Former Osun State governor, Chief Bisi Akande, on Tuesday, warned all governors and other political leaders, particularly on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, to beware of political vagabonds who would later come out to challenge and accuse them of corruption to take over the mantle of leadership.
Akande, who is a former interim National Chairman of the APC, gave this warning during his 85th birthday celebration and the unveiling of Adebisi Akande Foundation and its Board of Trustees at the International Conference Centre in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
The elder statesman said he was afraid because Nigerians were talking about corruption among the present crops of political leaders but another set of political vagabonds were coming, who would be more corrupt, vicious, richer and more influential than the present ones.
The APC leader stressed further that those vagabonds would contend for political powers with the current leaders and most likely win but in the end plunder the country.
He said, “We are in a Nigeria where everybody is more corrupt. Corruption is in the mind of everybody. These vagabonds are in the party and struggling to become leaders. Armageddon has started,” he warned.
“These coming political vagabonds are going to fight with you. Today the vagabonds are hiding under your armpits, under your garments. The current political leaders in Nigeria should be careful of these new sets of vagabonds. They (vagabonds) are the most corrupt, they are becoming more popular in the minds of the people. They have more money and are possibly richer than you. They will fight and possibly take over power if you are not careful but they don’t mean well for the nation,”Akande said.
Earlier in his lecture, titled; “The Leadership Question: Prospects For Nigeria,” the Vice President, Kashim Shettima, represented by the Borno State Governor, Prof. Babagana Zulum, noted that Nigeria as a nation had the potential to be more developed with good leaders and mentorship.
He urged the people to take responsibility for leadership, saying collective effort was needed to move the nation forward.
Also, President Bola Tinubu said he had benefitted a lot from Akande’s knowledge and perspective.
Tinubu, who was represented by the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described Akande as one of the respected elder statesmen in Nigeria who continued to offer rare insights and counsel on how best to organise the country for effective governance.
He said, “It is delightful and gratifying to know that Akande is still fit; mentally alert, in good health, and continues to contribute meaningfully, in our quest for a fairer, more just and equitable society. Baba Akande turning 85 is a landmark achievement that calls for celebration. We must also be thankful to God for his life and for giving the nation an eminent leader like him.
“He remains one of our respected elder statesmen in Nigeria who continues to offer rare insights and counsel on how best to organise our country for effective governance. I have benefited immensely from Baba Akande’s good knowledge and perspectives on a wide range of issues as they affect Nigeria and the Western part of the country.
“As an astute politician, 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.”
The chairman of the occasion and the Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, described Akande as a very blunt and upright personality worthy of emulation.
Among the dignitaries who attended the ceremony were the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, its counterpart from Ondo, Lucky Ayedatiwa, Governor Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti, the representative of Osun State governor, Ademola Adeleke, the Minister of Power, Chief Bayo Adelabu, and the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Gboyega Oyetola.
Others were the renowned northern politician and elder statesman, Tanko Yakasai, representative of Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Mohood Balogun, families, friends and political associates of the celebrant.
