The Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu has narrated how he nearly turned President Muhammadu Buhari away when he arrived three hours late for a meeting in his palace.
Oba Akiolu disclosed that the incident occurred in 2011 when Buhari was the presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).
“It was just because of his professional calling and age that I attended to him, if it were to be another person, I would say no,” the monarch said.
Speaking on the president’s style of leadership, the Lagos monarch said, “There’s no bad kind of leadership, but bad advisers. Before Buhari came to government, certain things did not work well.
“Look, I was very close to President Goodluck Jonathan, I called him on several occasions and gave him what I believe would make things better.
“I realized that politicians don’t quarrel, they only disagree. They ought to operate with sincerity and honesty of purpose, followed by prayers, all will be well.”
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Asked if he had the same relationship with President Buhari, Oba Akiolu stated, “I have known Buhari now for over 40 years. The interview I granted a national newspaper four or five years ago, it’s there.
“In 2011, he came to my palace in company of my beloved departed friend, Tony Momoh.
“He requested I should appeal to Lagosians to fall along with him.
“With due respect, I told him, you said you were coming at a particular time, you came three hours later.
“It was just because of his professional calling and age that I attended to him, if it were to be another person, I would say no. He apologised and said it was due to bad roads and that the traffic was something else.
“I told him that the bad road was his making because he canceled our metro line project.
“He explained the circumstance that led to it. He also came with Baba Akande, Bola Tinubu and many others.”