Oyo Assembly urges govt to immortalize Akintola

Oyo State House of Assembly has called on the Federal Government to further immortalise former Premier of the defunct Western Region, Late Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola by naming a major edifice at the University College Hospital (UCH), which was established during his time after the late politician.

Moving a motion titled “Need to further immortalise the late Premier of Western Region, a former Aare Ona-Kakanfo of Yorubaland in Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of his untimely demise,”

Bimbo Olawumi Oladeji, representing Ogbomoso North Constituency said “Late Chief Akintola was responsible for the establishment of UCH as a Federal Minister in 1953 and also played a major role in the establishment of the Nigeria Airways in 1958. He also laid the foundation of Cocoa House, Premier Hotel as well as the founder of University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) who ought to be further immortalized in a bid to appreciate his legacies in Nigeria”.

According to Oladeji, a “political colossus and enigma” like the Late Chief Akintola should be recognized, further immortalized most especially being one of the three patriotic citizens of the country that moved a motion for the nation’s independence.

The Labour Party (LP) lawmaker along with the Minority Leader of the House, Joshua Olagunju pointed out that late Chief Akintola was able to bring the Yoruba race into the political mainstream of Nigeria under the Government of late Sir Tafawa Balewa.

The House however, resolved to appeal to the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health to name a facility or major edifice at the UCH, ibadan after the late Premier who died during the first military coup that took place on January 15th, 1966.

At the plenary, the House resolved to appeal to the executive arm of the state to name a major monument or infrastructure such as Secretariat to Queen Elizabeth Road junction after the late Premier.

The House also resolved to upgrade Akintola resting place at Ogbomoso to a museum that will have the status of an international tourist centre and to honour the late Akintola as a former and pioneer parliamentarian on the floor of the House at a special session in the presence of his family members.