Posted by Senator Ibikunle Amosun, a former governor of Ogun State, and former President Olusegun Obasanjo both expressed their condolences for the loss of the “doyen” of the accounting profession, Williams Akintola.
On Monday, Akintola, a native of Ogun State, passed away at the age of 104.
Obasanjo, in a statement of sorrow, praised Akintola for his “consistent contributions and influence” in the accounting field and Nigeria.
In a statement sent by his media aide Kehinde Akinyemi, Obasanjo praised Akintola as a “unique human being” and “a globally acclaimed accountant.”
Former President Bush said of the late senator, “I had directly and indirectly enjoyed his advice and support. You were moved and endeared to him by his calm, somber, and unruffled demeanor.
The Balogun Owu said that Akintola’s calm demeanor and insistence on truth and accountability would be an inspiration to everyone.
Obasanjo admitted that he had only tangential contact with Akintola, and that many in the military in the mid-1960s regarded him with tremendous affection.
Obasanjo said that Akintola’s death cannot be deemed premature because he lived for 104 years.
God, he pleaded, please give his loved ones the fortitude to deal with this terrible, permanent loss.
According to Amosun, hearing about Akintola’s passing left him with a profound feeling of sorrow.
Amosun expressed his deepest condolences to the Akintola family and “all of us in the Accounting profession on this great loss.”
Amosun said that the late Akintola was “a true source of inspiration to many, including me” because he was the first Chartered Accountant, a pioneer member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, and its first president.
The late older statesman was greatly respected by the former legislator, who remarked that he was a “achiever whose invaluable contributions and commitment to the growth of Accountancy in Nigeria and Africa are epochal and unquantifiable.”
Speaking further, Amosun said, “On a more personal note, I recall the invaluable support he gave to our administration between 2011 and 2019 and the good people of Ogun State by personally attending our annual budget presentation at the Ogun State House of Assembly.”
The Elderly Home Hostel in Abeokuta was founded with his strong backing. His paternal attitude, wisdom, and support were invaluable to me, and I will miss them.
The Akintola Williams family asks that God offer eternal rest to the “doyen of the accounting profession” and grant them the strength to grieve his passing.
“Farewell to an outstanding native of Ogun State, a founding father of the Ogun Standard.”