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Fashola, Atiku, Osoba, Others Salute Bisi Akande At 70

Jan 14, 2009 - It was a gathering of political who’s who Wednesday in Lagos as the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), joined other top political chieftains of the Action Congress (AC) to honour the National Chairman of the party, Chief Bisi Akande, who turned 70 years yesterday.

The occasion, which featured a lecture and book presentation as part of celebration, also had in attendance prominent politicians from across party divides and provided a forum for political interactions as various party chieftains in attendance called for a machinery to be set in motion to ensure a build-up of a formidable opposition to counter the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP).

In his remarks, Governor Fashola praised Chief Akande for his astute leadership, which he described as both unique and exceptional, saying one thing that the former Governor of Osun State had shown that he could do best was leadership, an attribute which, according to the Governor, earned him the governorship candidacy of Osun State in 1999 and has now propelled him to the pinnacle of leadership of the Action Congress.

“But, perhaps the best legacy Chief Akande left for the people of Osun State are the several books he produced which contain what he calls his blueprint for governance”, the Governor said pointing out that such books as “A Fresh Start in Osun State”, “Moving Osun State To Prosperity”, “The Inner Minds”, among others, stood today as testimony that Chief Akande did not only want to make impact in the lives of Osun people but also to ensure that there would be continuity of good governance when he quit the scene.

According to the Governor, “He left behind his experiences documented as references of hindsights to provide insights in order to enhance foresights. They encapsulate all that successive governors of the State need to know to enable them deliver good governance to the people”.

On Chief Akande’s style of politics, which he described as unique, Governor Fashola pointed out that when the former Chief Executive was ousted as governor in 2003, he chose to toe the line of service to the people, adding that he joined forces with other progressives like Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and numerous others to strategize and later came out with a package that gave birth to the Action Congress.

“When the will of the people was subverted in the 2003 general elections and he was contrived out of office, he chose to be a Statesman to propagate democracy. He alone with other progressives went back to the drawing board, re-strategized and before long, came out with a package that much later gave birth to the Action Congress”, the Governor said.

He continued, “Chief Akande demonstrated that he was not desperate for office but was passionate about service and has showed, until he recently became the Action Congress Chairman, that you do not need a title to serve”.

Elucidating further on his style of politics, Fashola quoted the AC Chairman as saying of progressive governance, “ In progressive governance, you don’t think of yourself at all, you don’t think of building additional houses, buying new cars or things like that. You think of how you can spread education to your people, how to make health services generally available to your people, how to improve employment; enhance environment and things like that. That is the purpose of progressive governance”.

“Of militarized politics, Chief Akande was of the view that everyone with military antecedents who want to be in politics should start from the various assemblies because, according to him, means discussion and not command”, Governor Fashola said.

“Chief Akande is today the National Chairman of our great party, the Action Congress, not by accident or by any act of political manipulation but by merit and dint of hard work”, Governor Fashola said, adding that the AC chieftain has, in more ways than could be enumerated in the short remark, demonstrated quality and well focused leadership, “especially in relation to and in relationship with the other political parties”.

Wishing the “Baba omo kee ki kee”, a happy birthday, Governor Fashola, who also prayed that the Almighty God would grant him more years of focused leadership, declared, “Indeed his leadership of our Party adds very little to his intimidating achievements rather his integrity and style of politics have been the nourishers for the ideas and culture of debate that have strengthened our Party”, adding, “As this great icon of our Nation marches through three scores and ten years, he deserves every accolade and every kind word said of him”.

He commended the Guest lecturer, Professor Yemi Oshibajo, whom he described as an astute scholar, for a well researched lecture, saying he did not expect any less from the professor who, according to him, majored in Law of Evidence.

Chairman of the occasion, Professor Pat Utomi, in his remarks described Chief Akande as a man of the people, saying the AC chieftain has lived a life of selfless service to the people.

“The milestone of 70 years is a time of reflections. What matters most are the memories which are a function of our commitment to serve other people. lecture and book presentation as part of celebration to mark the 70th birthday.

Chief Akande has truly served, he has truly lived”, the chairman said that the essence of life was to achieve immortality, both materially and spiritually.

According to him, “material immortality is achieved when some one has immortalized his name in the minds of people through commitment to improving their lives which will enable him to continue to live in their minds long after he has gone while spiritual immortality is being able to see God face to face when one dies”.

Wishing the septuagenarian many more years of fruitful service to the nation, Professor Utomi declared, “Let us use what he has done to elevate the virtues of hard work and commitment to the service of humanity so that we can also live for ever”.

Also paying tribute to Chief Akande, the immediate past Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu called for a national body that would ensure diligent pursuance of the implementation of court verdicts which indicted governors and other elected public officers for any electoral malpractice as a means to stem electoral malpractices in the country.

Former Vice-President and Presidential Candidate of the Action Congress in the 2003 elections, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, in his remark, described Chief Akande as a man of integrity, honesty and straightforwardness, noting that he has been personally enriched by his association the AC Chairman.

“I will continue to learn from what he stands for. We must thank God for his life, his health and his capacity to continue in this business of political leadership” the Turaki Adamawa said, adding that he did not know Chief Akande enough until he (Akande) became chairman of AC.

He commended the Guest Lecturer for his well researchede presentation which he described as one of the best ever given on the election issues, especially, on rigging.

Senator Olorunimbe Mamora, in his remark, also called for putting in place of a machinery that would reach out to other opposition parties for the formation of a formidable force to counter the ruling PDP, warning that without such a well articulated force, no one would be safe from the onslaught of the ruling party.

Others who echoed the call in their remarks at the occasion included, Chief Tom Ikimi, Chief Segun Osoba, Chief Paddy Eriase who represented the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and Niyi Akintola who also reiterated the call for the prosecution of all elected public officers convicted of electoral malpractices.

In the lecture titled “Elections and Electoral Malpractices : the Nigerian Dilemma”, Professor Osibajo called for the prosecution of all those indicted for electoral malpractices saying it was the only way to stem the evil practice in the country.

He described rigging as a poison which is a complete subversion of the peoples’ will, delegitimizes the moral standing of those in authority, adding that because nothing is being done to curb it, the practice gets worse with each succeeding government.

“The massive rigging in the 2007 elections, shows that the cub which was born in 1964 has now developed into a rampaging lion, threatening to devour our democracy”, Professor Osibajo said, and commended the AC for demonstrating that through technology rigging and electoral malpractices could be exposed.

Describing Chief Akande as an astute administrator who deserves all the tributes being paid him at 70, the Guest Lecturer pleaded with the Party Chieftain not to rest on his oars but to continue to give his service to uplifting of democracy in the country’

Others present at the grand occasion included, former governor of Oyo State, Chief Rasheed Ladoja, former governor of Anambra State, Dr. Chris Ngige, former governor of Kwara State, Mr. Cornelius Adebayo, National Secretary of AC, Alhaji Usman Bugaje, governorship candidate of the AC in Osun State in the 2007 election, Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola, his Ekiti State counterpart, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, and Speaker of the |Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, among numerous other party chieftains, associates and family members of Chief Akande.