I wanted to become Lagos governor – Oba Elegushi

The Oba of Ikate-Elegushi, in Lekki area of Lagos, Oba Saheed Elegushi, has said his leadership dreams was not to become a monarch, but his mergence as an Oba shut the door against his political aspiration.

The 43-year-old trendy monarch, who recently celebrated his ninth coronation anniversary, said he was hoping to become the governor of Lagos someday before he was picked to succeed his father after his demise.

In a recent interview with The Punch, Elegushi who worked as a special assistant to former Lagos Governors Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola before his emergence as a king, said he was scared for his life when he was told he would be the 21st monarch of the Ikate-Elegushi kingdom because he didn’t want to die at a young age.

Elegushi said,

“I was hoping to become the governor of Lagos someday. I didn’t know that Allah had a bigger plan for me. But working with Asiwaju Bola Tinubu prepared me for this challenge.

“I learnt a lot working as the special assistant to two former governors of Lagos – Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola.”

He added,

“For me, I believe in destiny. If God has destined you for a position, there is nothing you can do about it. When I was younger and the wise men told my father that I was a future king, it was like a joke to me.

“As a civil servant, I was aspiring to go to the House of Representatives, and I had even set up my campaign office. I thank God for where I am today because it is only death that can take me away from this position.”

Speaking on some of his achievements as the ruler of Elegushi, the Economics graduate from Lagos State University and the University of Manchester, United Kingdom, said, the kingdom is building a new city like Eko Atlantic, known as Imperial City.