You are no longer a military man - Oba of Lagos tells Buhari

– Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu, tells President Buhari to stop acting as a military man
– Oba Akiolu says Nigeria’s economy woes is not totally the fault of former president Goodluck Jonathan
– He says he and Jonathan are good friends
Rilwan Akiolu, the Oba of Lagos has advised President Muhammadu Buhari against approaching governance as a military man.

According to Oba Akiolu, Buhari should realize that he is no longer a military man and be civil in his approach, The Punch reports.

Oba Riliwanu Akiolu

Oba Akiolu made this known in Lagos on Monday, August 15, during the unveiling of SunTrust Bank Limited, the first commercial bank to be licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria in 15 years.
His remark comes even as he noted that former president Goodluck Jonathan could not be totally blamed for the nation’s current economic crisis.
However, Oba Akiolu sought support for President Buhari and expressed confidence in the Federal Government’s Economic Management Team led by Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo to salvage the economy.

Akiolu said: “All of us just have to support the President and I advise him to know that he is no more a military man. I am not afraid to say that. The measures they are taking on the rot of the past, honestly whether they like it or not, it was not totally the fault of former President Goodluck Jonathan. I don’t hide the fact that he (Jonathan) is my personal friend. All that happened was not totally his fault
“But it is not too late to make amend. With Prof. Yemi Osinbajo as head of economic team, with people like Mrs. Nike Akande as the President of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry and others, they (the federal government) should listen to advice from people in commercial sector of the economy.”

Other dignitaries present at the unveiling include; the president of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote; chairman of Forte Oil, Femi Otedola; andcChairman, Senate Committee on Appropriation, Danjuma Goje.

Dangote, who was a special guest of honour at the event, described as a bold move the decision by the Board of Directors and management of SunTrust Bank to open a new bank at a time the global banking industry and major economies were facing serious challenges.

He said: “These investments of ours are meant to open the entire economy, not just in Nigeria but the entire Africa. We also believe that this investment by SunTrust Bank will attract good rewards in the years to come.
“SunTrust Bank has a good business model that is based on financial technology, often regarded as FinTech. With their focus on FinTech, customers can transact business with them without leaving their homes.”

According to Dangote, the SunTrust Bank’s model will attract millions into the financial system, noting that only 15% of the country’s adult population is currently in the banking system.

While unveiling SunTrust Bank, Dangote said: “This is a very bold move; ladies and gentlemen, I present to you tomorrow’s bank today.”

Meanwhile, Oba Akiolu has said that more oil deposits are still going to be discovered in Lagos state, which will lead to constructions of more refineries in the state.
According to him, Nigerians have not seen anything in terms of development, and that a lot of developmental projects are going to be embarked on during the tenure of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.
The monarch said that the refinery being built by the Dangote Group in Lagos was just the beginning of many great things to come during his reign.