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As Mr No-Nonsense Gov, Baba Akande Clocks 85, Here Are 10 Of His Most Controversial Statements

Published

2 years ago

January 15, 2024

Editor

The pioneer Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande, will clock 85 on Tuesday.

He was the governor of Osun State from 1999 to 2003 as a member of the defunct Alliance for Democracy.

He was born in Ila Orangun on January 16, 1939, in what is now the Osun Central Senatorial District.

President Bola Tinubu, on Monday, celebrated the former governor on his birthday.

“Baba was a principal actor in the founding of our great party, the All Progressives Congress. He has always been a progressive; always noble and disciplined in thoughts and actions, and given to rational and enlightened ideals,” Tinubu extolled.

As the influential political figure marks his 85th birthday, PUNCH Online revisits some of his most controversial statements:

“Jonathan is a kindergarten leader”

He criticised President Goodluck Jonathan, stating that he believed the President was unfit to govern the nation, suggesting that the responsibilities of the presidency require more experience and competence.

Akande stated, “What the country needs is a thinking leader not a kindergarten president with no solution to the myriad of problems plaguing the nation.”

Akande spoke with reporters at his Ila-Orangun country home.

He claimed that Jonathan, instead of focusing on effective government, was abusing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to go after those he saw as opponents.

This sparked a response from the then-president.

According to a statement from Dr Reuben Abati, President Jonathan’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jonathan urged Akande to show respect for the truth, his age, and Nigeria.

The President expressed disappointment at Akande’s remarks, stating that they were disrespectful to the esteemed position of the President of Nigeria.

“Nigeria may not celebrate 100 years of democracy together”

Akande issued the caution while unveiling his book, “The Bisi Akande Phenomenon: Governance, Economy and Politics.”

Akande emphasised the importance of the Federal Government prioritising an advanced educational curriculum that promotes the principles of democracy while reducing the emphasis on religion and ethnic bias.

“The Federal Government has been charged on the need for technology advanced educational curriculum as a panacea for economic and political advancement. If leaders do not uphold the tenets of democracy, the country might not celebrate 100 years of democracy together as a nation,” Akande said.

“Returning PDP to power will cause more suffering”

Onn Sunday, January 14, 2024 Akande addressed journalists in Ila Orangun, Osun State. He was speaking as part of activities to celebrate his 85th birthday anniversary.

During the event, he was asked about the opposition parties’ plan to form a coalition in order to challenge the ruling APC at the national level.

He said, “If the PDP was rejected and the same PDP coalesced again and people say, okay we will go back to it, the people will go back to their suffering. The PDP was defeated because it had no clue.”

“Nigeria moving in wrong direction”

During an exclusive interview with former presidential aide Laolu Akande, he made this statement on the debut of his TV programme, ‘Inside Sources’ on Channels TV in December.

When asked whether Nigeria was moving in the right direction, the former Osun State governor said, “Nigeria has been having a stunted growth, and today the sources of its nutrition are in deficit. The nutrition for a good polity is infrastructure and human capacity. Both we seem not to have in the right direction.

“So for that reason, I don’t see Nigeria in the right direction. But with the reason attempt to change the situation let’s hope Nigeria will be strong enough to bear the change.”

“Nigeria does not have a constitution now”

In the same interview, Akande noted that Nigeria’s constitution is fickle.

“We have no constitution now. What we have is the understanding. What we have now is that the Federal Government takes a decision and the rest of us queue behind it, that is why you see a market woman whose stall has been blown away by the wind, say we voted for the President (Tinubu), come and see flood (in our market) but that is a local government job and should be directed by the state governor, it has nothing to do with the Federal Government but because the constitution is not well defined, or simply defined see how long it takes, it is too long.”

“All the angels in heaven cannot make 1999 constitution work”

He described the 1999 Constitution as the greatest misadventure of the country, saying that the law cannot make the progress of Nigeria work.

Akande called for the adoption of the 1963 Republican Constitution as a means to facilitate the development of a more appropriate constitution.

“The Constitution breeds and protects corrupt practices and criminal impurities in governance. The 1999 Constitution can never be beneficially reviewed and the ongoing piecemeal adjustments or amendments can only totally blot the essence of national values and accelerate the de-amalgamation of Nigeria.

