AKANDE IS 65

For the unassuming former Governor of Osun State, Chief Adebisi Akande who clocked 65 years on the surface of earth recently (January 16, 2004), it is another period of celebration. Although, very controversial, Chief Akande. is presently, the factional AD National Chairman. He was born in Ila-Orangun on January 16, 1939. He is a chartered secretary and cost management accountant who worked with the British Petroleum, a Nigerian Petrol Marketing company between 1963-1979.

Akande began his political career as a councilor in lla Local Government in 1971. He was elected in 1977 to represent both Ila and Odo-Otin Local governments into the constituent Assembly which wrote the 1979 constitution. Later, he was appointed the secretary to Oyo State Government in October 1979 on the assumption ofoffice by ChiefBola Ige as Governor of Oyo State.

Chief Akande was later elevated into the position of the Deputy Governor when the position became vacantin 1982. As a committed Awoist, he spent three years in detention along side Chief Bola Ige on the orders of Buhari/Idiagbon military junta.

A staunch member of Afenifere and National Democratic coalition NADECO,. Chief Akande was elected Governor of Osun State on January 10, 1999 on the platform of theAlliance for Democracy (AD).

He was elected the National Chaiman of thec Alliance for Democracy (Lagos congress) on December 16, 2003.

Chief Akande, who bagged the honourary doctorate degree of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH)Ogbomoso has been honoured with several chieftancy titles such as Asiwaju of lla-Orangun, Agbaakin of Oke-lla,

Balogun of Aramoko-Ekiti, Basorun of Ilobu, Apesin of Ilase and Jagunmolu Oodua of ljebu-Ife.

He is happily married with Children.

Damisi Ojo

Source: Odua Voice