Showers Of Encomiums On Tinubu At 60

Encomiums have been showered on former Governor of Lagos State, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as he turns 60 years tomorrow even as members of the state House of Assembly hold a Special Session in his honour.

Thousands of well wishers thronged Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria last night to felicitate with the former governor and national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.

At the dinner and gala night organised to honour him by the Conference of Lagos State Local Government Chairmen at the hotel, well wishers showered praises on the man they describe as an icon and a living legend.

At the event were the Governors of Lagos and Osun states, Babatunde Fashola and Rauf Aregbesola; former Governor of Ogun State, Olusegun Osoba, the celebrant’s wife, Oluremi Tinubu, wife of the Ekiti State Governor, Bisi Fayemi and Dr Muiz Banire.

Maitama Sule, Oba Sijuade, Lai Muhammed, Abimbola Fashola, Bisi Akande, Dele Alake, Chairmen of the 57 councils in Lagos, lawmakers, among several other dignitaries also graced the occasion.

A book on Tinubu titled “Little Miracle” published by Mr. Sam Omateye of The Nation Newspaper was launched at the event while a documentary on Tinubu, titled, “The Living Legend, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu” was aired at the event.

Mr. Dele Alake, former Lagos Commissioner for Information and Strategy reviewed the book which x-rays the achievement of Tinubu in office, which the book described as Little Miracle.

Alake eulogised Tinubu’s qualities, saying that he transformed Lagos State when he was governor and later handed over to a worthy successor.

Speaking, Fashola, after purchasing 1000 copies of the book, said Tinubu’s life depicted that of selflessness, adding that the book served as inspiration to service.

The Conference of 57 council chairmen eulogised the qualities of Tinubu, saying he had touched countless lives.

Chairman of Conference 57, Akeem Sulaimon said Tinubu is a leader characterised by a strong drive of responsibility and task completion, vigour and persistence in pursuit of goals, among others.

“He is a blessing to Nigeria and many people. He bestrides our political space like a colossus and in deed a colossus he is. He came, he saw and he conquered and he is still riding high.

“The good that Bola Tinubu has done will live after him. This is evident in the high esteem Nigerians hold him, in his international recognition, in the love and compassion people have for him and above all, in the class, substance and numerical strength of the people here today,” he stated.

He said the Conference of 57 wished the former governor sound health and long life so that he would continue to be a blessing to this generation.

Speaking, Tinubu said he was elated by the honour accorded him by well wishers and thanked everyone.

Meanwhile, the Lagos State House of Assembly this morning held a special session to honour Tinubu.

As early as 10 am Nigerians thronged the Lagos Assembly, venue of the special session.

Some Nigerians who graced the event included Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos, his Osun counterpart, Rauf Aregbesola, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state, Deputy Governor of Lagos state, Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, the First Lady of the state, Abimbola Fashola, wife of the celebrant, Senator Oluremi Tinubu and members of the state Executive Council.

Others included former Governor of the Lagos state, Lateef Jakande, National Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria, Bisi Akande, Senator Olorunimbe Mamora, former Commissioner for Works, Lanre Razak, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) National Publicity Secretary and its Lagos state Chairman, Henry Ajomale, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, serving members of the Senate and House of Representatives including Gbenga Ashafa and Ganiu Solomon, former members of the Lagos state House of Assembly, former Clerk of the House, Taiwo Olatunji, founder of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Dr. Frederick Fasheun and stalwarts of the ACN.

Speakers of Gombe, Taraba, Ekiti and Kwara Houses of Assembly attended the event as Ikuforiji told the audience that the speakers decided to honour Asiwaju Tinubu, because he is a great man that is worthy of celebration.

Leading his colleagues in the shower of praises for Tinubu, Wahab Alawiye-King, said Tinubu had produced a lot of leaders, adding that he had become who he is today because a statement made to him by Asiwaju.

The Chairman, House Committee on Information, Security and Strategy, Olusegun Olulade, described Tinubu as an unrepentant disciple of June 12 struggle, saying he was the hero of the Nigerian youth and a great political thinker. Another lawmaker, Rotimi Olowo, said Tinubu had become the rallying point for other leaders in most parts of the country.

“Who in Nigeria today has produced so many leaders like Asiwaju?” Olowo asked.

Bisi Yusuf described Tinubu as a modern day custodian of the Yoruba proverb and an epitome of knowledge.

He said even in years to come, Nigerians would continue to celebrate him and draw from his knowledge.

Omowunmi Olatunji-Edet said the Asiwaju was worthy of celebration after he was able to make himself stand tall in the society.

She said Asiwaju believes in God, himself and the people, adding that the former governor would live longer than all his enemies. The House used the opportunity to honour Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state for his selfless service to the people of Lagos while he was the Commissioner for Works in Lagos state.

With the honour, he has been inaugurated as a member of the House.

Speaker Adeyemi Ikuforiji said Governor Aregbesola had always loved the legislative arm of government and respected every lawmaker that came his way.

He however said the governor was not entitled to any imprest from the House as an honourary member, but could contribute during sessions.

He also said the governor cannot chair any committee of the House.

He described this honour as unprecedented since no other person has been so honoured since the inception of the present democratic dispensation.

Governor Aregbesola, while accepting the honour, said this was the biggest honour he had ever received.

He said he had high regards for the parliament since it is the most important arm of government.

He described governance as an artificial creation of man to establish order, but said this cannot be possible without the legislature.

He said his life ambition had always been to be a legislator.

He added that he would forever cherish the honour that is coming to him from the most sophisticated House in the country.

As at the time of filing this report, the session was still on.

—Kazeem Ugbodaga & Eromosele Ebhomele