“All the angels coming from heavens cannot make that Constitution work for the progress of Nigeria. It should only be scrapped as a bad relics of military mentality; it ought to be temporarily replaced with the 1963 Republican Constitution to enable a transition to the writing of a suitable constitution.

“Otherwise, the 1999 Constitution would continue to dwarf Nigeria’s economy and stifle the country’s social structure pending a disastrous and catastrophic bankruptcy,” he stated.

“Subsidy thieves, corrupt businessmen, enthroned Saraki, Dogara”

Back in 2015, the ex-governor pointed out that fuel subsidy thieves and corrupt businessmen were believed to be responsible for the crisis in the APC, which ultimately led to the unexpected appointments of Bukola Saraki as Senate President and Yakubu Dogara as Speaker of the House of Representatives, going against the ruling party’s desires.

Akande had said Saraki and Dogara were backed by fuel subsidy thieves and business cartels to frustrate the anti-corruption plan of the Buhari administration.

“Those who were jittery of Buhari’s constant threat of anti-corruption’s battle began to encourage and finance rebellions against the APC democratic positions which led to the emergence of Senator Saraki as the candidate of the PDP tendencies inside and outside APC.

“Before the party knew it, the process had been hijacked by polluted interests who saw the inordinate contests as a loop-hole for stifling APC government’s efforts in its desire to fight corruption,” akande said.

“Most Northern elite, the Nigerian oil subsidy barons and other business cartels, who never liked Buhari’s anti-corruption political stance, are quickly backing up the rebellion against APC with strong support,” he said in a statement.

“Godfatherism is common sense”

Akande was lending his voice to the proxy war between the then-governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai and then-APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu. Clearly, this was a coded allusion to el-Rufai’s remarks about putting a stop to the godfatherism that plagues Lagos politics.

El-Rufai had insisted he had no apology over his comment that “godfather can be defeated” in Lagos State.

He said, “Like most learners serve article-ship before qualifying as Accountants; and like most lawyers serve tutelage before being professionally competent, so must a university lecturer seek mentor-ship before rising to professorship.

“In the same manner, the lower the hierarchy of a political party member, the more mentorships he required to rise from mere canvasser, to ward organiser, to party officer and to election candidate within his chosen political party.

“It is these political mentor-ships that are being presently euphemistically negated as ‘godfatherism’ by the neo-money politicians struggling to use money to hijack influence from political parties whose ideology they do not care to respect.

“It is not about defending Tinubu or responding to El-Rufai’s statement about defeating godfatherism, I am defending common sense.”

“ASUU is producing vagabond, half-baked graduates”

In 2018, Akande criticised the strike by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, calling it dishonest and destructive.

He said that the union’s members’ ceaseless strikes had played a significant role in producing low-caliber graduates who, he regretted, are vagabonds and unemployable.

He said, “Can they do that in private establishment’? It is because they are employed by the government that gives them such opportunities, if they are truly sincere about their demands, they should also come together and found university.

“People go to the university and come back with half-baked education. They are teachers of vagabonds and that is the truth. That is why Nigeria is becoming worse.”

“Buhari should have removed fuel subsidy”

Akande, a fierce supporter of Buhari when he was in power, recently expressed his reservations about some of the former President’s economic decisions.

He stated that former President Buhari could have successfully removed the subsidy during his administration.

“And I kept saying it but as part of the administration, I couldn’t go to the press to say it. It would have been senseless because Buhari never closed the door of his house to me. I can meet and talk to him whenever I want,” he said on Channels TV.

“And I was saying that I wasn’t comfortable with economic management. Let’s use, for example, the removal of fuel subsidy, between the time Buhari was elected as President and the time he was inaugurated, we had several sessions of discussion to see if the subsidy should be removed and he was convinced.

“And I thought that as soon as he got to power he would removed the subsidy but I didn’t know what happened. And after his inauguration he started being careful, slowing down until the first four years,” he added.

As we reflect on Akande’s controversial statements, it’s important to acknowledge the impact he has had on the political landscape.

As he celebrates his 85th birthday, we wish Mr. No-Nonsense Gov continued health and happiness.
PUNCH

News

How I and Obey’s Son Escaped Getting Caught In Benin’s Coup —Dele Momodu

Published

11 hours ago

December 7, 2025

Editor

The 2011 presidential flagbearer of the National Conscience Party (NCP), Chief Dele Momodu has revealed how he and his entourage missed getting caught in Benin Republic’s coup on Sunday.

