Buhari, Amaechi, El-Rufai, others hail Akande at 75

Interim National Chairman, All Progressive Congress, Chief Bisi Akande

Some leaders of the All Progressives Congress on Thursday converged on Lagos to honour the party’s Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande.

The News Agency of Nigeria reported that Akande, a former governor of Osun and the last National Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of the Nigeria  celebrated his 75th birthday at Eko Hotel, Lagos.

Dignitaries at the event included a former Head of State, retired Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari,  who chaired the colloquium, a former Ogun State Governor, Chief Segun Osoba, Senator Chris Ngige and Senator Oluremi Tinubu.

Others are Governors Rauf Aregbesola of  Osun; Babatunde Fashola of Lagos; Rochas Okorocha of Imo; Adams Oshiomhole of Edo; Tanko Al-Makura of Nassarawa; Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers; Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo; and Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun.

Also in attendance were former ministers of the Federal Capital Territory and Aviation, Malam Nasir el-Rufai; Femi Fani-Kayode; and a former Ekiti State governor, Niyi Adebayo; Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu; and a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Massari.

APC’s Interim National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, and the party’s Interim National Woman Leader, Mrs. Sharon Ekeazor,  were also in attendance.

In his opening remarks, Buhari described Akande as a man of unquestionable and rare integrity.

“Our major concern as Nigerians should be how the nation can get leadership that will use its resources in a most honourable way,” he said.

Delivering a lecture on “Developing a New Leadership: An Imperative For National Development In Nigeria,” Prof. Olu Obafemi of the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies,  said that visionary leaders were in short supply in Nigeria.