtesy visit to the Oba Palace, Lagos, by the Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led by its Director-General, Abdulaziz Yari.
The monarch also appealed to politicians to ensure the 2027 general election was peaceful and conducted in a manner that would be beneficial to Nigerians, The Nation reported.
“There is no vacancy in Aso Rock for the next four or five years,” he remarked.
He urged members of the campaign council to be honest in their dealings and avoid actions that can undermine peace and stability in the country.
The king remarked that the impending election should not be addressed via the Machiavellian notion that the aim justifies the means and stressed the necessity for appropriate political conduct.
The team was to the palace on its first outing to seek the monarch’s blessing, prayers and counsel before its statewide campaign activities, Yari added.
He said the council earlier visited the Sokoto Caliphate before travelling to Lagos to pay tribute to the Oba.
The DG called for further support for Tinubu, stating that members of the council feel that the President deserves a second term to solidify what he termed as the successes of his administration.
He noted that the council was particularly impressed with the administration’s efforts in addressing the difficulties of the economy, insecurity and infrastructure development.
He admitted that the economic challenges facing Nigerians were still very much there, but said some indices were improving especially the availability of finances and measures to stabilise the economy.
Yari, who also defended the administration’s handling of insecurity, said Tinubu has continued to offer support and equipment to the military and police in the fight against insecurity.
Tinubu had already backed the emergence of former President Muhammadu Buhari because of the security concerns facing the country at the time, he remembered.
Yari said the support for Tinubu was not just about political reciprocation but that they felt the President should be allowed to proceed with his goals for the country.
He stated that the members of the council from the North would ensure that the President’s re-election bid had the needed support in the region.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State receiving the delegation described the visit as momentous, saying the council decided to visit the Oba soon following its engagement in Sokoto.
Sanwo-Olu said the delegation was seeking the royal approval of the Oba before going on its larger political assignment across the country.
He said the council members were prominent Nigerians who had served the country in various ways including past governors, a former Senate President, previous speakers and serving governors.
The governor said Lagos was still relevant to the political process, describing the state as the commercial and economic nerve center of the country and a key political center.
He said the presence of the council at the palace was a reflection of the importance paid to the traditional institution and its role in the political process.
Sanwo-Olu also acknowledged the participation at the ceremony of the Lagos APC leaders, local government chairmen, members of National Assembly and state lawmakers.
Other APC leaders and stakeholders in Lagos also joined the visit.
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