A group of military personnel in Benin on Sunday announced that they had ousted President Patrice Talon, who is due to step down next April after 10 years in power.

Soldiers calling themselves the “Military Committee for Refoundation” (CMR), said on state television that they had met and decided that “Mr Patrice Talon is removed from office as president of the republic”.

Reacting to the news via a post on his official X account, Momodu said he and his entourage would have been caught in Benin Republic’s coup if not for a missing document.

“OUR GOD DID THIS FOR US… My friend ROTIMI OBEY, the second son of legendary musician, CHIEF COMMANDER EBENEZER OBEY and I were to head out to Accra, Ghana, by road, this morning. All was set and ROTIMI went to bed early so that we can set out at 5am. But something went wrong,” he said.

“Before going to bed, I asked my driver for the originals of my car documents. He said he had only the copies with him. I searched the Home Office in Victoria Island but I couldn’t find it. I then went to the Penthouse in Ikoyi to check my other office. Still no luck. So , I called ROTIMI at 10:38 PM to give him the decision to fly instead of driving. He agreed.

“Meanwhile, my Beninese friend and mentee, ALEX DALMEIDA, was already in town waiting to accompany us through the French-speaking borders. So I called him at 23:02 last night to abort our road trip.

“I called PRECIOUS, my travel consultant, to check available flights. She got us tickets at 11:15PM. It was at the airport we received the news of the coup in Benin Republic… We barely missed it by the whiskers…”

Soldiers led by Lieutenant Pascal Tigri announced that they have taken over the country. They also suspended all political parties and announced the closure of land, sea and air borders.

Speaking further, Momodu expressed surprise at the coup attempt, saying: “Benin is one of West Africa’s most peaceful countries.

“The Benin’s President changed the constitution just last month to allow him extend his presidential term, this morning the military has overthrown him.”

Talon’s entourage has, however said that the Benin Republic President is safe and the army was regaining control.

Talon, a 67-year-old former businessman dubbed the “cotton king of Cotonou”, is due to hand over power in April next year after 10 years in office marked by solid economic growth but also a surge in jihadist violence.

West Africa has experienced a number of coups in recent years, including in Benin’s northern neighbours Niger and Burkina Faso, as well as Mali, Guinea and, most recently, Guinea-Bissau.

News

OAU Unveils Seven-foot Bronze Statue Of Chief Obafemi Awolowo

Published

17 hours ago

December 7, 2025

Editor

…Yemisi Shyllon, other dignitaries praise Awo’s commitment to humanity

A giant bronze statue of the sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, was unveiled on Friday at the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Ile Ife.

The statue, the worth of which was put at N120 million by the donor, has the sage dressed in his Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) attire. It is of a height of seven feet, which goes to 15 feet after the inclusion of the pedestal.

Speaking at the unveiling, the Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Adebayo Bamire, stated that the statue is a legacy project for the university.

Professor Bamire said the statue was a celebration of Chief Awolowo’s selfless service to humanity and expressed the appreciation of the university to the donor, Prince Yemisi Shyllon.

Prof Bamire noted that the life of Chief Awolowo should serve as a lesson for all to live for the good of the people.

“It is known that the soul of any civilisation, the very pulse of its humanity, beats strongest on its art, on its music, its literature, its visual splendour and its performances. This affirmation resonates with the Obafemi Awolowo University academic philosophy: ‘for learning and culture’—a culture of creativity and a creative culture.

“The donor of the statue, Prince Yemisi Shyllon, is a man whose name resonates across continents. He is Africa’s foremost art collector, an accomplished creative mind, a committed philanthropist of extraordinary vision and a relentless advocate for cultural advancement and one of the most remarkable cultural ambassadors of our time.

“For a university like ours, dedicated to the holistic development of mind and spirit, this example is a beacon. It reinforces our own commitment to ensuring that the sciences converge with the humanities, that innovation dances with tradition and that our graduates are as culturally literate as they are professionally skilled.

“This iconic piece will not only beautify our campus but also serve as a permanent cultural marker, reminding future generations of the ideals of leadership, service, excellence and intellectual courage upon which this university was founded,” the Vice Chancellor said.

Speaking, the donor of the statue, Prince Yemisi Shyllon, stated that the project was aimed at celebrating Papa Awolowo for living a purpose-driven life.

