Oba of Lagos Rilwanu Akiolu embraced President-elect Bola Tinubu on Sunday as the latter paid the monarch a visit at the Iga-Iduganran Palace on Lagos Island.
It was a homecoming of sorts for Mr Tinubu following his declaration as winner of the presidential election held on February 25 by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
Tinubu was received at the presidential wing of the Murtala Muhammed Airport by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Sanwo-Olu’s chief of staff Tayo Ayinde, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and other top functionaries in Lagos.
The train then proceeded to Iga-Iduganran where the Oba Akiolu, some other traditional rulers in the state and White Cap chiefs were already waiting.
Addressing the modest crowd gathered inside the palace, Tinubu likened the primaries and election he went through to a World Cup tournament while thanking God and the people for his eventual victory.
Tinubu also presented the certificate of return INEC issued to him as president-elect to the traditional ruler.
The former Lagos governor said his message was one of gratitude, adding, however, that he would work assiduously for Nigeria from the get-go and would not disappoint the people.
Speaking in Yoruba, he specifically thanked Oba Akiolu and traditional rulers in the state for their prayers and support.
Oba Akiolu described the president-elect as a special breed “who is destined for leadership at the very top.”
Other traditional rulers gathered at the palace included Elegushi of Ikate-Elegushi Kingdom Oba Saheed Elegushi and Oniru of Iruland Oba Omogbolahan Lawal.
Also at the palace were former Deputy Governor Femi Pedro, former commissioner for environment Muiz Banire and the All Progressives Congress (APC) woman leader in the state Jumoke Okoya-Thomas.
