Chief Bisi Akande’s Uprightness Endeared Buhari To Him-Osinbajo

By Abdulrofiu Agboola

The acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo on Thursday said the uprightness Chief Bisi Akande has displayed in his public career obviously endeared President Muhammadu Buhari to him.

Osinbajo disclosed this at Ila, the country home of Chief Bisi Akande who in Tuesday lost his wife, Chief Mrs Omowunmi Akande.

Osinbajo, who spoke briefly at the funeral rite of the Akande’s matriarch said he was in London with President Buhari when he recieved the news of the death of Mrs. Akande.

Osinbajo added that the President Buhari was touched by the news and asked”how is baba Akande now?.

He opined that President Buhari had called Akande on phone to personally  commiserate with him.

The acting President in his remarks eulogised noting that the major reason why people from all walks of life converge to celebrate   Mrs. Akande is because she was a virtuous womam.

“Mama’s loyalty to baba was unequalled. She and baba raised their children well. We  all see the children she left behind doing well. Mama, no doubt, has left a good legacy behind. She had lived a life we are happy to remember with joy. We are celebrating the life of this great woman.

“Baba has displayed courage many times even it is rough politically but why we are wondering how baba will cope this time, he had shown tremendous courage again. Baba will always remain a beacon of light to us. So,thank you for being a light,”he said.

Osinbajo described the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu as a visionary and detribalised leader, saying such attributes are needed for Nigerian unity and cohesion.

“When Asiwaju was the governor of Lagos State, he assembled all of us as commissioners without any consideration from where you have come from. While I am from Ogun state, Dele Alake and Bamidele Opeyemi are from Ekiti State. Rauf Aregbesola is from Osun State, Lai Mohammed from Kwara State.”

“Asiwaju is detrabilised leader, we can talk about Nigerian unity only when we act what we preach.”

Osinbajo appealed to Nigerians to support ideals of peace and unity, which he said many great leaders stand for.

“Our strenght as a nation lies in our diversity and size. Many states of Nigeria are far bigger than many nations of Africa and some parts of the world. The economy of Lagos State, for instance, is six times of Rwanda’s. We must learn to stand together and work together. This is the great message of Mr. President”.

Present at the occasion are: the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, the national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Osun State governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, his counterparts from Ogun,  Ondo and Oyo States, Ssnator Ibikunle Amosun, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, and Senator Isiaka Ajimobi, respectively.

Others include, the former Ekiti State governor and deputy national chairman the APC, Engr. Segun Oni, the former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Nuhu Ribadu, the of  Osun State deputy governor, Chief Mrs. Grace Titi Laoye-Tomori, the Secretary to Osun State Government, Alhaji Moshood Adeoti, the Chief of Staff to Osun State Governor, Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, the former Inspector-General of Police, Tafa Balogun, former Ondo State governor, Evangelist Bamidele Omomilua, the chairman of the Nigeria Export Commission Council, Segun Awolowo, Jr.

Also, the former chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Osun State, Elder Adebiyi Adelowo, the Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fimihan Adeoye., former Secretary to Osun State Government, Engr. Sola Akinwumi, Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, Chief Wale Oshun, Pa Pius Akinyelure, Bashir Imam, Ambasador Sola Iji, among others.