SGF George Akume in a warm greeting with former Minister of Finance and Daughter of Chief Samuel Akintola, Dr Abimbola, and Akintola’s son, Justice Ladiran of the Oyo State High Court at the 60 years anniversary in Ibadan on Thursday. Photos: Daniel Ayantoye
The Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, and the Chairman of the Oyo State Council of Obas and Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, on Thursday, led other top dignitaries to the 60th remembrance of the former premier of the defunct Western Region, Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola, in Ibadan.
Also present at the memorial were the Minister of Power, Adebayo Adelabu, the Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Media and Public Communication, Chief Sunday Dare, Speaker of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Adebo Ogundoyin, the Chief Judge of Oyo State, Justice Iyabo Yerima, and former Ambassador to Germany, Prof Akinjide Osuntokun and others.
The event, which marked six decades since the assassination of the former premier during Nigeria’s first military coup in January 1966, drew political leaders, traditional rulers, jurists and family members who gathered to reflect on Akintola’s legacy and contributions to the development of the old Western Region and Nigeria at large.
Speaking as chairman of the occasion, the Olubadan, Ladoja, said the gathering was not one of mourning but of celebration of a life devoted to public service.
“Today, we are not mourning Akintola. We are celebrating him. What he wanted to do, he could not finish, but he left behind people who can do even more,” the monarch said.
He described the departed premier as a courageous leader whose vision and sacrifices continued to inspire successive generations of Nigerians.
Other speakers at the event also paid glowing tributes to Akintola, describing him as a statesman, a nationalist and a pillar of the old Western Region whose impact is still felt in the political and socio-economic development of the South-West.
The Punch
