TheCable

President Bola Tinubu has celebrated Bisi Akande, former interim national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), who turned 85 years old on Tuesday.

Speaking at an event to mark Akande’s birthday, Tinubu said the former governor of Osun is a “respected elder statesman in Nigeria who continues to offer rare insights and counsel for effective governance”.

The president said he has benefited immensely from Akande’s knowledge and perspectives on various issues.

“As an astute politician, Chief Akande has been part of every political epoch in our country since the Second Republic. He was one of the eminent Nigerians that drafted the 1979 constitution which the amended 1999 constitution, currently in use, largely mirrors,” Tinubu said.

“Beyond his sagely contributions to our national development and political evolution over the decades, the most enduring aspect of his enviable life is his forthrightness, integrity, reliability and spartan life which he imbibed from his leader, Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

“All these attributes have served him well in all the positions he had the rare honour to occupy in his illustrious life.

“Baba Akande is a sharp and brilliant accountant. He was a former Secretary to the State Government and later Deputy Governor of old Oyo State. He dutifully served the people of Osun State as the Governor with tremendous success from 1999 to 2003.

“A committed democrat, die-hard progressive, and prudent yet compassionate leader of men, Chief Akande has done much for this country and for the progressive family.

“He has been a prominent architect of our nation’s progressive political parties.”

The president said Akande has been a mentor to younger politicians across the country particularly in the south-western part of the country.