By Ibe Pascal Arogorn
“While others hate his guts and fear his grievances, I cherish the enormity of the quickness of his wits and marvel at the largeness of his heart for smart arguments.
“However, despite my constant talking down impudently on him with pontifications about my old-time political experiences, he has refused to give up on me.
“He always makes me feel pampered. And we came, at last, to trust each other absolutely,” Bisi Akande wrote about Bola Tinubu in his book titled “My participation.
Chief Abdukareem Adebisi Bamdele Akande (“Bisi Akande”; born 16 January 1939) was the governor of Osun State, Nigeria from 1999–2003, as a member of the Alliance for Democracy (AD) party, and was the first interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress.
Akande was elected governor of Osun State in the 1999 Osun State gubernatorial election, running for the Alliance for Democracy (AD) party, which had recently formed as a political arm of the Yoruba socio-cultural organization Afenifere. He succeeded Col. Theophilus Bamigboye, who had been named as the military administrator of the State in August 1998, and who handed over power on 29 May 1999.
On 31 May 1999, Akande inaugurated the second Assembly in Osun State.
In January 2000, the Osun State government sacked 143 staff of the Osun State Broadcasting Corporation, following the governor’s earlier vow to trim the state’s work force. Akande dissolved the state Council of Obas and Chiefs in 2001, on the ground that it was too large. The dissolution may have been caused by a dispute between the then head of the royal council, the Ooni of Ile-Ife and Akande, in turn part of a face-off between Akande and the deputy governor, Iyiola Omisore.
A November 2001 appraisal of Osun State said that Akande was battling an unfriendly work force, and the state was also troubled by long-standing violence between the Ife and Modakeke clans. However, Akande had implemented his party’s programs for providing free education and free medical care, and had improved water supplies.
A different appraisal, two months later, noting the governor had recently survived an impeachment attempt, said that rather than improving social services and generating employment, after two years in power Akande had implemented massive staff lay offs in the public service, and had caused virtual collapse of public infrastructure.
On 24 December 2001, Akande’s supporter, Bola Ige, the minister of justice, was murdered in his house in Ibadan.
A national daily, ThisDay newspaper said that the murder could have been linked to the feud between Akande and the deputy governor, Iyiola Omisore. The murder followed another murder the previous week of Osun State legislator Odunayo Olagbaju, who was bludgeoned to death outside his home. Olagbaju was a supporter of Omisore.
Akande ran for re-election in 2003, but was defeated by Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
In his newly minted epochal autobiography, pithily titled ‘My Participations’ notable progressive politician and statesman, Chief Bisi Akande, gives a vivid account of his indelible contributions to Nigeria’s political evolution over the last five decades. His has been a near permanent presence on the country’s often treacherous political terrain for the best part of the country’s post-independence history. The title ‘My Participations’ is instructive and indicative of the Greek political thinker, Aristotle’s description of man as essentially a political animal. Man’s definition as human stems principally from his being a member of a human community. His alienation from and indifference to the activities of that community, particularly in contributing his quota to promoting and upholding the public good, would detract significantly from his human essence. In this memoir, Chief Akande comes across as a political animal par excellence.
It is only natural that the author’s account of his life journey begins with his first participation in politics at the national level as a member of the Constituent Assembly, which in 1978 had drawn up the 1979 Constitution, which was the legal foundation on which the democratic politics of the Second Republic was predicated. At the Constituent Assembly, Chief Akande quickly showed what stern stuff he was made up of and the strength and intensity he could muster to abide by his convictions, conscience and cherished principles against all odds. What shines radiantly throughout this book is Chief Akande’s ardent love for and resolute commitment to the progressive brand of politics popularized by the legendary Chief Obafemi Awolowo.
Although he notes that his father and mother were from prominent, well-to-do families in Ila, they were unable to breakthrough to attain success and wealth and thus died poor and in relative youth. With the help, understanding, love and support of his grandparents on both sides, Chief Akande was able to pursue his education acquiring various certificates that enabled him to embark on a teaching career and thus with his Elementary School Certificate, he began teaching as a pupil teacher in 1955, “thus becoming part of the Free Education Programme that was to transform the West and the entirety of Yoruba land”.
How does one explain Chief Akande’s consistent and relentless courage in facing issues and responding to challenges at all times? Does this tendency lie somewhere in his genes? I think it is possible to answer this question in the affirmative. According to chief Akande’s narrative in tracing his family lineage, he was the first grandson of Pa Sangopidan, his paternal grandfather. Pa Sangopidan believed that Chief Akande was the reincarnation of his own father, Ladimeji, one of the great military commanders of the Yoruba wars from Ila.
Even though he was not to become a warrior fighting in battles with weapons of war, Chief Akande has, nevertheless been a warrior in Nigerian politics utilizing his courage, character and conscience in ceaselessly defending the truth and fighting the cause of Justice.
Having acquired further relevant professional qualifications, Chief Akande made a transition from teaching to the oil industry when he secured employment at the multinational oil corporation, British Petroleum. Over the next 14 years at BP, he was sent on several courses that enhanced his knowledge in diverse fields of finance and accounting, computer operations as well as organizational management.
Even when he was eventually appointed first as Secretary to the State Government (SSG) and then Deputy Governor in the Bola Ige administration, Chief Akande never hesitated to offer to quit office rather than compromise his principles. On one such occasion as Chief Akande relates in this memoir, he wasted no time in turning in his letter of resignation. Of course , the governor turned down the resignation.