Prince Shyllon said conceiving the project and funding it was his own way of saying thank you to Chief Awolowo for the sterling leadership he gave his people and for showing what meaningful life meant.

“Indeed, many people solely focus on material wealth, such as having cars, building and buying properties, buying private jets, jewelries and the many other worthless and selfish illusions of life, that are generally not meaningful to the real essence of human life,” he said.

He added that Chief Awolowo would be remembered forever for living for what was right and just even as he listed some of the enduring legacies of the sage.

Prince Shyllon pointed at “free education in the old Western Region, and other landmark projects such as the Cocoa House, Western Nigeria Television, Liberty Stadium, industrial estates, farm settlements and the Obafemi Awolowo University, among others” as worthy legacies left behind by Chief Awolowo.

Shyllon noted that the sage was a man who could be best described as an example of a person who lived a “meaningful life.”

He added that Chief Awolowo lived his life planting seeds for generations while leaving his indelible footprints on the sands of time.

He charged all to live the kind of life that would make humanity remember them for something positive, “just as Papa Obafemi Awolowo, who died 38 years ago.”

He stressed that the Holy Qur’an and the Bible preach the act of showing love to the needy, adding that all should not give to the needy for the purpose of getting anything in return.

“Life is full of emptiness. Awolowo lived a meaningful, purpose-driven life and planted seeds through his various selfless services to humanity before his exit. That is why he is celebrated every day since he died 38 years ago,” he said.

In his remarks, Chairman, African Newspapers of Nigeria (ANN) Plc, publishers of the Tribune titles, and daughter of Chief Awolowo, Dr Olatokunbo Awolowo Dosumu, thanked Prince Shyllon for donating the statue.

She also appreciated the university for being receptive to the idea and for keeping the legacy of Chief Awolowo alive.

Ambassador Awolowo Dosumu, who was represented by the Editor, Saturday Tribune, Dr Lasisi Olagunju, noted that the project was a celebration of selfless service to the people which was what Chief Awolowo lived for.

“History is always there to reward selfless leadership and expose pretenders. We are here today in celebration of an uncommon man who died 38 years ago. This honour, this statue is a demonstration of what immortality means.

“Chief Awolowo gave his very best in the service of the people. We appreciate the donor, Prince Yemisi Shyllon, for the gesture and also appreciate the university for giving the right space for the erection of the statue. Good life is about services; what we are celebrating today is history’s reward for Chief Awolowo’s selflessness.

“Papa was one leader who believed that service to the people is a rent paid for the space we occupy in this world. The Awolowo family appreciates this monument and thanks the donor and the sculptor for doing a great job,” he said.

He urged students of the institution to learn from the life lived by Chief Awolowo and rededicate themselves to noble causes.

At the ceremony were principal officers of the university and other dignitaries, including Senator Babafemi Ojudu, who also said positive things about Chief Awolowo and the leadership he gave the Nigerian people.
(TRIBUNE)

News

FULL LIST: FG Selects 20 Content Creators For Tax Reform Education

Published

18 hours ago

December 7, 2025

Editor

The Federal Government has released a list of 20 content creators selected to support public education on Nigeria’s ongoing tax reforms.

The Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee issued the announcement, which was posted on Thursday by its chairman, Taiwo Oyedele, on X.

The list, titled “Top 20 Content Creators for Tax Reform Education,” was shared after the organisers received 8,591 nominations covering more than 200 creators.

The organisers said the selected creators will attend a special training session designed to deepen their understanding of the new tax laws so they can share clearer and more balanced information with their audiences.

They encouraged Nigerians to tag any creator on the list and ask them to confirm their interest by completing the acceptance form.

“If your favourite creator is on the list, tag or mention them and ask them to confirm their interest by completing this form: forms.gle/Ph49kSE4okDf6g….

“Deadline for acceptance is Monday, 8 December 2025.

“Tell us the areas of interest and key issues you’d like the training to focus on in the comments section.”

According to the announcement, the creators were ranked by their followership across major platforms. The top 20 include:

1. Financial Jennifer

2. Onlinebanker

3. Don Aza

4. Mary Efombruh

5. Baba Ogbon Awon Agba International

6. Perpetual Badejo

7. Personalfinancegirl

8. Tomi Akinwale

9. Emeka Ayogu