A few weeks ago, Ibadan billionaire and former presidential aspirant, Harry Akande passed on. He died precisely on Saturday, Dec 5 at the age of 77. It was yet another death too many as the year 2020 is about to round off. The Agba Oye of Ibadanland died after a brief illness, his family said in a statement in Ibadan.
The spokesman for the family, Olumide Akande, the deceased son, described the death of the business mogul as a huge shock to the family, friends and associates. The deceased, according to him, was “an astute businessman of international repute whose legacy and influence cut across continents.”He added:” But by far his greatest passion was for a better Nigeria that guaranteed equity and justice for all. It is our fervent hope that this will be a reality in the not too distant future.
“His passing is a huge shock to his immediate and extended family, friends and associates. We are all grappling to make some sense of it.
“As we seek the repose of his gentle soul, we ask you to in turn uphold us in your prayers while we pass through this very turbulent period of our lives occasioned by the loss of someone as dear as him.” The worst-hit of his death is his wife, Chief Mrs Tolulope who has been together with him for over 40 years. It is indeed a sad one for the Akande’s in Ibadan as one of their scion passed on few days back. Until his death, Agba Oye was the chairman of Akande International Corporation (AIC) with interests in healthcare, engineering, building construction and power. He was a one-time presidential aspirant on the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) platform.
Behind this highly successful man is a woman who is not really in the limelight. She is the backbone who keeps playing the role of a mother to her children and wife to her husband. Chief Mrs Tolulope Akande is the pretty wife of this billionaire who have been the toasts of men of the pen in the hay days. She has been married to her husband for over 40 years and it is still waxing stronger. She keeps a low profile and seldom attends social event. Her husband’s Americana’s lifestyle has rubbed off on her and as you cannot find her just at any function. She chooses the kind of party she attends and most especially she steps out with her husband. So reserved is Chief Mrs Tolulope that you can hardly find her interview in the pages of newspapers.
The light in complexion, pleasant and amiable woman was the cynosure of all eyes at her mother-in-law, Chief Mrs Regina Olayinka Akande Platinum‘s Jubilee (100) birthday celebration a few years ago in Ibadan. Decked in an expensive and beautiful all sequenced Fuschia pink lace matched with a green headgear, she carried herself with gait and grace that you will never know she is in her 60s. We cannot forget in a hurry one of her major outings too where she looked effortlessly beautiful as her only son and 1st born, Olumide got married to star actress, Dakore in Lagos and also to the birthday thanksgiving service for Senator Florence Ita Giwa in Abuja few years back. Getting to pin her down for an interview was an enormous task as she was busy attending to all her guests and husband’s friends and moving from one table to the other. Another thing is that she is really not a lover of the limelight but she cannot escape this due to her status as been married to one of the multi-millionaires in Ibadan. After some persuasion, she agreed to speak with City People Society Editor, Tayo Oyediji briefly and as fast as she can answer.
We started with what was happening at that moment, of course, her mum in-laws birthday, when asked how she feels about mama turning 100, with all smiles, she beamed,’ I feel happy, I feel elated. I am thankful everything has gone on has planned and mostly I thank God for Mama’s life. She has done well for herself, Ever since I have known mama she has always known God” so her celebration today is one of the grace God has bestowed on her to live up to 100.
Since she got married to her husband till this moment, she has had a mother-in-law of over 40 years, and coping with her for that longtime according to her is patience and understanding” she says, you need to be very patient and obedient to mothers-in-law. Well, every mother in law behave in a certain way, I am a mother in law myself and one thing I learnt from my mother-in-law is how to cope and handle mother and daughter-in-law issues. Mama is an example of a good mother in law. I have enjoyed all my time with her. It is one of those things. We should always learn to deal with our daughters-in-law with respect and love so they can enjoy their peaceful home and mama has been like a mother to me, I am happy for her today.
The beautiful woman surely complements her husband in every way, she responded to the question on how it has been being married to Chief Harry Akande? I wish you really know who my husband is? It has been wonderful to be married to a special man like this, I wouldn’t have asked for any other husband, he is very understanding, in any marriage, a lot of understanding and love is what can sustain it, Respect for each other also play a long way in it so this are what has kept us till this moment and I give glory to God. She also talked about how their marital journey started, ‘’It was several years ago, in fact over 40 years that we got married, Wow, it’s such a long time and what got her attracted, well he is a Godly man and well reserved, very respectful of a woman and he cares for fellow man, I appreciate and admire that in him, he likes to bring the best out of people whether you are a man or a woman, He has helped me to become the best I am, I appreciate all that in him. He is a wonderful husband to me and a wonderful father to his children. We met through one of his friends back in the days, we became friends afterward and from there we took it to the next level. It’s over 40 years and I look back, I thank God for all he has done”. All these attributes showered on her late husband were the many things she will surely miss about the man with whom she has spent over 40 years of her life.
Chief Mrs Tolulope Akande also sits atop some thriving businesses and she is from the Shodipe clan in Abeokuta, Ogun State. She is in her 60s and blessed with 4 children, Olumide who is married to Star Actress, Dakore then his other siblings Foluke, Tinuke and Olawunmi.
-TAYO OYEDIJI
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