By Hunvio Elizabeth Badagry stood still on Friday as special Jumaat prayers became the spiritual centerpiece of Day Five in the seven day o...
By Hunvio Elizabeth
Badagry stood still on Friday as special Jumaat prayers became the spiritual centerpiece of Day Five in the seven day official mourning for the late Akran of Badagry His Royal Majesty De Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi I.
From the early hours of the morning the ancient coastal town was wrapped in an atmosphere of deep reverence and sacred silence. As at 8 am the town centre remained unusually calm with the long standing no noise directive strictly enforced by palace chiefs and youth marshals acting on behalf of the traditional council. The quiet marked a continuation of the solemn mourning period approved by the Lagos State Government following the monarch’s transition.
Attention gradually shifted to the Badagry Central Mosque where preparations intensified for a special Jumaat service and Fidau prayers scheduled for early afternoon. The Chief Imam of Badagry described the late Akran as a unifying figure whose reign transcended faith and tradition. He noted that although the monarch was the custodian of Ogu cultural heritage his leadership style encouraged religious tolerance and mutual respect across the town.
According to community leaders the Jumaat prayers were not viewed as a strictly Islamic observance but as a collective moment of reflection and gratitude for a ruler who protected all faiths. One elder summed it up by saying the Akran was not the king of one people alone but a father whose roof sheltered everyone in Badagry.
Behind the scenes traditional rites also reached a critical stage. Palace sources confirmed that the Night of Seven Rites a major spiritual transition ceremony was concluded at dawn by Ogu elders within the sacred quarters of Vlekete and Hunwaji. These rites are regarded as essential to the peaceful passage of the monarch into the ancestral realm and have necessitated heightened restrictions within the core historical areas of the town.
While the heart of Badagry remained under sacred guard some signs of limited economic activity surfaced at the outskirts. Agbalata Market opened at reduced capacity with traders reporting low turnout as many visitors from Ojo and across the border stayed away out of respect for the mourning. At the Badagry Marina boat operators described the morning as quiet with movements largely restricted to locals attending condolence visits and funeral related obligations.
As the town observes the final days of mourning attention is already turning to what comes next. Officials of the Badagry Local Government in collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs are expected to announce dates for the state funeral and an official day of tributes in the coming days.
For now Badagry remains calm reflective and united holding firmly to tradition prayer and dignity as it honours a monarch whose 48 year reign left an enduring legacy of peace stability and inter communal harmony.
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