AMBODE, AMOSUN, GOWON, AKIOLU, OTHERS CELEBRATE WILLIAMS AT 99

…He’s A True Nigerian We Should All Be Proud Of, Says Lagos Gov

Lagos State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and his Ogun State counterpart, Senator Ibikunle Amosun on Thursday led other eminent Nigerians to celebrate the first African to qualify as a chartered accountant, Chief Akintola Williams who clocked 99, describing him as a true Nigerian who worked assiduously to lift up the country.



Speaking to reporters at a special birthday reception held in honour of Williams at his Lagos residence, Governor Ambode described the celebrant as the doyen of accountancy profession and elder statesman who deserved to be celebrated for his contribution to the growth and development of the country.

According to the Governor, “The main reason why we are here is to celebrate a true Nigerian and for somebody who has actually contributed to the development of Nigeria and he is still alive at 99, is worth celebrating and this is like a prelude to the centenary that we are waiting to celebrate next year, and that is why you can see that Ogun State Governor is here too.



“Apart from the fact that Chief Akintola Williams is the Doyen of the Accountancy Profession, we see him as a founding father of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN); he is also the founding father of the Musical Society of Nigeria. So, he has too many parts and this is one Nigerian that we are proud of and we are willing to celebrate him every day,” Governor Ambode said.



He particularly commended Williams for his role in the development of Lagos, saying the State Government would continue to celebrate true Nigerians like him.



“That I am here today is more or less to say a big thank you to him for lifting up Lagos; for lifting up Nigeria and we also wish him well on behalf of all Lagosians. We will continue to celebrate true Nigerians and he (Chief Williams) is just one true Nigerian, an elder statesman that we should all be proud of,” Governor Ambode said.



Responding, Williams appreciated all those who found time to be with him on his special day, and wished them long life as well.


Aside Governors Ambode and Amosun, other eminent Nigerians at the event include former Military Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon (rtd); first Military Governor of Lagos State, Brigadier-General Mobolaji Johnson (rtd); Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu; foremost banker and founder of First City Monument Bank (FCMB), Otunba Subomi Balogun; legal luminary and philanthropist, Chief Chris Ogunbanjo; former ICAN Presidents, among other captains of industries and members of the diplomatic corps.

Okunnu Faults Akiolu, Says Lagos’ A Yoruba State

Former Federal Commissioner for Works, Alhaji Femi Okunnu has faulted the Oba of Lagos, Rilwan Akiolu’s claim that Lagos is not part of Yoruba land.

Okunnu insisted that Lagos has always been a Yoruba State and remained as such.

Femi Okunnu

Speaking while delivering a lecture during the 40th anniversary celebration of Idungaran Club of Lagos, titled “Let Lagos State be,’’ Okunnu argued that the common language spoken in Lagos had always been Yoruba, notwithstanding the fact that there is a large percentage of its people whose ancestral were Bini or Tapa.

Okunnu said the same argument could be said for millions of Fulanis in Sokoto State/Adamawa, Gongola, Kano/Katsina State who were less Fulani in origin just because the common language of these Fulanis in those States is Hausa, and not Fulani.

“Lagos State was the first British Colony to be established in 1861 in modern-day Nigeria, followed by the protectorate of Southern Nigeria and the Protectorate of Northern Nigeria in 1900. Lagos colony, including Ikeja, Epe and Badagry divisions remained a separate administration from the two Protectorates or three Regions (1946-51) until 1951. Lagos was the centre of Nigerian politics until 1950.”

Okunnu further said that in 1954 under the Littleton constitution, Lagos city regained its independence from the West and became the Federal Territory (and a constituent unit of the Federation) until the creation of Lagos State in May 1967 when the colony province (Epe, Badagry and Ikeja) rejoined the city to constitute Lagos State in General Yakubu Gowon’s 12  State structure to replace the four regions under the 1963 constitution and that the battle for the independence of Nigeria was fought on the streets of Lagos by indigenes and non-indigenes.

President of Idunganran Club of Lagos, Chief Ganiu Abayomi-Badmus promised that the club would at all times looked after the welfare of its members and the community.

Source: Lagos Panorama