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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

Xenophobic Attacks: Oshiomhole Tells FG To Retaliate Against South African Companies In Nigeria

Published

3 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

Senator Adams Oshiomhole has called on the Federal Government to retaliate against South African businesses operating in Nigeria following the recent attacks on Nigerians in South Africa.

Speaking during plenary on Tuesday, Oshiomhole said the Federal Government should consider revoking the working license of South African owned companies such as MTN and DSTV.

He argued that Nigeria must respond firmly to what he described as persistent hostility against its citizens.

“I am not going to shed tears. If you hit me, I hit you. I think it is appropriate in diplomacy. It is an economic struggle,” Oshiomhole said.

He argued that while some South Africans accuse Nigerians of taking their jobs, Nigerians should return home and take over employment opportunities created by major South African companies operating in the country, including MTN and DSTV.

“When we hit back, the President of South Africa will not only talk but will also go on his knees to recognise that Nigeria cannot be intimidated.

“We will not condone any life being lost. If a crime has been committed under the South African law they have the right to bring any such person to justice, but to kill our people as if we are helpless, we will not allow that,” Oshiomhole added.

DAILY POST reports that several Nigerians in South Africa have reportedly been attacked, and their businesses destroyed, in ongoing xenophobic attacks in the country.

News

IGP Orders Officers Display Name Tag On Uniform, Gives Update On State Police

Published

3 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

The Inspector General of Police, IGP, Tunji Disu, has ordered all police personnel to always have their name tags on their uniforms for easy identification.

Disu disclosed that only police personnel who are undercover are exempted from displaying their name tags.

Speaking on Tuesday, Disu said: “All police officers should have their name tags. All of us on the high table have our names apart from the undercover among us so if you look at all the Commissioners of Police we have our name tags, so it’s not our standard.

News

Court Orders SERAP To Pay DSS Operatives N100m For Defamation

Published

8 hours ago

May 5, 2026

Editor

The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has ordered a non-governmental organization, the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, SERAP, to pay N100 million as damaged to two operatives of the Department of the State Services, DSS, for unjustly defaming them in some publications.

The court also ordered SERAP to tender public apologies to the defamed officers,
Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele, in two national newspapers, two television stations and its website.

Besides, the organization was also ordered to pay the two operatives N1 million as cost of litigation and 10 percent post-judgment interest annually on the judgment sum until it’s fully liquidated.

Justice Yusuf Halilu of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory gave the order on Tuesday while delivering judgment in a N5.5 billion defamation suit instituted against SERAP by the DSS operatives.

The judge found SERAP liable for unjustly defaming the two DSS operatives with allegations that they unlawfully invaded its Abuja office, harassed and intimidated its staff, in September 2024.

In the offending publication on its website and Twitter handle, SERAP alleged that the two operatives unlawfully invaded and occupied its office with sinister motives.

The judge held that the publication was in bad taste especially from an organization established to promote transparency and accountability, as nothing in the publication was found to be truthful.

The DSS staff had listed SERAP as 1st defendant in the suit marked CV/4547/2024. SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, was listed as the 2nd defendant.

In the suit, the claimants – Sarah John and Gabriel Ogundele – accused the two defendants of making false claims that they invaded SERAP’s Abuja office on September 9, 2024..

Counsel to the DSS, Oluwagbemileke Samuel Kehinde, had while adopting his final address in the mater urged the judge to grant all the reliefs sought by his client in the interest of justice.

He admitted that although the names of the two claimants were not mentioned in the defamation materials, they had however established substantial circumstances that they are the ones referred to in the published defamation article by SERAP on its website.

The counsel submitted that all ingredients of defamation have been clearly established and the offending publication referred to the two officials of the secret police.

However, SERAP, through its counsel, Victoria Bassey from Tayo Oyetibo, SAN, law firm, asked the court to dismiss the suit on the ground that the two claimants did not establish that they were the ones referred to in the alleged defamation materials.

She said that SERAP used “DSS officials” in the alleged offending publication, adding that the two claimants must establish that they are the ones referred to before their case can succeed.

Similar arguments were canvassed by Oluwatosin Adefioye who stood for the second defendant, adding that there was no dispute in the September 9, 2024 operation of DSS in SERAP’s office.

He said that since SERAP in the publication did not name any particular person, the claimants must plead special circumstances that they were the ones referred to as the DSS officials.

Besides, he said that there is no organization by name Department of State Services in law, hence, DSS cannot claim being defamed adding that the only entity known to law is National Security Agency.

The claimants had in the suit stated that the alleged false claim by SERAP has negatively impacted on their reputation.

The DSS also stated, in the statement of claim, that, in line with the agency’s practice of engaging with officials of non-governmental organisations operating in the FCT to establish a relationship with their new leadership, it directed the two officials – John and Ogunleye – to visit SERAP’s office and invite them for a familiarization meeting.

The claimants added that in carrying out the directive, John and Ogunleye paid a friendly visit to SERAP’s office at 18 Bamako Street, Wuse Zone 1, Abuja on September 9 and met with one Ruth, who upon being informed about the purpose of the visit, claimed that none of SERAP’s management staff was in the country and advised that a formal letter of invitation be written by the DSS.

John and Ogundele, who claimed that their interactions with Ruth were recorded, said before they immediately exited SERAP’s office, Ruth promised to inform her organisation’s management about the visit and volunteered a phone number – 08160537202.

They said it was surprising that, shortly after their visit, SERAP posted on its X (Twitter) handle – @SERAPNigeria – that officers of the DSS are presently unlawfully occupying its office.

The claimant added, “On the same day, the defendants also published a statement on SERAP’s website, which was widely reported by several media outfits, falsely alleging that some officers from the DSS, described as “a tall, large, dark-skinned woman” and “a slim, dark skinned man,” invaded their Abuja office and interrogated the staff of the first defendant (SERAP).

John and Ogundele stated that “due to the false statements published by the defendants, the DSS has been ridiculed and criticised by international agencies such as the Amnesty International and prominent members of the Nigerian society, such as Femi Falana (SAN)”.

“Due to the false statements published by the defendants, members of the public and the international community formed the opinion that the Federal Government is using the DSS to harass the defendants.”

They added that the defendants’ statements caused harm to their reputation because the staff and management of the DSS have formed the opinion that the claimants did not follow orders and carried out an unsanctioned operation and are therefore, incompetent and unprofessional.

The claimants therefore prayed the court for the following reliefs: “An order directing the defendants to tender an apology to the claimants via the first defendant’s (SERAP’s) website, X (twitter) handle, two national daily newspapers (Punch and Vanguard) and two national news television stations (Arise Television and Channels Television) for falsely accusing the claimants of unlawfully invading the first defendant’s office and interrogating the first defendant’s staff.

“An order directing the defendants to pay the claimants the sum of N5 billion as damages for the libellous statements published about the claimants.

“Interest on the sum of N5b at the rate of 10 percent per annum from the date of judgment until the judgment sum is realised or liquidated.

“An order directing the defendants to pay the claimants the sum of N50 million as costs of this action.”