From Segun Amure, (The New Diplomat’s Abuja)
Reactions have begun to trail the comment made by the Oba of Lagos, HRM Rilwan Akiolu, where he disclosed that hoodlums stole $2 million and N17 million during the recent invasion of his palace.
Recall that Oba Akiolu’s palace was one of the notable places hoodlums invaded in October 2020, during the EndSars protests.
Oba Akiolu revealed the amount carted away from his palace on Wednesday while speaking at the Commissioning of Glover Hall Memorial, Lagos State.
The royal father said he would continue to be rich despite the invasion, adding he will not place a curse on the hoodlums as a father.
His words read: “Those who did the Iga Iduganran, I can now say it publicly that they stole from my palace two million dollars cash and N17 million, I am now saying it publicly.
“I am not a wealthy man, but I am a contented person and Insha Allahu, I will continue to be rich,” Akiolu disclosed.
“Those who committed the offence would not have done that if they knew the implication. But as a father, I won’t place any curse on them,” he added.
While some Nigerians may be indifferent to Akiolu’s comment, quite a few Nigerians, most especially, young people have been enraged on Twitter by the Oba of Lagos’ action in stocking such huge amount of money in his palace.
In his words, Sunny Lulu tweeted, “In my opinion, although it is sad to note that the Oba lost such a huge amount of money supposedly to those who vandalized his palace (they are not the #Endsars protesters, but the hoodlums sponsored by failed politicians), it’s very difficult to sympathize with the monarch because keeping such an amount of money at home could be hazardous, e.g fire incidents.”
@Moshood said, “You should be arrested by the EFCC,so you can explain where you got the money from. Even banks in America wouldn’t keep that amount of money in their vaults,”
According to Ade Badejo, “Oga that one na voicemail. You get that kind amount, subjects living around you can’t even feel it. Where’s your humanity? You wan carry the money to heaven? At that age?”
(@ComWale), “for you to be this rich and still attracts public condemnation and protesters attack exposed Akiolu as ” olówó tí kóni iyì, ahun loni”. Many criticize the Ọba for not being stingy alone but also greedy and wicked. The residents of Isale Eko will tell you more
(@drealaijaa), “What exactly do you do to have this much money in your palace? Have you heard of banks?”
(@TayoAkinleye3), “where did he get the money and why did you keep that huge amount of money in the house in this era of cashless economy?”
(@phelade7), “he too wants to cash out. He overinflated the money taken from the palace knowing fully well Lagos state government will compensate him or refund him. At the end of the day it is the citizens that will end up paying this fictitious money. Shoni CC
”
“The people that went to Oba’s palace were not endsars protesters they were people that are not happy with the Oba. More so two million dollars stashed in his palace???”
— Olakunle Olabode (@OlakunleOlabo10) March 3, 2021
“@officialEFCC can you read the head line again pls
Such an amount in the Palace of a king… A king ooo not BUSINESS man ooo
If only @officialEFCC can follow up this story.
I’m not sure you @officialEFCC will relate with this tweet.”
— A B D U L H A C K Y M (@bdlhackym) March 3, 2021
