How Tinubu’s Top Ally Won Governorship Election With Less Than #200, 000
An indication has emerged on how a major ally of President Bola Tinubu won a governorship election after spending only #200, 000.
Former INEC National Commissioner and retired Professor of Sociology at the University of Lagos, Prof. Lai Olurode, who made this known extended heartfelt wishes to Bisi Akande, the former governor of Osun State and Tinubu’s ally as he marks his 85th birthday.
In an official statement he released, Olurode lauded Akande as a prudent and remarkable politician, highlighting his allegiance to the political philosophy of the late Obafemi Awolowo, characterized by straightforwardness and unyielding principles.
Olurode stated, “He is an exceptional politician. This school of thought is not after power or political office for personal aggrandizement or power for its own sake.” Emphasizing a disdain for extravagance and political ostentation, Akande’s approach aligns with the values of ethical governance.
Recalling Akande’s tenure as the Secretary to the Government of the old Oyo State and later as deputy governor, Olurode remarked, “He was guided by those political ethics which gave more attention to governance and substantive issues in place of the type of cars that officials of the state ride in.”
Reflecting on Akande’s 1999-2003 governorship campaign in Osun State, Olurode noted, “Akande, in the course of the political campaign for election as governor, didn’t spend up to N200,000. He drastically cut down on the cost of governance.” This frugality, according to Olurode, exemplified Akande’s commitment to cost-effective governance.
Furthermore, Olurode praised Akande’s principled stance against the inclusion of the First Lady’s office in Nigeria’s constitution. He added that during Akande’s four-year tenure as governor, he built a “colossal state secretariat” without borrowing funds, a feat acknowledged by then-President Olusegun Obasanjo.
In concluding his tribute, Olurode underlined Akande’s loyalty to political associates, stating, “This man is an exceptional politician, indeed, out of the run of the mill. He deserves all the encomiums in a country where politics isn’t really about principle and service but centers around a rapacious money culture.”
