Yakassai leads Bola Ige , Ola Oni , Beko Ransome Kuti Centres, Other NGOs/CSOs to the inauguration of Bisi Akande Foundation by Mr President

Tuesday, the 16th of January, 2024, was a day of joy for the celebrant, Chief Bisi Akande, former Governor of Osun State and former Interim National Chairman of All Progressives’ Congress (APC) as his 85th Birthday anniversary witnessed the unveiling of Adebisi Akande Foundation led by 2 erudite Professors, Olu Aina and Isaac Adewole as chairman and secretary respectively.

On behalf of Mr President, unveiling was performed by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State and witnessed by Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State as Representative of the Guest Speaker, Vice President, Kashim Shettima and Southwest Governors including the Chairman of occasion, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State.

Royal fathers, Oluwo of Iwo, Aseyin of Iseyin, Oba Gboyega Famodun, Owa of Igbajo, Oba Adedokun Abolarin, Orangun of Oke – Ila, General Alani Akinrinade (Rtd), Minister of Marine and Blue Economy and the former Governor of Osun State; and Senator Abu Ibrahim, Senator Andy Uba, Senator Ganiyu Solomon, Senator Musliu Obanikoro, Senator Fatai Buhari, Senator Saradeen Abiodun Alli, and 2 Other Senators were all in attendance plus Hon Jibola Famurewa, Hon Rotimi Makinde and Hon Timothy Owoeye, Hon Sunday Akere, Dr Charles Akinola, Comrade Ibrahim Bolomope, Dr Bashiru Olanrewaju, Hon Lateef Ibirogba, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, Alhaji Shuaheeb Oyedokun, Mr Dare Babarinsa, Mrs Ronke Okusanya, High Chief Jide Awe, Cardinal James Odubamku alias Baba Eto, Chief Bayo Adelabu, Hon Zacheus Adelabu, Hon Bayo Adesanya, Hon Fatai Ibikunle, Hon Caleb Oyaniyi, Engr Sola Akinwunmi, Dr Yemi Farounbi, Prof Soji Adejumo, Alhaji Toyin Balogun, Hon Dele Akinleye, Hon Wale Sadare, Alhaja Tope, Mr Yomi Foịarin, Hon Tunde Larinoye, Mrs Jumoke Anifowose, Engr Adekunle Olayinka, Hon Tunnbosun Oyintiloye

98 year old Yakassai couldn’t hold back his joy in meeting various invited Leaders of Civil Societies, NGOs and CSOs, most especially, Comrade Comrade Awa Bamiji of Bola Ige Centre for Justice; Comrade Kehinde Ola Oni and her Twin Sister, Queen Taiwo Adesida of Ola Oni Centre and Comrade Dauda Alimi (Master) of Beko Ransome Kuti Center for Constitional Governance (CCG).

The picture shows Alhaji Yanko Yakassai exchanging pleasantry with Wife of his late Comrade friend, Comrade Kehinde Ola Oni and her Twin Sister, Queen Taiwo Adesida

The Expected list of CSOs later became a reality with the way 80% of the listed names were physically in attendance in honour of Great Awoist, while 20% sent Representatives.

Please, note that the Approved list below only follows order of rememberance. Prof Wole Soyinka sent in his apologies. Happy reading!

