Obasanjo honours Abraham Idowu Akanle at 80th birthday

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, last Sunday, February 3, described his adopted brother, Chief Abraham Idowu Akanle, as a Nigerian whose humility, industry and fear of God have greatly contributed to his (Obasanjo’s) success in life.

Akanle, a successful industrialist, had been a close ally of the former President in the last 40 years. Obasanjo, while speaking at a special 80th birthday reception for Akanle at the Olusegun Obasanjo Presidential Library (OOPL) in Abeokuta, said despite not being a blood relation, the celebrant had been a wonderful and trusted ally.

According to a press statement by his media aide, Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo said: “My relationship with Abraham Idowu Akanle has been that of the divine in the last 40 years. He has contributed to my success with his humility, hardwork and fear of God.

“When people ask me how is Akanle to me, I tell them to ask God, that he is my brother and a trusted one for that matter. “Let me tell you a little bit of my life. My parents had nine children and seven of them died, leaving my sister and I. Later in life, I came across a senior person in Justice Olopade. I took him as my senior brother, my confidant and most respected.

“Much later, I discovered a junior brother and till today, he remains my junior brother. If you want to know, that is your ‘penny.” Obasanjo prayed for long life for the celebrant, eulogising Akanle’s discipline and religious life. In his remarks, the celebrant thanked God for his age and Obasanjo for the trust in him, which had kept the duo together in the last four decades.