Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, national leader of the All Progressives Congress, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and all the Governors in the South West region attended the 80th birthday of Chief Bisi Akande in Ibadan on wednessday.
Kaduna state Governor, Nasir El Rufai, former governors Rauf Aregbesola, Chief Olusegun Osoba, Alhaji Lai Muhammed, Chief Bayo Adelabu, Babajide Olusola Sanwoolu, Sen. Ken Unamani and other dignitaties from all walks of life were present at the event
The Bisi Akande Colloquium themed: Nigeria Achieving national unity through peaceful restructuring observed was held at the Emeritus Professor Theophilus Oladipo Ogunlesi multipurpose hall, opposite UCH. in Ibadan
Chief Akande was a former governor of Osun state and was the pioneer chairman of the All Progressives Congress.
The vice president of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo in his remark said that the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Atiku Abubakar opposed the movement of restructuring when he was the vice president of the country under Chief Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003.
He reminisced that when he was a lawyer to the Asiwaju Bola Tinubu government, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was one of those that oppose there movement for restructuring then in 2003.
Prof. Osinbajo who state the importance and positive impact restructuring will bring to Nigeria if it is finally taken to place emphasized on that states will have the ability to generate resources on their own if they are given more power.
He as well states some of the output of regional government and physical federalism when Chief Obafemi Awolowo was the premier of the defunct western region in 1954 – 1960.
“Chief Obafemi Awolowo made a very good development to the country at large when he was the premier of western region, 41.2% of the 1957 budget was on Education. Where did he get the money? The money was generated from taxes on Agriculture and Industries, and he did a very wonderful Job.” He said.
In his Keynote Address, the governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir El – Rufai states that the first and the best unitary government is the one distorted by the Gen. J.T.U Aguiyi Ironsi military junta on the 15th of January, 1966. He added that the revolution of more power to the state will give a strong synergy between the Federal Government and State Government.
He also reminisced the “Awoist” government of western region has “sage” Obafemi Awolowo used the power given to him to do many projects that leads to national development in Nigeria.
He has well states the area of concentration of restructuring which is increasing power of the state government to have the ability to create local government on its own. Recognition of local government, primary fiscal federation, reduction in control of Agriculture and policing to the state government, on railways, oil and gas, mines and minerals, prison, registration of business, foods, drugs and poison.
Chief Bisi Akande was born on January 16, 1939 at Ila-Orangun in the present State of Osun, Nigeria. He was the Deputy Governor of Oyo State under the leadership of Chief Bola Ige in 1983 and he was later elected as the Governor of Osun state in 1999.
Baba Bisi Akande is still active physically @ 80.