Approved Civil Societies’ Leadership Expected list for Bisi Akande @ 85

1) Awa Bamiji (Bola Ige Centre)
2) Michelle Ador (Anambra)
3) Moshood Erubami (Voters’Assembly)
4) Yerima Shettima (Kaduna)
5) Asari Dokubo (Rivers)
6) Alhaji Tanko Yakassai (Arewa)
7) Prince Tajudeen Olusi (Afenifere)
8) Kehinde/Taiwo (Ola Oni Center)
9) Lere Paimo (Eda Onileola)
10) Sunny Ajose (Mr President Rep I)
11) Otunba Jumoke Ogunkeyede (JMK)
12) Abimbola Akinajo (LAMATA)
13) Dauda Alimi (Yoruba Youth)
14) Wale Adewunmi (Graphics/Redeemed)
15) Niyi Idowu (Mr President Rep II)
16) Comrade Amitolu Shittu (Amotekun Leader
17) Barrister Oladosu Oladipo (Yoruba Elder)
18) Princess Bisi Sangodoyin (Gender Activist)
19) Oloye Lekan Alabi (June 12 Team)
20) Waheed Lawal (Osun CSOs)
21) Segun Mayegun (NANS Leader)
22) Ogunsua Dixon (former Bola Ige’s PA)
23) Kayode Opeifa (CDHR Leader)
24) Ịanleyin Olasunkanmi (NYCN Leader)
25) Shehu Musa Shittu (NASFAT Secretary)
26) Tosin Adeyanju (PCC, Abuja)
27) Prof Lai Olurode (Academic)
28) Tope Adebayo Ayo Fasanmi
29) Kola Odepeju (Yoruba Youth)
30) James Faleke (PCC, Abuja)
31) Prof (Mrs) Bolanle Awe (Yoruba Elder)
32) Arcbishop Ayo Ladigbolu (YUF)
33) Mr Tokunbo Ajasin (Atayese Group)
34) Amb Sola Iji (Labour Union)
35) Amb Olu Otunla (Yoruba Elder)
36) Barrister Niyi Akintola, SAN, (NBA)
37) Dr Obitade Obimakinde (NMA)
38) Chief Iyiola Oladokun (Oyo Afenifere)
39) Chief Akin Oke (Oyo APC Elders)
40) Otunba Dele Ajomale (GAC, Lagos)
41) Hon Wale Osun (ARG)
42) Seye Oyeleye (DAWN Commission)
43) Dr Kunle Olajide (Yoruba Elders)
44) Chief Fasoranti Fasoranti (Afenifere)
45) Bayo Aina – Yoruba Leaders of Thought
46) Folashade Tinubu – Ojo (Market Union)
47) Anoi Obi – (Ohaneze)
48) Ibrahim Ekunola (Okada Riders’Association
49) Debo Adeniran (CACOL)
50) Ayo Obe (CLO)
51) Taye Ayorinde (10, 000 Oyo Baales/Bales)
52) Dotun Sanusi (Ilaji Hotels and Sport Resort
53) Abiodun Mustapha (June 12 Victims)
54) Bisi Oladele (Nation SW Bureau/NUJ)
55) Balogun P.A (Beko Ransome Kuti Centre)
56) Araba Ifayemi Elebuibon (Traditionalists)
57) Architect Muyiwa Ige (Nig UnionArchitects)
58) Sola Oladepo (Ex Mandela Park Manager)
59) Aremo Olusegun Osoba, Afenifere, Ogun
60) Elder Yemi Alade, Afenifere, Ekiti State
61) Rotimi Rahmon, Afenifere, Ondo
62) Prince Biodun Ogunleye (Afenifere Lagos

Signed: Chief Adebisi Akande Foundation Secretary, Prof Isaac Adewole, former Vice – Chancellor, University of Ibadan (UI), and former Minister for Health, (2015 – 2019), who partnered with Awa Bamiji led Agbarijo Egbe Odo Yoruba (Grand Council of Yoruba Youths) and Broadcasting Corpiration of Oyo State (BCOS) in 2011 to celebrate Alagba Adebayo Faleti, OON, @ 80, inside Confrence Centre UI, by hosting the invited Dignitaries inside the Vice Chancellor’s Lodge, UI, after the Birthday Lecture graced by the Celebrant himself, his twin friend, late Prof Akinwunmi Isola and other key figures like Chief Moses Adejumo (alias Baba Sala), Representative of Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and that of the then sitting Governors of Lagos and Osun States, Mr Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, and Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.

Interpretation of the above list is that the spirit of mobilisation implies having large attendance from where the event is holding, Southwest Region, and small attendance from distant places, and in this regard, we have a Representative each from North, the Eastern Region and Southsouth while our Leader in the North, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, former Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) is also in the list as close friend of Chief Bisi Akande

The faces from the Southwest Region are the 2 Representatives of Mr President, Pa Sunny Ajose and Mr Niyi Idowu, representing other Aides of Mr President in our team, all of whom have been our Mentors and fananciers since 2001 till date because they so much believe in our Group’s bright future.

