Razaq Bamidele
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Akanmu Adetunji, has described the passage of Nigeria’s former Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Chief Richard Osuolale Abimbola Akinjide SAN, in the early hours of Tuesday, as a ‘monumental loss’ to the nation.
Oba Adetunji noted that the late Chief Akinjide was an accomplished lawyer and politician and gave a very good account of himself as First Republic’s Minister of State, Education and Second Republic’s Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation with his robust exchange of ideas.
According to the first class monarch, Chief Akinjide, who also served as a chieftain in the Olubadan of Ibadan’s Court of Clan Nobles, was a patriot who displayed great love for his fatherland and her people.
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He recalled that the legendary lawyer who made Grade 1 Distinction (Aggregate 6) in his Senior School Certificate Examinations in the early 1950s used to be a reference point and mentor to generations of youths who imbibed hard work, diligence and dedication to duty.
The monarch also stated that he was not surprised when, on Sunday, March 8, 2020, the Yemi Soladoye-led Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) put the late Chief Akinjide’s picture among those etched in Ibadan’s Hall of Fame at Ibadan House, Oke Aremo, in an impressive ceremony.
While praying God to give his family and associates the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, Olubadan stated that the vacuum left by Akinjide’s exit would be hard to fill.
