16th January, 2014
It was encomiums galore for the National Chairman of the All Progressive Congress, APC, Chief Bisi Akande, as he clocked 75 years on Thurday.
A colloquium was held for him at the Eko Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, western Nigeria with eminent Nigerians present.
APC chieftains, politicians, administrators, business moguls and many others thronged the venue of the colloquium to celebrate Akande at 75.
Alhaji Lai Muhammed, APC’s National Publicity Secretary was full of praise for Akande, describing him as a unique Nigerian and one that eschewed all forms of corruption.
“Chief Bisi Akande is a unique Nigerian and anybody who has been fortunate to work with him will appreciate the kind of person he is. He has been a councilor, chairman, deputy governor, governor and chairman of parties,” he said.
Muhammed added that humility, transparency and honesty had been the hallmark of Akande and that these qualities had remained untouched even till this moment.
“He is intelligent and that is why he has been able to guide AD, ACN and APC to success and to where we are now. He is a rare Nigerian, he is calm under pressure and he thinks like a young man. He has the courage of his conviction,” he stated.
A member of the House of Representatives, Lanre Odubote, described Akande as one of the oldest first generation politicians that Nigeria has produced, saying he is an Awoist.
“We thank God he is still much alive to direct the affairs of the party. We pray that God will continue to protect him. He stands for true federalism and we wish him luck,” he said.
Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State described Akande as a great and selfless elder statesman and a man with decades of his life dedicated to midwifing democracy in Nigeria.
“He is a pioneer democrat. He was a former deputy governor and governor, and the only man who has been the chairman of four parties in our great nation. There are not enough words to celebrate Chief Akande, so we will just pray that your days be long and your legacy even longer,” he stated.
APC Publicity Secretary, Lagos State, Mr. Joe Igbokwe, said Akande is one of the most successful former governors in this country as well as being a very successful leader of men and a harbinger of peace.
“He is an elder statesman, a consummate peace maker, an icon of democratic ideals, the democrat of democrats, the father of all and the driver of the new Nigeria. At 75, this great and amiable father has proved through committed leadership that there is still hope for Nigeria and Nigerians,” he said.
The Chairman, Ayobo-Ipaja Local Council Development Area, Chief Sakiru Yusuf, described Akande as a leader worthy of emulation.
He said ever since Pa Akande mounted the leadership saddle of the party, nothing had gone astray.
Chief Yusuf said the self discipline, humility, contentment perseverance, patience and transparency of the great former Governor of Osun State is reflecting in individual members of the party and the party as an entity, transforming from the days of Action Congress( AC),to Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and now APC.
“Despite his great achievements in life, spanning the academia and politics, Pa Akande is humility and dignity personified. An exemplary leader and role model, whose followers have equally become the pride of their various clans,” Yusuf stated.
He also used the opportunity to call on the people of his area to come out enmass for the membership registration of the All Progressives Congress slated for Thursday, 28 January to Saturday, 1 February, 2014 at all INEC designated polling stations.
—Kazeem Ugbodaga