President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has paid glowing tribute to Chief Abdul-Kareem Adebisi Akande, describing the former Osun State governor as a mentor, ally and one of the enduring pillars of Nigeria’s democratic experiment as he clocks 87.

In a personal statement celebrating the elder statesman, Tinubu portrayed Akande as a central figure in the struggle to entrench democratic governance in Nigeria, crediting him with a rare combination of integrity, discipline and political courage that has shaped the country’s contemporary political landscape.

Akande, a founding national chairman of the All Progressives Congress, has long been regarded as one of the most influential figures in the progressive political tradition that traces its roots to the late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. Tinubu, who has often acknowledged Akande as a political father figure, used the occasion of his 87th birthday to underscore the depth of that relationship and the breadth of Akande’s legacy.

“Baba Akande has contributed a lot to the growth and development of this country and to the emergence and institutionalisation of democracy in the land,” Tinubu said, stressing that the former governor’s life story is inseparable from the evolution of Nigeria’s modern political history.

The president recalled that Akande’s political consciousness was fired by Awolowo’s vision of welfarist, people-centred governance. Born in Ila Orangun in present-day Osun State, Akande trained as an accountant and began his professional career with British Petroleum. It was a secure and promising corporate path, but he took a leave of absence to answer the call of public service, a decision that would define the rest of his life.

From that point, Akande never looked back. He entered politics at a time when the country was still grappling with the aftershocks of military rule and the fragile promise of civilian governance. In the Second Republic, he served as Secretary to the Government of the old Oyo State under Governor Bola Ige, another towering figure of the progressive camp. His performance in that role, according to Tinubu and other contemporaries, marked him out as a meticulous administrator and a loyal party man.

Akande later became Deputy Governor of Oyo State, working closely with Ige until the military coup of December 1983 abruptly ended the Second Republic. Like many politicians of his generation, he endured years of political repression and uncertainty, but remained committed to the ideals of constitutional rule and federal democracy.

With the return to civilian rule in 1999, Akande emerged as the second elected governor of Osun State, serving from 1999 to 2003 under the platform of the Alliance for Democracy. His tenure was marked by austere financial management and a reputation for personal frugality. Supporters hailed him as a leader who refused to live extravagantly at public expense, while critics accused his administration of being too tough in its cost-cutting measures. Yet even his opponents rarely questioned his honesty.

It was, however, in the realm of party building and national opposition politics that Akande’s influence became most pronounced. As the political landscape shifted and opposition parties sought to challenge the long dominance of the Peoples Democratic Party, Akande emerged as a key architect of the coalition that would eventually become the All Progressives Congress.

When the APC was formed through the merger of several opposition parties, Akande was chosen as its first interim national chairman. Tinubu, reflecting on that period, said Akande’s steady hand and organisational discipline were crucial in transforming a fragile coalition into a formidable national platform.

“As Interim Chairman of APC, Baba laid the building blocks for a political edifice that, for the first time in Nigeria’s political history, unseated an incumbent at the centre in 2015,” Tinubu noted. “We must thank Baba for his leadership, industry, hard work, wisdom and labour of love for our party and country. We must thank him for his contributions to his state and nation. We must thank him for his contributions to the progressive movement.”

That 2015 victory, which brought Muhammadu Buhari to power, is widely regarded as a watershed moment in Nigeria’s democratic journey, demonstrating that incumbents could be peacefully removed through the ballot box. Within that story, Akande is often cited as one of the quiet but decisive figures who kept the disparate interests within the APC together long enough to achieve power.

Tinubu’s tribute went beyond institutional achievements to highlight Akande’s personal qualities. He described him as a mentor and leader known for “integrity, honesty, uprightness, and consistent belief in values that ennoble the nation.” For Tinubu, who rose from governor of Lagos State to national party leader and eventually president, Akande’s guidance has been both political and personal.

“I must again express my gratitude to Baba Akande for his inspiration, advice and encouragement, which greatly helped me in my political career and my journey to the presidency,” Tinubu said. “His support for our administration and for the continued implementation of the Renewed Hope Agenda is also worthy of note. Having Baba Akande in my corner as a partner and ally has proved tremendously helpful.”

Even in advanced age, Akande remains active in political consultations and party affairs. Tinubu noted that at 87, the former governor “has shown no signs of weakness” and continues to be “a strident advocate, supporter, and fighter for the ideals of democracy, social justice, and good governance.”

Beyond partisan politics, Akande is frequently invoked as a symbol of an older generation of Nigerian politicians whose public image is anchored in personal discipline and modesty. His admirers point to his simple lifestyle, his refusal to be drawn into ostentatious displays of wealth, and his willingness to speak bluntly about the failings of the political class, including within his own camp.