Our Iron Lady, beautiful woman and performing MD of LAMATA joined forces with these Aides of Mr President alongside key Others including Late Senator Ayo Fasanmi, late Senator Biyi Durojaiye, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Chairman, Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), Lagos State; late Oba Olatunji Hamzat; Mr Tayo Ayinde; Dr Chsrles Akinola; Otunba Dele Ajomale, member, GAC, and former APC Chairman, Lagos State; Chief Iyiola Oladokun, former Deputy Governor of Oyo State, who is equally celebrating his 73rd Birthday Anniversary presently; Gen Buba Marwa (Rtd); Engr Dotun Sanusi; Chief Akin Oke; Chief Niyi Akintola, SAN; late Amb Segun Olusola; Amb Olu Otunla; Prof Sabitu Olagoke, JP; Late Prof O.O. Akinkungbe, Prof (Mrs) Bolanle Awe; Prof (Mrs) Felicia Adetoun Ogunsheye; Oloye Lekan Alabi; Mr Tokunbo Ajasin; Dr Olu Agunloye; Barrister Oladosu Oladipo; Princess Bisi Sangodoyin; Otunba JMK; Comrade Kayode Opeifa; Ogunsua Dixon

Chief Lere Paimo (alias Eda Onileola), stands in for Nonywood Artists, while Comrade Moshood Erubami represents Voters’ Assembly (Electorate in Nigeria).

Also inside the list, we have the Head of our Graphic Department, Pastor Adewale Adewunmi of Redeemed Church and Waltodany Graphics, both in Somolu, Lagos, and Mokola, Ibadan.

The Treasurer, Bola Ige Centre for Justice, Comrade Dauda Alimi (a.k.a Master).

Announcer: Awa Bamiji
Executive President
Bola Ige Centre for Justice founded December 2004 inside Oranmiyan Hall of Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja, Lagos, with Representative of Dr Nelson Mandela, Prof O.O. Akinkungbe, in attendance, as Special Guest of Honour while General Muhammadu Buhari then, was Guest of Honour, who sent us his formal solidarity letter, explaining reason for his absence.

The Chairman of occasion was late pioneer Chairman of ICPC, Rt (Hon) Mustapha Akanbi, who arrived from Abuja before the event

The Guest Speakers were Barrister Femi Falana, SAN, and Mr Dare Babarinsa, both present.

Comrade Segun Mayegun, Representatives of Senator Ibikunle Amosun and that of late Prof Dora Akunyuli of NAFDAC, among Others, also graced the occasion

Generous Donations of both Mr President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, N500, 000 through Pa Sunny Ajose, and Chief Bisi Akande N200, 000 through Mr Ayo Afolabi, as Governors of Lagos and Osun States respectfully plus N50, 000 from Prince Abiodun Ogunleye as Alliance for Democracy (AD), Lagos State, to a year after Cicero Symposium, featuring public presentation of our Insight Magazine as a compilation AD Southwest Governors’ achievements plus personalities Interviews across the Country, including AD National Chairman, Alhaji Abdulkareem Abdulkadir, inside Western Hall of Oyo State House of Assembly, in December 2002, with Senator Ayo Fasanmi in attendance as AD Chairman in the Southwest Region, went a long way in making us, who we are Today, as a formidable team, through effective planning, research and implementation

This is what brought us to political limelight in Nigeria. To God be glory!

As we are celebrating Chief Bisi Akande @ 85, Iyiola Oladokun @ 73, we equally celebrating our triumph over the forces of tyranny and oppression under their able Leadership.

Also, the prominent role of Chief Wole Soyinka in our life couldn’t be quantified since 2001 demise of Chief Bola Ige, SAN, till date. The story of September 5 8th day Fidau Prayer of Mother, Rafatu Agbeke Oyebamiji, 98, held in Olomi/Academy, Ibadan, won’t be complete without appreciating his inputs.

Civil Societies must be accountable to People and we it comes to this, we have been recording a chain of successes for the past 3 Decades, which our members, supporters always dmirer

Therefore, we challenge those rumour mongers trying to rubbish our Group’s achievements at every point of our success to throw any evidence they have against this Group or anyone of us to social media and let debate commence.

Our Aso – Ebi for Chief Bisi Akande @ 85 holding Tuesday, 16/01/24, at International Confrence Centre, UI, by 10a.m, is our May 29 inauguration fabric. Strictly by invitation.

“Better Nigeria, yes we can!”