Felix Akande at 70: Celebrating a life of service
Adewuyi ADEGBITE.
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A scion of Lagbami Osekun ruling house of Onpetu of Ijeru dynasty in Ijeru, Ogbomoso South local government of Oyo state, Prince Felix Akande, clocks 70 today, November 26, 2024. Akande was born on November 26, 1954. Felix Akande is my in-law having been married to my sister, Faderera Akande nee Adegbite.
Akande is a prince of one of the classical thrones in Yorubaland and one of the Obas in Oyo state, Onpetu of ijeru. His princely disposition should therefore not surprise anyone.
My path crossed with that of Akande little over a decade and a half ago when he was contesting for the chairmanship slot of Ogbomoso South local government. (Now late) Chief Christopher Adebayo Alao-Akala was the governor of Oyo state and Akande was one of his close confidants. As someone who loved to place tested hands in position of authority, it was Akala who invited Akande home from Ilorin, where he was a banker and politician in order to serve his motherland. I believe Akala:s confidence in him was not misplaced. I was introduced to him by another brother, a dependable and thorough bred Onpetu prince, Adeolu Adeyanju Alaruru of blessed memory. Deolu Adeyanju and Egbon Wale Ojo of Otun compound, Ita Olola, Ijeru were the two Akande’s man Friday. They were visible in his campaign train. I briefly served as his media consultant during the campaign. Akande rewarded Wale Ojo with the position of Chief of Staff and Adeolu Adeyanju was equally rewarded. I was not equally left in the cold by Akande, I did many newspaper adverts for the council in his time.
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Akande is one of the finest minds that ever presided over the affairs of that local government. He was highly civilized and well educated. He brought his experience as a banker to bear in the affairs of the local government and managed the finance of the local government prudently. As a matter of fact, all this while, I did not know that he was my in-law until our late father and leader, Christopher Adebayo Alao Akala told me my relationship with Akande. Since then, the bond has been strengthened.
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Akande impacted Ogbomoso South local government positively in his time, aside many roads in the Mikky area and Oke Alapata and many other places constructed by Akande, the Lagbami Osekun Hall at the Ogbomoso South Secretariat will stand in memory of Akande for ages. In a sanner clime, the likes of Akande ought to have occupied key political positions where best minds are needed, however, this is a different clime where Dogs are determining the fate of Lions.
Akande was born and bred in Ghana. He equally had the finest education in the Gold Coast. His Ghanaian accent when speaking, singles him out. Akande came from a father who gave education a place of pride in his mind and this is the reason the whole most of Akande’s siblings acquired good education and today making waves in various fields of human endeavors. Akande and his siblings paid back Baba Akande for being there for them when it matterd most. The one-in-town burial ceremony organized for Baba Akande early this year is another way of celebrating a father in a million. Akande retired as a banker before venturing into politics, where God used him to better the lots of the downtrodden in the land and Ogbomoso South local government in particular.
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I felicitate Akande on this landmark event in his life. It is a grace for one to live to become a septuagenarian in an extremely hostile environment like Nigeria of today. But God in His mercy has endowed Akande with such a rare opportunity. As he ages gracefully, I wish him and my dearest sister, Faderera many happy returns of today , long life and prosperity.
Felix Akande, Osekun sayinrin, omo paja fun lawo je, ela moko n ko gbodo je eye ega. Omo buni buni a bi eebu wonti wonti, Omo osonu Ile ko gbalo, emi ko le se Alo fun Eni ti ko feran mi. Omo oparun jegede eti yemetu. Omo aroti we bi ojo.