Following the collapse of the Second republic in December, Chief Bola Ige and Chief Bisi Akande were found guilty on a two-count charge of conspiracy and unlawful enrichment of their political party, the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) after what amounted to nothing but a secret trial. They were sentenced each to 21 years of imprisonment on each count to run concurrently. However, they were exonerated by a subsequent military administration and released.
After his ordeal with the traumatic impact particularly on his family, they remonstrated with him to quit politics and he promised never to accept elective or appointive office in future.
Despite his promise to his family, Chief Akande had become much more valued and appreciated for his life of service to the pro-democracy movement and progressive causes that it was invariably impossible for him to simply step aside and take a ringside position on the arena of politics. At a meeting of Afenifere in Ijebu Igbo to determine the governorship candidates of the AD for the 1999 elections, all those who had governorship aspirations in the South West were requested to leave the venue and await the decisions of the meeting. While other aspirants promptly left the hall, Chief Akande remained firmly on his seat. According to him, “Uncle Bola Ige glared at me angrily. Bisi, go out! Why are you sitting down when governorship aspirants are asked to go out? Do you want to cause problems for us in Osun? Go out! Go out now!” Reluctantly, Chief Akande went out and in the course of time, much against his will, became the elected governor of Osun State in 1999. But then, Chief Akande was an unusual governor. He ran one of the most frugal, ascetic and prudent, yet productive administrations in the history of state governments in Nigeria.
Chief Akande’s disdain for opulent material acquisition as well as determination to run an administration that was transparent, accountable and rendered qualitative sevice to the people was at the root of his government’s skirmishes with the legislature, the trade unions, some eminent traditional rulers and even his Deputy, Chief Iyiola Omisore.
As regards to the allegations made by Chief Bisi Akande in book, Leader of Pan-Yoruba socio-political group, Afenifere, Chief Ayo Adebanjo, has challenged former Lagos State Governor, Bola Tinubu, to disclose the source of his wealth with which he bankrolled the All Progressives Congress (APC) elections in the South-West, that of President Muhammadu Buhari and his various property.
Adebanjo said this at a press briefing to debunk the allegations in the book written by Chief Bisi Akande, titled: ‘My Participations,’ that he pestered Tinubu to build his Lekki House, also urged Tinubu to invite the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), to verify the details of his source of wealth.
He said he had expected Tinubu to have within a few days after the book presentation refuted such a ‘malicious falsehood” emanating from Akande.
According to him, he was surprised that Tinubu has not publicly debunked the allegations by Akande since he (Tinubu) was present at the presentation.
Adebanjo also stated that it’s been alleged that Akande’s building at Ila-Oragun, which is more than double in expanse of his (Adebanjo) house in Lekki and some other property he (Akande) has in Lagos and abroad were financed by Tinubu.
He said his (Akande) house in Ibadan was also alleged to have been built by the contractor that built the secretariat in Osogbo when he was the governor.
He, therefore, challenged Akande to clear the air by disclosing the source of financing those property.
MEANWHILE, a former National Deputy Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olabode George, yesterday, lambasted Akande over his autobiography titled: ‘My Participations’.
George, who spoke at a meeting where he hosted the Convener, Lagos4Lagos Movement, Abdul Azeez Adediran, that recently defected from All Progressives Congress (APC) to the PDP, said Akande’s book should be conscripted into the dustbin because it contained fallacies, saying it’s inaccurate and not good for present and future consumption.
George also described the contents of the autobiography as capable of creating crisis within the Yoruba race.
The former PDP national deputy chairman, who appealed to stakeholders in Yorubaland to disregard Akande’s claims in the book, faulted former Osun State governor for vilifying Adebanjo and Obasanjo, whereas he (Akande) failed to speak on the alleged corruption of his friend, Tinubu.
Snippets from the book already being bandied in the press do not come to me or any serious-minded watcher of our country as a surprise
Peddling boring peppersoup joint type gist as major themes of a book that is written by a so-called insider is not a way to ensure a legacy especially in the twilight of a career
Baba Bisi Akande should have spent his time in minding his grandchildren or offering tours of his country home by homeless denizens in his village than fostering this on us.
This book, its contributors, and those who went to launch it with him represent the order that will be swept away by a robust and vigorous wave of positivism.
Nigeria has come around the corner. The darkness is over and the right kind of people are beginning to take positions
We will salvage this country and not with this kind of talk that we are hearing from this book. We do not need so-called insider gist of how Buhari reneged in making Tinubu VP running mate or of how Obasanjo betrayed anybody.
We are interested in revamping a comatose economy and driving Nigeria into the 21st century by tapping into the huge potentials and human capital resources as we play catch up with the rest of the world.
As I look at all of them standing like gleeful mascots in front of the National Museum, I shake my head as I cringe at the possibility of being led once again into 2027 by any of these.
We should really mobilise the votes, build the structures needed and encompass a wholesome vision that will take into consideration our differences as we forge a united front as a proud people
I wish I was wealthy enough, I would buy all the copies of Baba Akande’s book and make a huge bonfire of it and get true free born Nigerians to sing the national anthem in our different ethnic attires as we dance around it.
The cannot give solution to Nigeria’s woes.
Ibe Pascal Arogorn, a journalist and writer, writes from Onitsha, Anambra state.
Email: ibepascal858@gmail.com
Facebook: Pascal Ibe
