Former Osun State Governor, Bisi Akande, has said that he never thought he would live to see his 80th birthday.
The former governor clocked 80 on Thursday.
Mr Akande said he rushed to achieve all his ambitions out of fear that he might not live to clock 50.
Akande was elected Osun State governor in 1999 with Iyiola Omisore as the deputy governor.
But the relationship between the duo ended on an acrimonious note with the impeachment of Mr Omisore in 2002.
Since then, the two had never associated openly.
However, the venue of a civic reception organised for Akande to mark his 80th birthday in his Ila country home, erupted in applause on Thursday when Omisore arrived with his entourage and greeted Akande and others seated with him.
Also in attendance at the event were the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole; Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, represented by his deputy, Bisi Egbeyemi; Osun State Governor, Gboyega Oyetola; his deputy, Benedict Alabi; a former Osun State Governor, Rauf Aregbesola, and the Nigerian ambassador to Togo, Sola Iji, among others.
Akande, who could not hold back tears, as a birthday song was rendered for him, said his fear of early death was based on how his parents died.
“My father died when he clocked 50 years, while my mother died at the age of 45. This made me to conclude that early death runs in my family.
“In order to achieve all my ambitions, I did everything in haste. When I eventually clocked 50 years, I started slowing down.
“I thank God that I live to see this age. I never expected it, but I consider it a grace to see 80 despite all the challenges,” Akande said.
