Chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday converged in Lagos to honour the party’s Interim National Chairman, Chief Bisi Akande.
Akande, a former governor of Osun and the last National Chairman of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) celebrated his 75th birthday at Eko Hotel, Lagos.
Dignitaries at the event include a former Head of State, retired Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari who chaired the colloquium, former governor Segun Osoba of Ogun, Sen. Chris Ngige and Sen. Oluremi Tinubu.
Others are Govs. 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 are former Ministers of the Federal Capital Territory and Aviation, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, Femi Fani-Kayode and former Gov. Niyi Adebayo of Ekiti, Rotimi Akeredolu and a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Massari.
Lai Mohammed, the APC Interim National Publicity Secretary and Sharon Ekeazor, the APC Interim National Woman Leader 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.
“Nigeria is in dire need of visionary leaders. Leaders with sound character and tested integrity,” he said.
He said that no nation could attain greatness without vision.
Also speaking, Prof. Akin Oyebode of the University of Lagos, said that Nigerians required new thinking in terms of relating with their leaders. “Nigerians must learn to put in incorruptible persons to take care of their destiny,” he said.
In his speech, Akande said that he felt that after doing his job as the Chairman of the APC, he should be celebrated. “However, I am short of words at all the praises I received today, May God bless you all,” he said.