Celebration Of Grace: Chief Bisi Akande Clocks 80

A former governor of the State of Osun, Chief Bisi Akande will today Wednesday, January 16, 2019 clock 80 years old.

In celebration of his birthday, a colloquium entitle, “The Bisi Akande Colloquium” is being organized as part of the activities lined up to celebrate the iconic politician, who has been recognized for his passion and selfless service to the growth of the State of Osun, and fruitful struggle to have a better Nigeria where life will be more meaningful for Nigerians.

The theme of the colloquium which will take place at Emeritus Professor Theophilus Oladipo Ogunlesi Multipurpose Hall, Opposite UCH, Ibadan, Oyo State, is “Nigeria: Achieving National Unity Through Peaceful Restructuring”.

The Colloquium will take place on Wednesday, January 16 by 10am while a grand reception will be held on Thursday, January 17, 2019 at Ila City Stadium, Opposite Chief Bisi Akande’s House, Ila Orangun, State of Osun.

Nigeria’s Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo will chairman the colloquium. Kaduna State Governor, Malam Nasir El-Rufai is the Keynote Speaker, while former Senate President, Senator Ken Nnamani, a Professor of Political Science at the University of Ibadan, Prof. Adigun Agbaje and Secretary, All Progressive Congress Committee on Restructuring, Senator Olu Adetunmbi are discussants for the theme.

Also, a former member of the National Assembly, Dr Usman Bugaje will moderate the event.

Chief Bisi Akande was born on 16th January, 1939 at Ile Asudan, Isedo, Ila-Orangun to Pa Lawani Bamgbose Akande (a descendant of one of the Generals in the Yoruba inter-tribal wars) and Madam Humuani Akande (daughter of a one-time Elemese, Head of Service of the Orangun Kingdom).

He was the Secretary to the Government of old Oyo State under the governorship of Chief Bola Ige in 1979. He later became the Deputy Governor to the same government in 1982.

Following the demise of Gen. Sani Abacha and Chief MKO Abiola and the military disengagement from Nigerian political administration, Chief Bisi Akande, as the Chairman of Afenifere for Osun state since 1995, co-founded the Alliance for Democracy (AD) – a political party on whose platform he contested and won elections to become the governor of Osun state (1999-2003). His tenure as governor was most remarkable and singularly spectacular for the unprecedented infrastructural development in Osun state.

He thereafter rose to become a leading light among the Yoruba leadership and a famous Nigerian statesman.

Chief Bisi Akande is a former National Chairman, Alliance for Democracy (AD), Action Congress (AC) Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the founding National Chairman of the present ruling party – All Progressives Congress (APC) between 2013 and 2014.