APC National Chairman and former governor of Osun State, Chief Bisi Akande recently marked his 75th birthday and it was a classy celebration. After the ceremony, Top Celebrities Assistant Editor, Sunday Adeyemi met with this democrat where he granted a short interview. He explained why he wanted to quit politics since he was 70years but the party said he cannot quit. Enjoy the excerpts…
Congratulations on your 75th birthday, how do you feel?
In fact, I am more than excited, first of all, I thank Almighty God for giving me grace to attain this age, lots of my age mates are no more but God still gives me the privilege to be 75 years. So, I am grateful to God. Seeing people around me tells me lots of things and lots of things come to my mind; one of such things is that it is good to be good because if you are not good, it is when you have a function like this that you will know that people are not on your side. Another thing that comes to mind is that whatever you do, do it with a clear conscience. If I have been doing what the people do not like, you will not see this crowd, so I also advise you guests to emulate the good work, you might have learnt from what I just told you.
Are you fulfilled at 75years?
Yes, I am fulfilled. What else do I want in life that God has not blessed me with, I was the executive governor of Osun State for four years, I have served as the chairman of ACN now APC, God has blessed me with wonderful children that got the best of education in life, I have grandchildren. So, I am fulfilled, God has been so good to me.
At 75years, you are still working as the APC Chairman, you attend events, go to rallies, has it ever occurred to you to consider retiring from politics?
Yes! Good question, at this my age, I am still very strong and healthy to work but let me tell you something; when I celebrated my 70th birthday then, after the celebration, as I was making my closing remark, I announced my retirement from politics that I am going back to my hometown to stay for the rest of my life but to my greatest surprise, the party said NO that I cannot retire yet, that the party still needs my service, so who am I to say I cannot work again, so that is the scenario. I have wanted to retire but the party said NO!
Let’s look at APC, has the party forgotten the issue of Anambra State governorship election?
The tribunal is currently doing its work, you and I know that Anambra State election was nothing but a fraud, so with time, Nigerians, particularly, Anambra people will know all what transpired in that election. APC will not fight but the election tribunal.
APC has been having problem with its choice of presidential candidate, 2015 is around the corner; who are you looking at as APC presidential candidate?
APC will never have a problem of a presidential candidate, when we were ACN, we had our presidential candidate, so that statement is not correct. After our national convention, a candidate will surely emerge which the whole world will see and I believe the 2015 election you are talking about will bring the expected change and APC will bring the change.
I don’t want to talk about the alliance again but we gathered that in some northern states, there have been factions in the APC, we heard that there is now a renewed APC, what are you doing to correct those factions?
Well, there is no faction in APC in any northern states, it is only the opposition parties that are playing those tricks that made it look real; as the party chairman, I can say that there is no faction in APC anywhere.