Some dignitaries in the Nigerian political class have eulogized the virtues of Chief Adebayo Alao-Akala at 70, describing ‘Amazing Grace’, his official biography as a worthy addition to the literary world.
The event took place on Thursday at the formal launching of the 140-page book held at the Trenchard Hall, University of Ibadan.
The book launch was to celebrate the former governor’s 70th birthday anniversary, but was earlier postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was the chairman of the occasion, wondered why Alao-Akala would blame him on his book, 13 years after he had left office.
“I wonder how you come on page 139 of your book to blame or criticize me for dividing the Ibadan-Ilorin Road into three sections for reconstruction during my second term so that it could be expeditiously completed.
“As an Ogbomoso man, I can understand how important that road is to you. But when I took the steps which I took for the road to be expeditiously handled, it was not for your interest as an Ogbomosho man for the economic life of Nigeria, and it is tragic that the artery road is in the sorry state it is today,” Obasanjo said.
In his review, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, who launched the book, said it was worth having in the library. He lauded Alao-Akala’s efforts in contributing to the literary world through the book.
He said that the book was worth having by every student and practitioner of politics as well as every general reader in the country.
“So, what I’m going to do is that I’m not launching the book but make it possible for the wider audience to get to read this book. I’m going to put a copy in every library in our universities,” Fayemi said.
The Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi lll appreciated Chief Obasanjo for the role he played mediating between him and Alao-Akala during his tenure as Governor of Oyo State.
Responding, Akala recounted the performance of his administration as the governor of Oyo state, saying “Our administration concentrated on the welfare of the people in addition to the need for development in every step we took.
“In writing the book, I was faced with the challenge of writing some of the events with innuendos, window dressing and some of the issues of life spoiled by myth, especially within the period when I was on the driver’s seat of Oyo State administration”, he said.
NAN reports that the launch was graced by prominent Nigerians, including Gov. Seyi Makinde of the state, who was represented by his deputy, Rauf Olaniyan, and the Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare.
Others included the Olubadan of Ibadan land, Oba Saliu Adetunji; Chief Bayo Adelabu, Chief Adeniyi Akintola, Dr. Gbade Ojo, Dr. Saka Balogun among others.